A  robot is any automatically operated machine that replaces human effort. Simply put, a robot is a machine that can do what you, I or any other human can do. Robots are controlled by computers but designed and built by robotic engineers. Some robots are very complex like the ones used in hospitals that actually do surgery. Other robots are pretty simple such as the little vacuum that is popular today or the robotic lawn mower that lives down the street from me. I love that guy! Where did robots first pop into the human brain and where are they now? Is there a future for them and what will it be?

Sometimes when you believe in something enough, you will work hard to make it happen. This is what happened to Joseph Engelberger. He believed that technology was important and when he met George Devol, an inventor, he knew that the two could make a working robot. In 1959 he convinced the GM car manufacturer to use his robot named Unimate #001 in their plant in New Jersey. Within seven years manufacturers all over the world were using those robots.  It is because of his imagination, hard work and belief that Joseph Engelberger is known as “the father of robotics”. During his life he won many awards, was recognised for his work and even wrote some books.

The first robot that archaeologists have discovered was a very simple clock and chime system which was built in 3,000 B.C. That is a whopping 5,000 years ago. Since then robots have come a long way. Robots were not called robots then, but in 1920 the word was used in a play written by Karl Capek. After Capek’s play many writers included robots in science fiction writing. Some were even stars in movies, television shows and cartoons. In the 1960s the Jetson’s robot Rosie took care of the futuristic Jetson family, and Lost in Space had robot B-9 named Robot who watched over the Robinson family. The idea that robots could ever do any of the things they were doing then were unimaginable by most people during that time. 

Today robots work in space, make cars, swim to the bottom of the ocean and soar way above our heads. Some engineers are working to perfect self-driving cars, trucks and trains, and others are working on robotic pets. Boston Dynamics is working to perfect humanoid robots with their robot named Atlas. Who knew that a robot could do Parkour? If you are interested in learning more about robotics check with your school. Many schools offer robotics clubs and classes, and even hold robotics competitions.