We have evidence that mechanized human-like figures date back to ancient times to Greece. The concept of an artificial man is found in works of fiction since the early 19th century. Despite theseinitial thoughts and representations, thedawn of the robotic revolution began in earnest in the 1950s.

George Devol invented the first digitally operated and programmable robotin 1954. This ultimately laid the foundation of the modern robotics industry.

Around 270 B.C. an ancient Greek engineer named Ctesibius made water clocks with automatons or loose figures. Greek mathematicianArchytasof Tarentum postulated a mechanical bird he called "The Pigeon" which was propelled bysteam. Hero of Alexandria (1070 AD)made numerous innovations in the field of automata, including one that allegedly could speak.

Inancient China, an account about an automaton is found in the text, written in the 3rd century BC, in whichKing Mu of Zhouis presented with a life-size, human-shaped mechanical figure by Yan Shi, an "artificer."

Writers and visionaries envisioned a worldincluding robotsin daily life. In 1818, Mary Shelley wrote "Frankenstein," which was about a frightening artificial lifeform come to life by a mad, but brilliant scientist, Dr. Frankenstein.

Then, 100 years later Czech writer Karel Capek coined the term robot, in his 1921 play called "R.U.R." or "Rossum's Universal Robots." The plot was simple and terrifying; the man makes a robot then robot kills a man.

In 1927,Fritz Lang's "Metropolis"was released. TheMaschinenmensch("machine-human"), ahumanoid robot, was the first robot ever to be depicted on film.

Science fiction writer and futurist Isaac Asimov first used the word "robotics" in 1941 to describe the technology of robots and predicted the rise of a powerful robot industry. Asimov wrote "Runaround," a story about robots which contained the "Three Laws of Robotics," which centered around Artificial Intelligence ethics questions.

Norbert Wiener published "Cybernetics," in 1948, which formed the basis of practical robotics, the principles of cybernetics based on artificial intelligence research.

British robotics pioneer William Grey Walter invented robots Elmer and Elsie that mimic lifelike behavior using elementary electronics in 1948. They were tortoise-like robots that were programmed to find their charging stations once they started running low on power.

In 1954 George Devol invented the first digitally operated and a programmable robot called theUnimate. In 1956, Devol and his partner Joseph Engelberger formed the world's first robot company. In 1961, the first industrial robot, Unimate, went online in a General Motors automobile factory in New Jersey.

With the rise of the computer industry, the technology of computers and robotics came together to form artificial intelligence; robots that could learn. The timeline of those developments follows:

Commercial and industrial robots are now in widespread use performing jobs more cheaply or with greater accuracy and reliability than humans. Robots are used for jobs which are too dirty, dangerous or dull to be suitable for humans.

Robots are widely used in manufacturing, assembly and packing, transport, earth and space exploration, surgery, weaponry, laboratory research and mass production of consumer and industrial goods.

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Who Pioneered Robotics? - ThoughtCo