MT Magazine May/June 2024

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The Curious History of Robots BY ANDRA KEAY | MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SILICON VALLEY ROBOTIC CHRIS CAVALLO | CONTRIBUTING WRITER In 1963, Johnny Carson invited Joseph Engelberger, the man who later became known as the father of modern robotics, onto the stage of “The Tonight Show.” Next to them was a 3000-pound hydraulically actuated behemoth introduced as the Unimate. The giant machine played golf better than Carson. It poured a beer like in the commercials. The Unimate even ended the show by leading the band. This investigation into the origins of robotics will reveal the strange evolution and colorful minds that brought us the manufacturing innovations on which we now rely.