Page 35 - Modern Robotics Building Versatile Macines

A NEW SCIENCE 15

Grey Walter’s robotic tortoise used simple motors, relays, and a photocell to
detect light. Nevertheless, its feedback circuits produced remarkably complex
behavior, particularly when interacting with other tortoise robots. (© Science
and Society Picture Library)

sensors and switches, the tortoise robots seemed to behave in intri-
cate ways. When lights were mounted on two robots, they began a
sort of “mating dance.” The cybernetic tortoise can be viewed as the
first mobile robot to interact meaningfully with its environment.

The Boston Arm

Another project had a more immediate practical use. For many
years, Wiener had expressed an interest in designing mechanical
aids or prostheses to help people who had lost a limb. In 1961,
Wiener’s interest was further piqued by comments made by his
doctor while Wiener was hospitalized for a broken hip.