Slashdot Mirror
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.)
Or voltron?
Did you not see the foot icon on the story?
Even the story text is worded in such a way:
Don't forget the less-fictional, more-fraudulent Ajeeb and The Turk
learn to read, douche bag
As already has been mentioned, there were "robotic" devices in the Victorian era and before! De Vaucanson's duck was only one such marvel of the era. There are the Droz family automata (which are real close to actual robots, the devices are able to be "re-programmed" via cams and levers, though such changes are very difficult to make). There is another automata, I forget the maker's name, which is a silver swan that moves with a very smooth grace. Lastly, there really was a steam-powered two-legged walking machine - it used a small steam engine, exhaust came out it's head, and a steam whistle in its mouth. It used a rotating cam/crank mechanism to allow it to walk stiff-leggedly around in a circle, via a long arm attached to a central pivot point.
Automata during the Victorian period and before served to fuel the imagination of quite a variety of characters - Babbage himself became interested in a variety of automata of the period, including Kempelen's Turk chess player (more on this in a bit). Mary Shelly saw the Droz automata, which has been said to be one of the sparks for Frankenstein.
These people and many others were influenced by these machines in very profound ways. They caused many "top" people of the day to pause and ask themselves and others "can a machine be alive - can it think for itself?" - no doubt the Turk, though not truely a robot, was a very advanced form of automata commanded by a hidden operator (it was no simple puppet - it was more like a remotely operated robot in action). Robots like the Turk caused much discussion about the possibility of machines being intelligent, and indirectly led to the questioning of whether we humans are nothing more than intelligent meat machines. Shelly's Frankenstein questioned the morality and desires behind the need to create machines (and the blending of a created man with human parts) - and what happens when that machine seeks companionship and answers to its own life.
These themes continue to resonate with us to this very day - it is what is driving the human race to create ever more advanced robots and androids. These themes are seen in various AI research, game programming and development (to make the characters in the world more believable - virtual robots, if you will), and other simulations.
Victorian-era "robotics" are only one stage (and really, a middle stage) in the development of machines to automatically (and intelligently) do our bidding (hopefully alongside us)...
Reason is the Path to God - Anon