Kumar, P: Robo-Revolution - Pavan Kumar - Bog

The First Fully Functioning Robots
The idea of self-operating or self-driving devices, sometimes known as autonomous machines or robots, has fascinated humans for generations. Machines with intelligence and free will have fascinated humans throughout history, from the mythological automatons of ancient Greece to the futuristic robots of science fiction. However, the conception of self-operating devices is not a fresh phenomenon. Its origins can be traced back centuries to numerous scientific and technical developments.
Historical Origins
The concept of self-operating machines has been around since antiquity. The Greek god of blacksmiths and workmanship, Hephaestus, is credited with inventing automata. These automata were frequently built to serve deities or carry out specific functions. Even if these automata existed only in folklore, they are nonetheless indicative of an early human interest in the concept of autonomous machines.
The Middle Ages saw the development of mechanical gadgets like water clocks and astronomical equipment that relied on sophisticated gear mechanisms to operate autonomously. While not completely autonomous in the contemporary sense, these machines were crucial in setting the stage for the invention of autonomous vehicles in the centuries that followed.
The Age of Industry
Autonomous machines actually have their roots in the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s and 1900s. Significant technical and engineering progress during this time allowed for the creation of machines that could carry out formerly human-intensive activities with relative ease. The mechanized loom, which allowed textiles to be woven without continual human supervision, is often cited as a hallmark of this time period.