| Times have certainly changed – just look at what | | | | The first truly modern robot that was digitally operated, |
| kids are playing with these days. While toy cars and | | | | programmable, and teachable was invented by |
| dolls may still keep youngsters entertained, popular | | | | George Devol in 1954. His robot was called the |
| playthings of the new generation include video games, | | | | Unimate, which he sold to General Motors in 1960. In |
| remote control toys, and toy robots. | | | | 1961, it was installed in a plant in Trenton, New Jersey |
| The origin of toy robots can be traced back to the | | | | to lift hot pieces of metal from a die casting machine |
| development of robots. One of the earliest robots was | | | | and stack them. |
| an automaton invented by Frenchman Jacques de | | | | In 1985, the Tomy Kyogo Company created the |
| Vaucanson in 1738. He made a self-automating | | | | Omnibot 2000, a toy robot that could be controlled with |
| mechanical duck that was able to eat and digest grain, | | | | a hand-held remote control or through programs |
| flap its wings, and excrete. In Japan, Hisashige Tanaka | | | | stored on magnetic tape. In the late 1990s, AIBO the |
| created an assortment of extremely complex | | | | robotic dog was introduced by Sony. AIBO was |
| mechanical toys, some of which were capable of firing | | | | capable of autonomously navigating a room and |
| arrows, serving tea, or even painting a Japanese | | | | playing ball using its sensor array. Other pet robots |
| character. | | | | soon followed. Tiger Electronics created the Furby in |
| In the 1930s, Westinghouse Electric Corporation built a | | | | 1998, a pet toy that could communicate with its owner. |
| humanoid robot. The robot, called Elektro, was | | | | In 2001, Omron released the robotic cat NeCoRo as a |
| exhibited at the World's Fair during 1939 and 1940. | | | | competitor to AIBO. It had Mind and Consciousness |
| From 1948 to 1949, William Grey Walter of the Burden | | | | (MaC) technology, enabling it to generate feelings. |
| Neurological Institute at Bristol, England developed the | | | | Toy robots have certainly come a long way from |
| first electronic autonomous robots. Named Elmer and | | | | Jacques de Vaucanson's mechanical duck over two |
| Elsie, these "turtle robots" could sense light and contact | | | | centuries ago. They are a more common sight |
| with external objects. They were also capable of | | | | nowadays, and it is without a doubt that we will |
| finding their charging station when their battery power | | | | continue to see more of toy robots in the years to |
| ran low. | | | | come. |