It’s always nice to show our appreciation for our elders. Today’s young robots may be whippier, snappier, and go-gettier than their forbears but you have to admit that few of them have the moxie to dust themselves off after 45 years and have a walk around town (although it still wouldn’t qualify for a senior’s discount). George, a British humanoid robot made out of a WWII bomber, was resurrected by his inventor after decades in the garage–and all it took was a little bit of oil and some new batteries. Respect.
George is very impressive, but he’s not the oldest robot by any means. Ever-popular Buddha inspired a Japanese robot some 80 years ago that has recently been updated (pics here)–do robots meditate in solid state?
In a similar aesthetic vein to George, Chinese farmer Wu Yulu made a robotic rickshaw driver, one of his many eccentric projects since the 80s.
Here on hackaday we see a lot of modern robotics, but what about a return to the old school? Next time you have a scrap airplane on hand why not weld together a classic robot, and while you’re at it give your regards to old George.
“George was pictured carrying the shopping, hovering and even mowing the lawn.”
Um, shouldn’t that be “hoovering” (vacuuming)? I don’t think George had anti-gravity capabilities!
There’s a video of George on the BBC website – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11766846
I love it. Here is a person who was ahead of the time, technology just wasnt there to do what he wanted, but he tried, and in my opnion, succeded.
Anyone else notice that this is Tony Sale, who led the project to rebuild the Colossus MkII at the Museum of National Computing / Bletchley Park?
Ah, just watched the BBC video, slap me.
@Ben Ryves: thanks! It’s exactly what was missing in this post: a video of the robot. Looks great.
If you can get up to Bletchley park do go and see. I went with my college and Tony Sale did part of the tour. Its a fantastic museum there. If you live in the UK make the effort to go, they are always in need of donations to keep the place running.
well, don’t forget Vaucanson, his duck and other creatures:
http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/pschmid1/essays/pynchon/vaucanson.html