iLove RobotsOur love of robots dates back to Ancient Greece. Automatons, or moving mechanical devices, have been on the scene for at least 2,000 years. A stage play in 1920 used the word “robot” for these mechanical devices, and it stuck. (Let’s face it–it’s easier to say than “automaton.”) Through the years, science fi ction writers have dreamt up more advanced robots–and scientists strive to make these fi ctional robots real.

When you think of a robot, what do you imagine? Does it look and act like a person? What can it do? Will it clean your room?

Old 'Bot, New 'Bot The basic idea behind robots–getting machines to do work for us–hasn’t changed much over time. What has changed is the technology that makes them move, look and behave more and more life-like!

Word BankFUN FACTS

400-350 BCE: A mechanical pigeon, created by ancient Greek mathematician Archytas, is thought to be the fi rst robot. It was powered by steam and fl ew more than 600 feet (200 meters) until it ran out of, well, steam.

1495: Leonardo da Vinci designed a “Mechanical Knight” which is thought to be the fi rst humanoid robot design. Cables and pulleys allow the armored “knight” to stand, sit, and move its arms, neck and jaw, though it can’t walk. Da Vinci’s sketches and concepts of robotic movement wereso advanced, they inspired the creation of

robots used by NASA and the International Space Station today.

1939: Westinghouse created ELEKTRO and in 1940, SPARKO, for the World’s Fair in New York. Using motors and telephone technology, Elektro could perform 26 movements and “speak” more than 70 words, which were played on turntables inside its seven-foot

body. Yes, it was a giant. But it could walk–slowly. Sparko, the robot dog, could wag its tail, bark and stand on its hind legs. Good ‘bot!

1963: Rancho Arm, an artifi cial robotic arm with six joints, is fl exible–like a human arm. It was initially designed for the disabled, but when the project moved to Stanford, it became

one of the fi rst robotic arms controlled by a computer. And that changed the game in the world of robotics.

1986: Honda began research in robotics that eventually led to ASIMO, a humanoid robot. Starting as just a pair of legs, ASIMO changed over the years. Now it has a whole body and can walk, run, climb stairs

and grasp. It even understands simple commands and can recognize some faces.

Today: Androids are the next generation of robots. The most realistic androids remain on screen in our favorite sci-fi shows, but every year technology gets closer to making fi ction reality. Will you be able to tell the difference?

Will it clean your room? Does it look and act like a person? What can it do?

400-350 BCE

1495

1939

1963

1986

TODAY

ANDROIDS are robots that physically looklike us, from the eyes, to the skin texture tothe movements.HUMANOIDS are robots that have our movements and general shape.SIMPLE MACHINES alter the magnitude or direction of a force. They are the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, screw, wedge, and inclined plane.

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The Perfect 'BotWhat is the perfect robot for you? Think about what you would want a robot to do, how it would move and what it would look like. Then plan and draw your robot below.

Findthe RobotThe more we learn, the more robots we make–and name! Can you fi nd these robots?

ANDROID ROBONAUTICUB ASIMOATLAS MACHINEELEKTROHUMANOID

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