History of Robotics

This section is intended to provide you with an overview of the history of robotics. As you may have guessed, the history of robotics is intertwined with the history of technology, science and the basic principle of progress. Technology used in computing, electricity, even pneumatics and hydraulics can all be considered a part of the history of robotics. Robotics currently represents one of mankind’s greatest accomplishments and is the single greatest attempt of mankind to produce an artificial, sentient being.

Timeline

The focus of this timeline is to provide the reader with a general overview of robotics and to give an appreciation for the inventors and innovators in this field who have helped robotics to become what it is today. Click the link to see the entire timeline. See something important that's missing? Write it in the comments below and we'll be happy to consider it in the next revision.

Corrections

1. 1997: NASA's PathFinder mission reached Mars. The wheeled robotic rover (Sojourner) sent images and data about Mars back to Earth.
2. 2003: As part of their mission to explore Mars, NASA launched twin robotic rovers on June 10 and July 7, 2003 called Spirit and Opportunity.

Articles

• Then and Now: Humanoid Robots by Tom Carroll, Servo Magazine November, 2007
• Then and Now: Robot Arms by Tom Carroll, Servo Magazine August, 2007
• Then and Now: Robotic Vacuum Cleaners by Tom Caroll, Servo Magazine November, 2007
• Then and Now: Robot Power by Tom Carroll, Servo Magazine October, 2007
• Then and Now: Robot Sensors by Tom Carroll, Servo Magazine July, 2007
• Then and Now: Servos by Tom Caroll, Servo Magazine December, 2007
• Then and Now: Robotic Competitions and Contests by Tom Carroll, Servo Magazine, November 2008
• Time Line of History Making Mobile Robots + Other Significant Robots and Events byDavid Buckley