FATHER OF ROBOTICS

 Al-Jazari's work and inventions. He built many automated mechanisms such as moving peacocks powered by hydropower, and the first automatic gates and doors. The impact Al-Jazari had on robotics has been described as : " revealing an interest in manipulating the environment for human comfort” and that its “ greatest contribution was the concept of practical application." One of his most elaborate robots was a musical robot band. It was a boat that floated on a lake and entertained guests with 4 robot musicians on board. 

It's also among the first programmable automata:you could define the drum machine’s rhythms and patterns using pegs. Centuries before modern robotics and computers,Ismail Al-Jazari was building the first automated devices and was among the first to introduce the concept of programming. Despite being relatively unknown to the general public, he can and should be considered as one of the fathers of robotics, as well as one of the "do it yourself" and maker philosophies

With robots getting more and more present in our daily lives, it's interesting to look back and get to know the great minds who first dreamt of a future where machines would help  humans. Let’s take a look at three great minds who are considered the fathers of robotics. Born in Russia in 1920. Isaac Asimov was a prolific American writer with more than 500 books published. And is one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time. Growing up in Brooklyn he demonstrated early the signs of a bright mind and an appetite for reading. At the age of 11, he started writing his own stories and was selling them before he turned 19 Pursuing a degree in chemistry, he earnedhis Ph.D. in 1948. 

He eventually became a professor before switchingto full-time writing in 1958. In his Robot Series, Asimov built a universe and unified history promoting the themes of interaction between humans, robots, and morality. The series would give birth of two important concepts : positronic robots and robotics. And get him the credit for inventing the word robotics. And not only did he coin the term, he alsowrote its fundamental rules. Introduced in 1942, The Three Laws of Robotics define the core principles of modern robotics. Law #1 : A robot may not injure a human being or, through in action, allow a human being to come to harm. Law #2 : A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. Law #3 : A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws These laws would move beyond the realm ofAsimov's work. Becoming a science-fiction postulate, andeven the basics for robotics design. Or any other tool. Asimov did more than just create the conceptof robotics and define its rules.

 He also opened our eyes to what could be thefuture of technology and of humanity. As one of the most prolific authors, his booksinfluenced so many things and people that without him, our world would be very different,and robotics would surely not be where it is today.. Born in Brooklyn  in 1925 Joseph was an American physicist, engineer,and entrepreneur. Growing up in Connecticut during the GreatDepression, he returned to New York City for his college education. He pursued degrees in Physics and Electric Engineering from Columbia University. He met George Devol, a colleague and ownerof a patent for a basic industrial robotic arm, in 1956. When the company they worked for closed their division, finding themselves jobless but with an idea, they founded the world's first robotics company : Unimation. The two men collaborated to design and produce a robotic arm based on Devol's patent. They installed the first unit of the Unimaterobotic arm at a General Motors Plant in New Jersey in 1961. The arm completely disrupted the car manufacturing industry.

 Chrysler and Ford soon followed General Motorsand started deploying Unimates arms in their manufacturing facilities. Five years later, Engelberger and a Unimate robot were guests on The Tonight Show. After leaving Unimation in the 80s, and seeing his parents age, Engelberger saw an opportunity for robotics to improve the medical field. He founded Transitions Research Corporationin 1984, selling the first HelpMate robot unit in 1988. Within the next 10 years, over 100 hospitals worldwide were operating Help Mates. 

Even after leaving his company and being inhis eighties, he remained a very active member in the field and in the community. Joseph Engelberger surpassed himself to develophis companies and democratize robots. He always strived to improve his company's products, and to ensure they provided a positive impact on the world and on human lives. Committed to his vision, he kept working untilhis last years. His work disrupted our world, and it did sowhile following a humanist vision of a better world where robots would improve human lives. Born during the Islamic Golden Age, Ismail Al-Jazari was a polymath. He was simultaneously a scholar, an inventor,a mechanical engineer, an artisan, an artist, and a mathematician. Despite his work traversing the ages, almostnothing is known about his personal life. 

The year of his death he published The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices. Which is considered among the first instances of the "do it yourself" philosophy. Indeed, Ismail Al-Jazari was more interested in the craftsmanship necessary to build a mechanical device rather than in the theoryor the technology behind it. His book gathers 100 devices he built, and the instructions to build them. He was inspired by previous works of other inventors and makers,