-
Computer history timelime
in 1939 at a world fair a robot known as Elektro would respond to voice commands. He was made by Westinghouse. -
Isaac Asimov's I, Robot
Isaac Asimov's I, Robot is published. Perhaps in reaction to earlier dangerous fictional robots, Asimov’s creations must obey the “Three Laws of Robotics” to assure they are no threat to humans or each other. -
Cybernetics
Norbert Wiener publishes the book Cybernetics, which has a major influence on research into artificial intelligence and control systems. -
Grey Walter's Elsie
A neurophysiologist, Walter built wheeled automatons in order to experiment with goal-seeking behavior. His best known robot, Elsie, used photoelectric cells to seek moderate light while avoiding both strong light and darkness. -
Brain surgeon reflects on artificial intelligence
On June 9, at Manchester University’s Lister Oration, British brain surgeon Geoffrey Jefferson states, “Not until a machine can write a sonnet or compose a concerto because of thoughts and emotions felt, and not by the chance fall of symbols, could we agree that machine equals brain. -
Squee: The Robot Squirrel
Squee: The Robot Squirrel uses two light sensors and two contact switches to hunt for ”nuts” (actually, tennis balls) and drag them to its nest. Squee was described as “75% reliable,” but it worked well only in a very dark room. -
Logic Theorist
Allen Newell, Herbert A. Simon and J.C. Shaw begin work on Logic Theorist, a program that would eventually prove 38 theorems from Whitehead and Russell’s Principia Mathematica. -
Robby the Robot Robby the Robot
Robby the Robot appears in MGM’s 1956 science fiction movie Forbidden Planet. In the film, Robby was the creation of Dr. Mobius and was built to specifications found in an alien computer system.
