Robotics Timeline

Ancient and Classical Periods

~350 BCE

Aristotle

Proposed the idea of automatons, suggesting that self-operating machines could relieve humans of certain
tasks.

Renaissance Period

1495

Leonardo da Vinci

Designed a mechanical knight, known as "Leonardo's robot," capable of limited motion, which was
rediscovered in the 1950s.

18th and 19th Centuries

1801

Joseph Marie Jacquard

Invented the Jacquard loom, an automatic loom controlled by punched cards, a precursor to computer
programming.

1837

Charles Babbage

Conceptualized the Analytical Engine, an early mechanical general-purpose computer.

Early to Mid-20th Century

1920

Karel Čapek

Coined the term "robot" in his play "R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)," introducing the concept of
artificial beings.

1942

Isaac Asimov

Formulated the Three Laws of Robotics in his short story "Runaround," establishing ethical guidelines for
the behavior of robots.

1943
Alan Turing

Developed the concept of the Turing machine, a theoretical device that laid the groundwork for modern
computing and artificial intelligence.

1950

Alan Turing

Published "Computing Machinery and Intelligence," introducing the Turing Test to evaluate a machine's
ability to exhibit intelligent behavior.

1956

John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester, and Claude Shannon

Organized the Dartmouth Conference, where the term "Artificial Intelligence" (AI) was coined and AI
research was formally established.

1957

Herbert Simon and Allen Newell

Developed the Logic Theorist, considered one of the first AI programs capable of proving mathematical
theorems.

1961

Unimate

The first industrial robot, created by George Devol and Joseph Engelberger, was installed at General Motors,
marking the beginning of robotics in manufacturing.

Late 20th Century

1966

Shakey the Robot

Developed at the Stanford Research Institute, Shakey was the first mobile robot with the ability to perceive
and interact with its environment.

1979

Takeo Kanade

Developed the first "direct drive arm," a robot arm that offered greater precision and speed compared to
previous models.
1986

Honda

Initiated the development of the ASIMO robot, which became one of the most advanced humanoid robots
capable of walking, running, and interacting with humans.

1997

Deep Blue

IBM's chess-playing computer defeated world champion Garry Kasparov, demonstrating significant
advancements in AI and robotics.

21st Century

2000

Honda's ASIMO

Unveiled as one of the most advanced humanoid robots, capable of walking, running, and interacting with
humans in a more lifelike manner.

2005

Stanford Racing Team's Stanley

Won the DARPA Grand Challenge, a pivotal moment in the development of autonomous vehicles.

2011

IBM Watson

Defeated human champions in the game show "Jeopardy!," showcasing advanced natural language
processing and information retrieval capabilities.

2016

Sophia

Developed by Hanson Robotics, Sophia became the first robot to receive citizenship (in Saudi Arabia),
symbolizing the growing integration of robots in society.

Ancient Times:

 Around 350 BC: The ancient Greek engineer Hero of Alexandria creates automatons, mechanical
devices capable of performing simple tasks, such as opening doors and pouring liquids.

Medieval and Renaissance Era:

  1206: Al-Jazari, a Muslim engineer, designs and builds automated machines for various purposes,
including water clocks and musical automata.

Industrial Revolution:

 1770s: Jacques de Vaucanson constructs the "Digesting Duck," a mechanical duck that can mimic
the motions of eating, drinking, and even defecating.

 Early 1800s: The Jacquard loom introduces punch cards as a way to control the weaving process,
foreshadowing the concept of programming.

Early 20th Century:

 1920s: Czech writer Karel Čapek introduces the term "robot" in his play "R.U.R." (Rossum's
Universal Robots), describing artificial human-like creatures made to serve humans.

Mid-20th Century:

 1940s: Isaac Asimov popularizes the idea of robotics with his science fiction stories, introducing the
Three Laws of Robotics.

 1950: Alan Turing proposes the concept of a "universal machine," a theoretical foundation for
modern computers and programmable machines.

 1961: Unimate becomes the first industrial robot, used for handling hot metal parts in a General
Motors factory.

Late 20th Century:

 1970s: Robotics research advances with the development of sensors and microprocessors, enabling
robots to sense and react to their environment.

 1980s: Rodney Brooks develops the subsumption architecture, leading to the creation of insect-
inspired robots capable of complex behaviors.

21st Century:

 2000s: Humanoid robots, such as Honda's ASIMO, demonstrate advanced mobility and interaction
capabilities.

 2010s: The rise of collaborative robots (cobots) designed to work alongside humans in various
industries.

 Present: Ongoing advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sensor technology
are pushing the boundaries of robotics, leading to applications in fields like healthcare, space
exploration, and autonomous vehicles.

Please note that this timeline is not exhaustive and focuses on key moments in robotics history. The
development of robotics is complex and involves contributions from various cultures and time periods.
 HISTORY OF ROBOTICS

ACTIVITY 1

Group Number:

Group Members:

Guide Questions:

1. What can you observe regarding the timeline of the history of robotics?

2. Among the scientist presented, who do you think has the greatest contribution in robotics? Why?

3. In what year do you think is the best year when it comes to robotics?