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Father of Robotics, Joseph F. Engelberger, Dies At Age 90 (robohub.org)

Posted by Soulskill on from the rest-in-peace dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Today the robotics industry is a multi-billion dollar business — but it all started with Joe Engelberger and Georges Devol, who formed Unimation in 1956, the world's first robotics company. Their first Unimate arm was installed at General Motors in 1961, transforming the automotive industry. While the automotive industry is still the largest piece of the robotics pie, the range of commercial uses for robotics is expanding into many of the service areas Engelberger also pioneered decades ago. Engelberger died peacefully in his home yesterday morning, at the age of 90.

20 comments

  1. Re:I hope he rots in hell by zAPPzAPP · · Score: 1

    -- individual marked for termination...
    -- reason: insulting the prophet of the great robotic overlords...

  2. Re: Hypocrites! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Moo.

  3. Hardly by nospam007 · · Score: 1

    The 'Father of Robotics' is Isaak Asimov, he event invented the word 'robotics' which didn't exist before he used it in a robot story.

    1. Re:Hardly by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1

      Actually I think you'll the true father of Robotics was an engineer called Hero around 30BC who not only invented the programmable robot but also automatic doors and the steam engine.

      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

    2. Re:Hardly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The term "Robot" seems to originate in Karel apek's play R.U.R.

    3. Re:Hardly by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      Wasn't the first programmable automaton, and the target of the original Luddite movement of 1811, the Jacquard loom?

    4. Re:Hardly by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1

      Preceded by Hero of Alexandria 1800 years earlier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

    5. Re:Hardly by Arnold+Reinhold · · Score: 2

      While the idea of machines that could flexibly manipulate objects in 3-D had been around for a while in science fiction, Joe Engelberger actually made robot arms that worked. And he did it not just in a lab, but in production in the demanding environment of automotive factories. And this was back in 1961, when computers typically filled up a large air-conditioned room. He built a successful company, Unimation, around his inventions, put several generations of robots into production and mentored other pioneers in the field. He unquestionably deserves the title of "Father of Robotics."

    6. Re:Hardly by frovingslosh · · Score: 1

      I too call BS on this clown being the Father of Robotics. However, I would think that Nikola Tesla had more claim to the title, even though he might not have created the word or written children's book about robots.

      --
      I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
    7. Re:Hardly by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      Thanks. Anyone can imagine a mechanical man; the "dancing bear" is actually making it work.

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      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  4. Yah, well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He might be "the father of robots", but Anakin was the father of _a_ robot. (At least according to one non-canonical movie, anyway.)

  5. cause of death... by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

    robotic hang gliding accident.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  6. Re: Hypocrites! by jimtheowl · · Score: 1

    Even the lamest joke can manage to be somewhat funny in the right context.

  7. Re:I hope he rots in hell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Without robots, mass production in high-wage countries would be completely unfeasible. Additionally, robotisation has tremendously improved the quality of mass-market products. Improved productivity is ultimately better for society overall and the people freed from doing boring repetetive work are now doing other things that people can afford to pay for because robots have made goods cheaper. Luddism is the ultimate broken window fallacy.

  8. Re:Hypocrites! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It has been shown tima and again that no SCO imaginary property ever was in Linux. Moreover, robots have provided far more jobs than they ever took.

  9. Mother of robotics by abies · · Score: 2

    Given amount of fathers of robotics, we don't know who mother of robotics was, but she certainly had a lot of fun.

  10. Kraftwerke will be played at the funeral by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In honor of all things robotic:

    The Robots

  11. Who cares by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hephaestus created a robot before Engelberger some millenniums ago.