Unimate
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Unimate was the first industrial robot,[1] which worked on a General Motors assembly line in New Jersey, in 1961.[2][3] It was created by George Devol in the 1950s using his original patents. Devol, together with Joseph Engelberger started Unimation, the world's first robot manufacturing company.[4]
The machine undertook the job of transporting die castings from an assembly line and welding these parts on auto bodies--a dangerous task for workers, who might be poisoned by exhaust gas or lose a limb if they were not careful.
The original Ultimate consisted of a large computer-like box, joined to another box and was connected to an arm, with systematic tasks stored in a drum memory. Modern versions feature up to six degrees of freedom and are designed for high speed handling of car parts, but can be programmed for other tasks.
In 2003 the Unimate was inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Nof, Shimon Y. (1999). Handbook of Industrial Robotics (2nd Edition ed.). John Wiley & Sons. pp. 3–5. ISBN 0-471-17783-0.
- ^ 1961: Installation of the First Industrial Robot
- ^ Menzel, Peter; Faith D'Aluisio (2000). Robo sapiens: evolution of a new species. The MIT Press. pp. 186–189. ISBN 0-262-13382-2.
- ^ 1961: The First Robot
- ^ The Robot Hall of Fame: Unimate
