How Robots Appeared

The concept of robotics, although not referred to by that term until relatively recently, has captured man's imagination for centuries. One of the first automatic animals – a wooden bird that could fly – was built by Plato's friend Archytas of Tareentum, who lived between 400 and 350 before our era.

The predecessors of programmable robots are classified as automata in contrast to toys because of their length and complexity of their operating cycles. A French engineer who lived in the 18^th century was elected to the Academy of sciences for his work, which included the creation of a life-size, flute-playing shepherd. Two other Frenchmen constructed life-like automata drive by springs.

In 1921, Karel Czapek, the Czech playwright, novelist and essayist wrote the satirical drama, which introduced the word “robot” into the English language. The playwright created the word to mean forced labour; the machines in his play resembled people, but worked twice as hard.

Early robots were not entirely selfregulating. They were strictly on-off devices. They could perform only one action, and would keep performing that action no matter what happened as they were unable to operate under a variety of conditions. If a new situation arose, they were incapable of doing anything about it.

In the early 1960’s, the first industrial robot was introduced. The idea was to build a machine that was flexible enough to do a variety of jobs automatically and which could be easily taught or programmed so that if the part of process changed, the robot could adapt to its new job without expensive retooling.

Exercise 18. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. One of the first automatic animals was built before our era.

2. Two Englishmen constructed life-like automata driven by springs.

3. Russian playwright introduced the word “robot” into the English language.

4. The first robots were entirely self-regulating.

5. The first robots could perform only one action as they were unable to operate under a variety of conditions.

6. The first industrial robot was introduced in the early 1970’s.

7. The first industrial robot could be easily taught or programmed.

Exercise 19. Answer the following questions:

1. When did the concept of a robot capture man’s imagination?

2. When were the first automatic animals and robot-like figures constructed?

3. When was the first industrial robot introduced?

4. What were first robots intended to do?

5. What kind of devices were early robots?

6. What could robot do in the part of process changed?

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