The concept of robots has evolved over centuries, with contributions from many inventors, engineers, and scientists. Here’s a quick breakdown of key moments in robot history:
- Ancient Automata (Pre-20th Century)
- Ancient Greeks, like Hero of Alexandria, created mechanical devices powered by steam or water.
- In the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci designed a humanoid automaton (a knight) that could move its arms and head.
- Early Mechanical Robots (18th-19th Century)
- In the 18th century, Jacques de Vaucanson built mechanical figures, including a famous flute-playing automaton.
- Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace laid the groundwork for computing, which later influenced robotics.
- Modern Robots (20th Century – Present)
- The word robot was first used in 1921 by Karel Čapek, a Czech writer, in his play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots).
- In 1956, George Devol and Joseph Engelberger created the first industrial robot, Unimate, which revolutionized manufacturing.
- In recent decades, companies like Boston Dynamics, Honda (ASIMO), and Tesla (Optimus) have advanced humanoid robots.