Generally known as the 'father of cyborgs'. Wiener was the originator of the term cybernetics and part of a group of scientists who originated the field. He was also an MIT mathematician, science fiction author, and designer of an early chess-playing robo

A respected neurophysiologist who did early work on autonomous mobile robots in the 1940s.

Biography of one of the pioneers of robotics. Includes historical information and photos of many of the robots Walter created in the 1940s and 1950s.

Creator of BEAM robotics, a controversial philosophy of robot building that advocates the use of 'nervous nets' instead of conventional microprocessors as controllers, the use of recycled parts, and solar power.

Describes the origin of the terms Robot, Robotics, and Unimate. Focuses on the impact of Isaac Asimov on the history of robotics.

An article by Adam Currie that covers the high points of robot history. Includes many links and photos.

Chronology of robotics and AI from Ray Kurzweil's book The Age of Intelligent Machines. Starts with the abacus in 5000 BC and progresses to the modern day. Also include optimistic projections of future history.

A summary of Nikola Tesla's work in robotics done as part of a PBS documentary on his life. Includes information on his teleautomaton and his predication of mechanical, automated men.

Tesla demonstrated a robotic boat that he called a teleautomaton in 1898 that many consider to be the first robot.

A timeline of recent robotics history starting with Karel Capek's RUR in 1920 and progressing to 2001.

Text and photos of talk by Han Moravec giving a concise history of autonomous mobile robots from Grey Walter to the present day. Includes Moravec's projection of future developments.

Researcher at the CMU Robotics Institute who believes intelligent machines will be the descendants of the human race. Author of several books on the nature of evolving robot intelligence. Current work involves 3D mapping and stereoscopic vision.

Important events in the history of computers, electronics, math, and robotics. From 350 million BC to the present day.

Czech author and playwright who popularized the term robot in his 1920 play, RUR: Rossum's Universal Robots.

Director of the MIT CS and AI Lab. CTO of iRobot. Involved in a wide range of robotics research initiatives. Best known as the creator of Subsumption Architecture in which layers of simple behaviors create complex emergent behaviors.

A timeline of AI and Robotics events from 500 BC to 2000 AD.

A timeline providing an overview of the development of robots and computers. From 400 BC to 2001. (September 10, 2001)

A timeline of robotics beginning with a mechanical bird built in 350 BC and continuing to the current day.