Page 54 - Modern Robotics Building Versatile Macines

34 Modern Robotics

1956 Devol and Engelberger found Unimation, Inc.

1957 Engelberger founds Consolidated Controls Corporation in
Danbury, Connecticut

1961 An industrial robot (Unimate) is installed for the fi rst time on
a production line, at General Motors

1966 A robot appears on The Tonight Show starring Johnny
Carson, demonstrating bartending, golfing, and music skills

1977 The Robotics Industry Association establishes the Joseph
Engelberger Award for outstanding achievement in robotics

1980 Engelberger publishes Robotics in Practice
1982 Unimation is acquired by Westinghouse. Engelberger
soon leaves the fi rm and founds Transition Research
Corporation

1984 Engelberger founds HelpMate Robotics, Inc.
1989 Engelberger publishes Robotics in Service
1999 HelpMate Robotics is acquired by Cardinal Health

2000 Engelberger gives the keynote speech at the World Automation
Congress

2003 About $877 million worth of industrial robots are purchased
in the United States alone

Further Reading

Books
Engelberger, Joseph F. Robotics in Practice: Management and
Applications of Industrial Robots. New York: AMACOM, 1980.
In this textbook of industrial robotics, Engelberger gives a nod to his
mentor by including a foreword by Isaac Asimov.
———. Robotics in Service. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1989.
Reflects Engelberger’s later focus on service robots in nonindustrial
workplaces, including technology for obstacle sensing and navigation
and a survey of 15 possible application areas.