In 270BC Ctesibu, a Greek
engineer, made organs and water clocks with movable figures. The term
"robot" was first used in a play called "R.U.R." or "Rossum's Universal
Robots" by the Czech writer Karel Capek. Isaac Asimov first used the
word "robotics" to describe the technology and predicted the rise of a
powerful robot industry.
The RUR robot which appeared in an adaption of Czech
author Karel Capek's Rossum's Universal Robots.
Working Robots
General Motors automobile factory in New Jersey used the first
industrial robot called Unimate. The Stanford arm was the first
electrically powered, computer controlled robot arm. The first robotic
arm for the handicapped called “The Rancho Arm” had six joints, and was
controlled by a computer.
New Advances
In 2000 Honda unveiled Asimo, a humanoid robot that could be for home
use. One year later, Sony their robot dog Aibo. Currently the international space
station uses the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) to help
build the station.
Sources:
www.androidworld.com/asimo.jpg
www.sony.com
Battle Bots
Back in 1999 comedy central started a TV show called Battle Bots, where
contestants built robots to fight each others until one robot was
totally destroyed. These robots use weapons such as circular saws,
hammers, spikes, blades, levers, and even clamps. Since the start
of Battle Bots many other TV networks have started shows that either
have robots fight each other or compete in various activities such as
shooting a basket ball or racing. In the future there will likely
be many more robot related sports.
Source:
www.Battlebots.com
