Robotics, So Far…
An overview of where we are at currently, and where we can go. Images taken at Science Museum London.
Faith
Some of the earliest robots were commissioned by the Catholic Church. These robots combined bodies and clockworks, to speak powerfully to people’s religious devotion.
These robots would bring the bible to life, with a mechanical Satan, or Jesus bleeding.
And, the only explanation for this wonder, was magic.
Silver Swan
In the 18th Century, spectacular automatons began to be created for entertainment to high profile members of society. Such as royalty and the wealthy.
The silver swan was built and would move its neck forwards and backwards to mimic the movements of a live swan.
It drew crowds of people to marvel at this machine in the museum it was placed in.
Industrial Efficiency
At HausBots, this is the section we are most interested in. However, the exhibition focused largely on humanoid robotics.
The image above, however, is of a 1895 single shuttle loom, used in the UK textiles industry and is widely regarded as the beginning of automation in the workplace.
The idea of automating the workforce began in the early 19th Century, when an automaton was created to play chess, sparking the thought of automating factory work.
‘If chess can be automated, can factory work be mechanised too?’
Dreaming
From movies, to theatre, the 1920's marked the beginning of more complex robotics used to put on shows.
Clockwork systems were replaced by radio controlled and battery powered robots, which posed with celebrities and starred in movies.
Like Terminator (above), these robots often sparked feelings of terror but also got people thinking about the boundaries of what was possible..
Becoming Human
It may seem obvious, but having a human body is a key part of being a human.
The ways we move through and interact with the world shape our personal experiences and memories. Many researchers and scientists believe for a robot to think and act like a human, it must have and use a body like ours.
Queue the bipedal walker (above).
This was the first robot built outside of Japan, in a basement in Islington in fact, to be able to walk on two feet.
The aim of this robot was to use biomimicry (engineering mimicking biology) to copy how humans walk:
Many alterations have been made now, with robots able to run and jump, just as animals do in our everyday lives.
Robot Relationships
Around the turn of the 21st century, robots were starting to leave labs and factories and become part of our everyday lives.
Dubbed ‘social robots’, these robots moved and interacted with humans, like robothespian (above) who blinks, and moves pretty much exactly how we do.
The dream of social robots is to help around the house, walk the dog and do the dishes. I CAN’T WAIT.
Now here we are…
And that’s pretty much the PUBLIC story so far. Obviously there is conspiracy theories and what-not, but it’s exciting times!
As for the exhibition, go along, its super cool.
Science Museum… more industrial robots please!
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