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3000 BCE
The Earliest Robots
The earliest concepts of robots were in ancient Egypt. Water clocks used human figurines to strike hour bells. -
400 BCE
Newer Robots
Archytus of Taremtum, inventor of the pulley and the screw, also invented a wooden pigeon that could fly using steam power. -
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison created a 22-inch doll featuring a removable phonograph that played a single nursery rhyme. -
Unimate
The first modern robots were created in the early 1950s by George C. Devol. He patented a reprogrammable manipulator called Unimate. He attempted selling his product but did not succeed. In the late 1960s, businessman and engineer Joseph Engleberger acquired George Devol's robot patent and was able to change it into an industrial robot and create a company called Unimation to produce and market the robots. -
Shakey
Charles Rosen led a research team in developing a robot called "Shakey." -
The Roomba
The roomba was invented by Joe Jones and is sold by iRobot. It features a set of sensors that enable it to navigate the floor area of a home and clean it.