What was the first real robot in history?

We know that robotics is a branch of engineering and science concerned with the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. But what exactly are robots? The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) defines them as programmable machines capable of performing tasks previously exclusive to humans.

We’ve all heard of fictional creations from literature and film, such as ‘Metropolis’ (1927), a film where robots play a pivotal role, particularly the humanoid robot character of Maria. But robots became a reality many years ago, which has made us think... What was the first real robot in history?

We must travel back to 1939 to meet Elektro, the living proof that robotics hasn’t always been as we know it today.

The first robot in history: Elektro

The world’s first humanoid robot was named Elektro. It was developed by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation and was unveiled at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

Elektro stood about two metres tall, weighed approximately 120 kg, and could perform 26 different movements. Among its capabilities, Elektro was able to speak (with a vocabulary of 700 words recorded on a phonograph), walk, move its head and arms, smoke cigarettes, and inflate balloons.

Elektro became a symbol of technological progress during an era overshadowed by the Great Depression and the Second World War. Following its success, Elektro was joined by Sparko, a robotic dog capable of obeying commands and executing basic movements. This robotic duo remained a popular attraction until the late 1960s.

Milestones in the history of robotics

The concept of machines performing human tasks isn’t a recent development, though it might appear so. The term “robot” was first coined in 1921 by Czech writer Karel Čapek in his play “R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots).” In his work, robots were artificial beings created to serve humans.

Since the creation of Elektro, robotics has advanced significantly. In 1956, George Devol and Joseph Engelberger founded Unimation, the first robotics company. The first industrial robot, called Unimate, was installed on the General Motors assembly line in 1961, ushering in the era of robotics in manufacturing. 

But, in recent history, what have been some of the latest advancements in robotics? We expect you will be familiar with some of these:

• 1997. The first autonomous mobile robot on Mars.
• 2002. Roomba vacuum cleaner: iRobot launched Roomba, the first commercially successful robotic vacuum cleaner.
• 2012. Baxter, the collaborative robot designed to work alongside humans in industrial settings.
• 2020. Disinfection robots during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 2021. Ameca, the advanced humanoid robot that displays realistic facial expressions and interacts more naturally with humans.
• 2023. Tesla introduced a functional prototype of its humanoid robot, Tesla Bot, also known as Optimus.
• 2023. Archax, the ‘transformer’ made real by Japanese company Tsubame Industries. It stands 4.5 metres tall, weighs 3.5 tonnes, transforms into a car, and can reach speeds of 10 km/h.

Now that we’re up to speed on the latest advancements in robotics, we mustn’t overlook the most recent curiosities about robots.

Two curiosities about robots that you might not know

Some of the most astonishing achievements in the world of robotics offer a glimpse into the future of technology.

The world’s fastest robot

In the realm of modern robotics, one of the stand-out accomplishments is the development of the world’s fastest robot, H1, created by Evolution Unitree Robotics. H1 is capable of reaching speeds of nearly 12 kilometers per hour, breaking the Guinness World Record as the fastest full-sized humanoid robot. 

This humanoid robot is the size of an average person, only much lighter. It features a depth camera and 3D LiDAR to map its surroundings in 3D. It maintains balance despite impacts and has an advanced propulsion system that allows it to move with great speed and agility over difficult terrain.

A robot that generates and stores electricity from the sun

In the field of innovation in robotics and renewable energy, a robot was recently introduced that generates and stores electricity by harnessing solar power. Developed by a team of researchers in Spain, this robot uses flexible solar panels to capture solar energy and store it in integrated batteries.

This type of technology has the potential to revolutionise how we manage energy in remote applications and autonomous devices.

From the earliest concepts to today’s advanced robots, robotics has come a long way. Elektro, the first humanoid robot, ushered in a technological era that continues to advance. With robots like Cheetah and those that utilise solar energy, the future of robotics promises to keep transforming how we interact with the world.