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Robots Of The Victorian Era

prostoalex writes "Somehow the robotic inventions of the 19th century are terribly under-appreciated. But when you read about a new Aibo or running humanoid robot, don't forget the mechanical marvels of the 19th century. The Steam Man, unveiled in literature in 1865, would provide the willing consumer with a truly horseless carriage. The Electric Man(1885) was a working prototype before 19th century was over, too. The Boilerplate was a prototype soldier built in 1893 to resolve potential conflicts between the nations, and, according to promotional photographs, was usually surrounded by young females. And, finally, the Automatic Man, unveiled in 1900, a 7'5'' robot capable of many things, but mainly pulling carriages." (Don't forget the less-fictional, more-fraudulent Ajeeb and The Turk.)

16 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Robotic Ducks by G4from128k · · Score: 4, Informative

    This robotic duck dates back to the 1700s.

    --
    Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
  2. INFORMATIVE?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Here's informative for you. (Hint: IT WAS A MOVIE.)

  3. Re:My favorite by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    informative? Fuck, he's talking about that shitty movie "Wild Wild West". If you don't know what he's talking about, why are you moderating it up?!!?!?!

  4. Uhm.... Can you say Hoax? by VonGuard · · Score: 5, Informative

    Doesn't anyone realize that the Boilerplate stuff is complete fabrication?

    HAH! A truism that's also a pun! Ok, ok, I suppose they really couldn't fabricate the parts for him back then...

    But it's still a load of horse pucky.

    --
    Don't Crease the Weasel!
    1. Re:Uhm.... Can you say Hoax? by Thanatopsis · · Score: 5, Informative

      Not only is Boilerplate a hoax, every single robot story in this post is a well known hoax. Steam Man, Electric Man and Automatic are hoaxes designed to look like a period piece.
      for more information
      Boilerplate Hoax

  5. Do it right.... by djupedal · · Score: 4, Informative

    ...read 'The Difference Engine'...

    "A collaborative novel from the premier cyberpunk authors, William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. Part detective story, part historical thriller, The Difference Engine takes us not forward but back, to an imagined 1885: the Industrial Revolution is in full and inexorable swing, powered by steam-driven, cybernetic engines. Charles Babbage perfects his Analytical Engine, and the computer age arrives a century ahead of its time."

  6. Anyone pass the third grade? by C10H14N2 · · Score: 3, Informative

    A primary-school level of research would yield the intuitively obvious result that these are excerpts of the fictional writing of Edward Ellis and Luis Sernaren.

    This list may prove useful:

    http://www.sciencedaily.com/encyclopedia/List_of _f ictional_robots
    duplicated here:
    http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robots_in_lit erature

    And in case you think that Maureen Stapleton is really an android "Electric Grandmother," you can look here to reassure yourself that in fact she is a human actor, not a robot:

    http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0083876/

  7. What powered these robots? by AtariAmarok · · Score: 2, Informative

    Were these robots powered by Microsoot steam engines, which required expensive coal from a monolithic business concern? Or did they run on steam plants designed under the "Open Flame" initiative, in which users could burn just about anything they wanted to power the robots without paying Microsoot?

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  8. Hoax. by Dr.+Descartes · · Score: 2, Informative
    For those inclined to believe the website, it is indeed a hoax. Proof.

    Be that as it may, I think the site was fun and funny at the same time

  9. Karakuri Ningyo by News+for+nerds · · Score: 3, Informative

    Japan also has such human-shaped mechanical automata called "Karakuri Ningyo" since 12th century.

    karakuri.info
    Karakuri Frontier

  10. More disproof... by cvk · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm sure that everyone reading the Boilerplate story (about the would-be soldier, scout, mechanical marvel-man, etc...) wondered what kind of magic pills the guy who wrote it was taking since clearly a steam-powered man never did anything he claims it did.

    Some more (dis)proof is provided for those who couldn't find that magic pill. Mechanical soldier, my shiny metal ass!

  11. Boilerplate is ficitonal by rtrowbridge · · Score: 2, Informative

    Actually, Boilerplate is a fictional robot:

    http://www.bigredhair.com/boilerplate/bp.report. ht ml

  12. More info about the Boilerplate hoax by *Pres* · · Score: 2, Informative

    Here you can find more info about the Boilerplate hoax.

    1. Re:More info about the Boilerplate hoax by catdevnull · · Score: 2, Informative

      Another link here (if you didn't already see it).

      For about 2 seconds, I was fascinated by the historical technology--then I thought, "Wait a sec..", now I'm in awe of the brilliance of this hoax! :)

      --

      I might know what I'm talkin' about, but then again, this is Slashdot...
  13. You forget the oldest one by ahmetaa · · Score: 2, Informative

    He deserves to be known as the father of robotics and cybernetics. Ebul-iz smail bin ar-Razzaz el-Cezeri lived in the 13.cc and dedicated his life to build automats. Link down is turkish but you can see a picture of his man-like robot design there.
    http://www.teknoturk.org/docking/yazilar/t t000052- yazi.htm