History+of+Robotics

Robots have been around longer than most people think. The ancient Romans had pipe systems and gate openers that required little to no human power to operate. However, robots can possibly be traced back even further in history to the ancient Egyptians. Tablets and heiroglyphs found in Egyptian tombs depict a devise that looks remarkably similar to a modern day lightbulb and may very well have been used for the same purpose, light. To dig far into the pyramids was impossible with a torch because of lower oxygen levels. The strange devise was said to have used electric power that traveled though copper wires.

This video shows a rendition of the design found in Egypt. media type="custom" key="7426891"

Leonardo da Vinci created thousands of ideas and blueprints for robots in the Renaissance. This Video (inventions start at around 4:39) shows the many works he created that would not be discovered again for hundreds of years. media type="custom" key="7426997"

The term "robot" was first used by playwright Karel Capek. Robot was derived from a Czech word that was used for forced labor or serf. In Prague during January 1921 the term was introduced in a play called Rossum's Universal Robots.

The first actual robot created was called the "Unimate." This idea was first discussed after the World War II between George C. Devol and Joseph F. Engelberger. Both men were successful in their respective trades, as Devol being an inventor, and Engelberger being an engineer. The "Unimate" was developed at the Unimation company started by Engelberger after failed attempts to recieve endorsements from other companies.