Tuesday, April 28, 2020

ROBOTICS - Mechanized human-like figures date back to ancient times to Greece. The concept of an artificial man is found in works of fiction since the early 19th century. Despite these initial thoughts and representations, the dawn of the robotic revolution began in earnest in the 1950s. George Devol invented the first digitally operated and programmable robot in 1954. This ultimately laid the foundation of the modern robotics industry. Around 270 B.C. an ancient Greek engineer named Ctesibius made water clocks with automatons or loose figures. Greek mathematician Archytas of Tarentum postulated a mechanical bird he called "The Pigeon" which was propelled by steam. Hero of Alexandria (10–70 AD) made numerous innovations in the field of automata, including one that allegedly could speak. In ancient China, an account about an automaton is found in the text, written in the 3rd century BC, in which King Mu of Zhou is presented with a life-size, human-shaped mechanical figure by Yan Shi, an "artificer." With the rise of the computer industry, the technology of computers and robotics came together to form artificial intelligence; robots that could learn. Commercial and industrial robots are now in widespread use performing jobs more cheaply or with greater accuracy and reliability than humans.

Robot holding up model of planet Earth
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Robotics
Who Pioneered Robotics?
A Historical Timeline About Robotics
By Mary Bellis



We have evidence that mechanized human-like figures date back to ancient times to Greece.
The concept of an artificial man is found in works of fiction since the early 19th century.
Despite these initial thoughts and representations, the dawn of the robotic revolution began in earnest in the 1950s.
George Devol invented the first digitally operated and programmable robot in 1954.
This ultimately laid the foundation of the modern robotics industry.
Earliest History
Around 270 B.C. an ancient Greek engineer named Ctesibius made water clocks with automatons or loose figures.
Greek mathematician Archytas of Tarentum postulated a mechanical bird he called "The Pigeon" which was propelled by steam.
Hero of Alexandria (10–70 AD) made numerous innovations in the field of automata, including one that allegedly could speak.
In ancient China, an account about an automaton is found in the text, written in the 3rd century BC, in which King Mu of Zhou is presented with a life-size, human-shaped mechanical figure by Yan Shi, an "artificer."
Robotics Theory and Science Fiction
Writers and visionaries envisioned a world including robots in daily life.
In 1818, Mary Shelley wrote "Frankenstein," which was about a frightening artificial lifeform come to life by a mad, but brilliant scientist, Dr. Frankenstein.
Then, 100 years later Czech writer Karel Capek coined the term robot, in his 1921 play called "R.U.R." or "Rossum's Universal Robots."
The plot was simple and terrifying; the man makes a robot then robot kills a man.
In 1927, Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" was released. The Maschinenmensch ("machine-human"), a humanoid robot, was the first robot ever to be depicted on film.
Science fiction writer and futurist Isaac Asimov first used the word "robotics" in 1941 to describe the technology of robots and predicted the rise of a powerful robot industry.
Asimov wrote "Runaround," a story about robots which contained the "Three Laws of Robotics," which centered around Artificial Intelligence ethics questions.
Norbert Wiener published "Cybernetics," in 1948, which formed the basis of practical robotics, the principles of cybernetics based on artificial intelligence research.
First Robots Emerge
British robotics pioneer William Grey Walter invented robots Elmer and Elsie that mimic lifelike behavior using elementary electronics in 1948.
They were tortoise-like robots that were programmed to find their charging stations once they started running low on power.
In 1954 George Devol invented the first digitally operated and a programmable robot called the Unimate.
In 1956, Devol and his partner Joseph Engelberger formed the world's first robot company.
In 1961, the first industrial robot, Unimate, went online in a General Motors automobile factory in New Jersey.
Timeline of Computerized Robotics
With the rise of the computer industry, the technology of computers and robotics came together to form artificial intelligence; robots that could learn.
The timeline of those developments follows:
Year
Robotics Innovation
1959
Computer-assisted manufacturing was demonstrated at the Servomechanisms Lab at MIT
1963
The first computer-controlled artificial robotic arm was designed. The "Rancho Arm" was created for physically disabled people. It had six joints that gave it the flexibility of a human arm.
1965
The Dendral system automated the decision-making process and problem-solving behavior of organic chemists. It used artificial intelligence for identifying unknown organic molecules, by analyzing their mass spectra and using its knowledge of chemistry.
1968
The octopus-like Tentacle Arm was developed by Marvin Minsky. The arm was computer controlled, and its 12 joints were powered by hydraulics.
1969
The Stanford Arm was the first electrically powered, computer-controlled robot arm designed by mechanical engineering student Victor Scheinman.
1970
Shakey was introduced as the first mobile robot controlled by artificial intelligence. It was produced by SRI International.
1974
The Silver Arm, another robotic arm, was designed to perform small-parts assembly using feedback from touch and pressure sensors.
1979
The Standford Cart crossed a chair-filled room without human assistance. The cart had a tv camera mounted   on a rail which took pictures from multiple angles and relayed them to a computer. The computer analyzed the distance between the cart and the obstacles.
Modern Robotics
Commercial and industrial robots are now in widespread use performing jobs more cheaply or with greater accuracy and reliability than humans.
Robots are used for jobs which are too dirty, dangerous or dull to be suitable for humans.
Robots are widely used in manufacturing, assembly and packing, transport, earth and space exploration, surgery, weaponry, laboratory research and mass production of consumer and industrial goods.

Mary Bellis
Inventions Expert
Introduction
New York-based film producer and director
Singled out by Forbes magazine for her writing on inventors. 
Known in art and independent film circles by the name CalmX
Creator of computer-generated art
Experience
Mary Bellis was a former writer for ThoughtCo, where she covered inventors for 18 years. She was a freelance writer, film producer, and director.  In addition, Forbes Best of the Web credited her for creating the number one online destination for information about inventors and inventions. Her writing has been reprinted and referenced in numerous educational books and articles. She was known for her short independent  films and documentaries, including one on Alexander Graham Bell. She specialized in making and exhibiting computer-generated art, while working as an animator, journalist and an independent video game developer.  
Education
Mary Bellis held a Master of Fine Arts in film and animation from the San Francisco Art Institute.
ThoughtCo and Dotdash
ThoughtCo is a premier reference site focusing on expert-created education content. We are one of the top-10 information sites in the world as rated by comScore, a leading Internet measurement company. Every month, more than 13 million readers seek answers to their questions on ThoughtCo.
For more than 20 years, Dotdash brands have been helping people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired. We are one of the top-20 largest content publishers on the Internet according to comScore, and reach more than 30% of the U.S. population monthly. Our brands collectively have won more than 20 industry awards in the last year alone, and recently Dotdash was named Publisher of the Year by Digiday, a leading industry publication.

Robot holding up model of planet Earth

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