| Robotic technology can be found in clocks, remote | | | | There are many different ways to think about robotic |
| control vehicles, automobile computers, Aibo, factory | | | | technology. For instance, do we want an artificial being |
| robotic arms, self-guided rovers, service bots like | | | | to look like a human or an unmistakable nuts-and-bolts |
| ASIMO, robotic toys like AIBO or Robo-Raptor and a | | | | prototype? Should they go to work at the plant or in |
| CNC milling machine. To be considered a "robot," the | | | | our own homes? Should they think for themselves or |
| specimen must be able to interact with its environment | | | | be simply capable of pre-programmed simplified |
| and physically do something. Most recently, robots are | | | | tasks? |
| being used in surgery, disaster recovery and | | | | There are "soft robots," which have silicone bodies and |
| firefighting. | | | | flexible actuators that behave almost human-like. |
| Historically, ancient people believed in the existence of | | | | There are "swarm robots" that behave like bees or |
| a humanoid robot species. The Greek god Hephaestus | | | | ants, cooperating together to find something, clean, |
| was thought to have created mechanical servants to | | | | explore space or spy. "Haptic interface robots" allow |
| help him build temples. Furthermore, the Jewish people | | | | users to interact with virtual simulation environments. |
| thought that clay golems could come to life and the | | | | Engineers are always coming up with new designs |
| Norse believed that clay giants could awaken. In 4th | | | | and uses for automation robotics. |
| Century BC, Greek mathematicians Archytas of | | | | Robotic technology is continually progressing. Early |
| Tarentum proposed that he could create a | | | | prototypes used steam, water or air, while new robotic |
| steam-powered bird known as "The Pigeon." | | | | prototypes use actuators, electric DC motors and air |
| Additionally, Hero of Alexandria (10-70 AD) devised | | | | muscles. To study robotics engineering, interested |
| automated machinery powered by air pressure and | | | | students can attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute, |
| steam. | | | | which is the only school that offers a Bachelor of |
| In 1088, Su Song developed the first clock tower that | | | | Science in Robotics Engineering. |
| was built using mechanical figurines and audible chimes. | | | | Other schools have graduate programs based on |
| In 1206, the first humanoid robot was created by | | | | robotics automation, including Carnegie Mellon |
| Al-Jazari, a Muslim inventor who wished to entertain | | | | University, MIT, UPENN and UCLA. To increase early |
| royal guests with automated musicians who played on | | | | interest in this field, programs like FIRST Robotics were |
| a boat in a lake. Al-Jazari was already well-known for | | | | devised to encourage students as young as six to |
| constructing everything from kitchen appliances and | | | | look to math, science and technology fields for hobbies. |
| other astounding robotic machines. | | | | |