Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: nivek@cmu.edu (Kevin Dowling)
Subject: Father of Robotics
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Organization: Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 1994 20:24:47 GMT
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Karl Capek (pronouced CHOP-ek) first invented the term 'robot' in his
play R.U.R. to mean mechanical men. (ca. 1920)

Isaac Asimov coined the term 'robotics' to mean the study and design
of robots (Ca. 1940's)

There was tremendous interest in robots through the 20s 30s and 40s in
popular publications. Hugo Gernsback's (for whom the SF award the
'hugo' is named) published many magazines with robot articles in this
time. Lots of radio controlled robots!

George Devol and Joe Engleberger respectively patented and founded
Unimation for mfg and selling industrial robots. (Ca 60's)
As a result, Engleberger has been called the 'father of robotics'

Marvin Minsky is probably the 'father' of robotics research.
First blocks world, hand-eye projects etc... (ca. 60's)

First digital computer controlled mobile robots - probably Shakey at
SRI in the mid-60's.

					nivek

aka:    Kevin Dowling         Project Scientist
tel: 	412.268.8830          Carnegie Mellon University
fax:	412.682.1793          The Robotics Institute
net:	<nivek@cmu.edu>       5000 Forbes Avenue
                              Pittsburgh, PA 15213



