History Of Robotics

By Josh Vanderlaan

  • First programmable robot

    George Devol created the first programmable robot in the history of mankind.

  • First Robotics company

    George Devol and Joseph Engelberger created the first robotics company which was bought by a company named Eaton

  • First Satilite

    The Soviet Union launched ‘Sputnik' on 1957 being the first artificial orbiting satellite.

  • First example of computer assisted manufacturing

    The Servomechanisms Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology displayed that a robot could be useful in manufacturing.

  • First fully functioning robot on an assembly line

    General Motors created the first robot implemented in an assembly line

  • First Tv show including robots

    The Tv show 'The Jetsons' was an animated show about a family living in the future.

  • The first computer being mass produced

    The IBM 360 is the first computer to be mass-produced.

  • Creation of R2D2 and C-3PO

    These two robot stars appear in the Star Wars films and are without a doubt the most famous robots in history.

  • First educational product on Robotics

    LEGO releases the first robotic education set to the public.

  • Robot programmed from the USA to land on a volcano in Antartica

    Robotic engineers programmed a robot to land on a volcano in Antarctica but after a short analysis, it failed.

  • Chess World Champion beaten by a Robot

    Chess champion Garry Kasparov was beaten by a robot known as Deep Blue.

  • First version of AIBO was released by Sony

    AIBO is a robotic dog which can learn, communicate and entertain its programmer/owner

  • First human-like robot created

    Honda's robot named ASIMO could walk and run similar to a human.

  • Robot designed for the household

    The robot that goes by the name of 'Roomba' created by the 'iRobot Corp' sold over 2 million units over its time in the spotlight.

  • Smallest robot of the time

    Epsom created the smallest robot at the time being a mere 7cm high and weighing only 10 grams

  • First prosthetic hand

    The first robotic prosthetic body part was created and was administered to over 200 patients.