Detailed History: 1950’s and 1960’s
Early development after WWII to handle radioactive material.
These were also teleoperated (master/slave). Robot mimics sensed human action.
At the same time Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine tools were being developed for accurate milling (computer program control, not sensed human mimicking).
1954: George Devol created first robot, combining the manipulator of teleoperated device with programmability of CNC’s.
Patent rights purchased by founder of Unamation.
First robots installed in a GM plant in 1961.
Key was programmability -- robot could be retooled and reprogrammed, giving it operational flexibility.