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Amphibionics 07 3/24/03 9:13 AM Page 274
Amphibionics
measured 12 inches in height and 18 inches in length. Amazingly
this robot used just two electronic neurons, but exhibited interest-
ing and complex behaviors. The first two robots were named Elmer
and Elsie (ELectroMEchanical Robot, Light Sensitive). He later
named the style of robots Machina Speculatrix after observing the
complex behavior they exhibited.
The robot’s nervous system consisted of two sensors connected to
two neurons. One sensor was a light-sensitive resistor mounted
onto the shaft of the front wheel steering-drive assembly. This
arrangement ensured that the photosensitive resistor was always
facing in the direction that the robot was moving. The second sen-
sor was a bump switch attached to the robot’s outer cover. The
three wheels of the robot were arranged in a triangular configura-
tion. The front wheel had a motorized steering assembly that
could rotate a full 360 degrees in one direction. The front wheel
also contained a drive wheel for propulsion. Figure 7.3 shows a
robot turtle built by Walter during the 1940s. This robot is now on
display at the Smithsonian.

FIGURE 7.3
Robot tortoise built by
robotics pioneer William
Grey Walter in 1948.

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