Timeline robotics 1950 ->

  • Universal automaton

    Universal automaton
    Industrial robotics pioneer George Devol files a patent (pictured) for the first programmable robot and coins the term "universal automaton."
  • First robotics company

    George Devol and Joseph Engelberger (pictured) form the world's first robotics company, Unimation. In the 1960s, it is purchased by Condec, which later is bought, in part, by industrial manufacturing giant Eaton.
  • first industrial robot

    first industrial robot
    Unimate, the world's first industrial robot, goes to work on a General Motors assembly line.
  • Artificial Intelligence Center

    Artificial Intelligence Center
    The Artificial Intelligence Center at the Stanford Research Center begins development of Shakey, the first mobile robot. It is endowed with a limited ability to see and model its environment and is controlled by a computer that fills an entire room.
  • Robot explores Antarctica's Mount Erebus volcano

    Robot explores Antarctica's Mount Erebus volcano
    An eight-legged robot named Dante attempts to explore Antarctica's Mount Erebus volcano. It is remotely controlled from the U.S. and collects a small amount of data before mechanical difficulties end the experiment. But the landmark effort ushers in a new era of robotic exploration of hazardous environments.
  • Robot pets

    Robot pets
    Gadget lovers develop a serious case of puppy love for Sony's robot dog AIBO. The $2,000 mechanical mutt can navigate around a room and respond to a set of limited commands.
  • Honda's humanoid robot ASIMO

    Honda's humanoid robot ASIMO
    Honda's humanoid robot ASIMO steps onto the stage. Standing 1.3 meters tall, it can walk and run with a near-human gait.
  • Mars Rover

    Mars Rover
    There were two Mars exploration rovers launched toward Mars in search of water on Mars. They carried different scientific instruments. The goal of the rovers was to drive about 40 meters in one day. The exploration rovers went beyond what was expected. marsrover.nasa.gov/overview/
  • Kawada and AIST HRP-4

    Kawada and AIST HRP-4
    HRP-4 was created by Kawada and AIST. It is bipedal robot. This robot has great flexibilty and balance and looks like a human when it operates.
  • GROVER

    GROVER
    Grover is a Greenland Rover. Grover was created by teams of students attending engineering bootcamp. GROVER was built to carry a ground penetrating radar to analyze snow.