The history of robotics is intertwined with the histories of technology, science and the basic principle of progress. Technology used in computing, electricity, even pneumatics and hydraulics can all be considered a part of the history of robotics.
The timeline presented is therefore far from complete. Robotics currently represents one of mankind’s greatest accomplishments and is the single greatest attempt of mankind to produce an artificial, sentient being. It is only in recent years that manufacturers are making robotics increasingly available and attainable to the general public.
Greek Times Some historians affirm that Talos, a giant creature written about in ancient Greek literature, was a creature (either a man or a bull) made of bronze, given by Zeus to Europa. According to one version of the myths he was created in Sardinia by Hephaestus on Zeus’ command, who gave him to the Cretan king Minos. In another version Talos came to Crete with Zeus to watch over his love Europa, and Minos received him as a gift from her. There are suppositions that his name Talos in the old Cretan language meant the “Sun” and that Zeus was known in Crete by the similar name of Zeus Tallaios. Since Talos was a bronze man, his blood was lead, which they believed was a divine fluid (ichor), identical to that what runs in the veins of the gods. Talos’ single vein was leading from his neck through his body to one of his heels, which was closed by a bronze nail or a bronze peg or a pin.
~77-100BC :In 1901, between the islands of Crete and Kythera, a diver found the remnants of what might only be considered a mechanical computer. The device is a complex mix of gears which most likely calculated the position of the sun, moon or other celestial bodies. The device dates back 2000 years and is considered to be of Greek origin and was given the name “The Antikythera Device”.
~270BC :An ancient Greek engineer named Ctesibus made organs and water clocks with movable figures. The concept for his clock was fairly simple; a reservoir with a precise hole in the bottom would take 24 hours to empty its contents. The container was marked into 24 divisions.
278 – 212BC :Archimedes (287-212BC) did not invent robots, but he did invent many mechanical systems that are used in robotics today, as well as advancing the field of mathematics.
10-70AD :The Hero of Alexandria, a Mathematician, Physicist and Engineer (10-70AD) wrote a book titled Automata (Arabic translation, or in Greek “moving itself”) which is a collection of different devices which could have been used in temples. The Hero of Alexandria designed an odometer to be mounted on a cart and measure distances traveled. Among his other inventions are a wind-powered organ, animated statues and the Aeolipile. Although conceived simply as a trinket, the Aeolipile can be considered the forefather of modern steam engines.
Medieval times :Automatons, human-like figures run by hidden mechanisms, were used to impress peasant worshippers in church into believing in a higher power. [These mechanisms] created the illusion of self-motion (moving without assistance). The clock jack was a mechanical figure that could strike time on a bell with its axe. This technology was virtually unheard of in the 13th century.
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