Humanity didn't just start designing robots one day and the first thing that came out was Boston Dynamics' door-opening dog. Many neurons had to be burned through trial and error to achieve such astonishing results. That's what this list is about: the ancestors of the robots that have been amazing (and frightening) us year after year, the impressive evolution our mechanical slaves have undergone (not counting the "automata" of other eras).

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
1Omnibot MK II

This list comes to you thanks to The Old Robots, whose content is too vast for an article of this nature. On the website you can find vintage robots of all shapes and flavors: personal, educational, experimental, promotional, as well as dozens of beautiful toy robots from all eras. Each entry in the immense database of The Old Robots comes with information and photos, user manuals, patent scans, and videos, where they existed. So if after reviewing our picks you're left wanting more, you just have to visit the site to keep being amazed for a while longer.

The Gallery

Omnibot MK II (1985, Tomy)

A robot that could be controlled with a remote control, capable of moving from side to side and recording and playing sounds (thanks to a cassette player on its chest). It included an alarm clock, which served to play commands programmed in advance at a stipulated time. A little wonder from Tomy.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
A robot that could be controlled with a remote control, capable of moving from side to side and recording and playing sounds (thanks to a cassette player on its chest). It included an alarm clock, which served to play commands programmed in advance at a stipulated time. A little wonder from Tomy.

Denby (1983, World of Robots Corp.)

Denby was a robot the size of a small human. It could rotate its head 360°, move its two arms independently, give a handshake, and bend its body at the waist. It included an audio and video system capable of recording and playing things at a distance.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
Denby was a robot the size of a small human. It could rotate its head 360°, move its two arms independently, give a handshake, and bend its body at the waist. It included an audio and video system capable of recording and playing things at a distance.

DC-1 -Drink Caddy- (1979, Android Amusement Corp)

A little robot controlled by remote control, capable of moving around freely and carrying drinks and candies on its tray. A kind of metallic waiter.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
A little robot controlled by remote control, capable of moving around freely and carrying drinks and candies on its tray. A kind of metallic waiter.

Garco (1953, created by Harvey G. Chapman Jr)

Garco was capable of duplicating the movements of the operator's arm, thanks to sensors located in its electronic "brain". With five joints on each arm, there was little Garco couldn't imitate.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
Garco was capable of duplicating the movements of the operator's arm, thanks to sensors located in its electronic "brain". With five joints on each arm, there was little Garco couldn't imitate.

Gemini (1980, Arctec Systems)

One of the most impressive robots on the list. Gemini was truly autonomous and could move in any environment without an operator. When it detected it was running out of batteries, it was able to recharge itself. It had several processors and a custom operating system to control its artificial intelligence. As if that weren't enough, it had voice recognition, spoke with a robotic voice, and was always aware of its surroundings thanks to environmental sensors. A marvel.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
One of the most impressive robots on the list. Gemini was truly autonomous and could move in any environment without an operator. When it detected it was running out of batteries, it was able to recharge itself. It had several processors and a custom operating system to control its artificial intelligence. As if that weren't enough, it had voice recognition, spoke with a robotic voice, and was always aware of its surroundings thanks to environmental sensors. A marvel.

Genus (1980s, World of Robots)

Possibly the first vacuum cleaner robot in the world, completely programmable. And it not only vacuumed the floor, it also served as home security (intruder, fire, gas leak, and water leak detector), used its arms to pick up and move things, and had a port to connect a keyboard (necessary for programming it), with 48K of memory. A luxury.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
Possibly the first vacuum cleaner robot in the world, completely programmable. And it not only vacuumed the floor, it also served as home security (intruder, fire, gas leak, and water leak detector), used its arms to pick up and move things, and had a port to connect a keyboard (necessary for programming it), with 48K of memory. A luxury.

Gygan Robot (1957, Peter Fiorito)

Built by Peter Fiorito, Gygan was capable of reading the newspaper, showing its "humor" through lights on its chest, and moving its arms while being controlled remotely. Fiorito believed that Gygan's basic principles were the future of atomic energy, because it could pick up things with its hands and move around, unaffected by the radioactivity of the environment.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
Built by Peter Fiorito, Gygan was capable of reading the newspaper, showing its "humor" through lights on its chest, and moving its arms while being controlled remotely. Fiorito believed that Gygan's basic principles were the future of atomic energy, because it could pick up things with its hands and move around, unaffected by the radioactivity of the environment.

Omniglio - Experimental Omnibot (1980s, Tomy)

Another toy from Tomy. It was an experimental robot with all the virtues of the Omnibot, with the ability to move its arms and pick up light objects with its "hands".

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
Another toy from Tomy. It was an experimental robot with all the virtues of the Omnibot, with the ability to move its arms and pick up light objects with its "hands".

Marvin Mark I (1985, Iowa Precision Robotics, Ltd.)

Marvin Mark I had a vocabulary of 500 words, which it could use to hold a conversation (much more than some people I know!), it could move around everywhere, had a "sonar" and two arms with six axes that could be programmed to perform autonomous tasks.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
Marvin Mark I had a vocabulary of 500 words, which it could use to hold a conversation (much more than some people I know!), it could move around everywhere, had a "sonar" and two arms with six axes that could be programmed to perform autonomous tasks.

Modulus (1984, Sirius)

The "friend of homo-sapiens", designed for home use, but with possibilities for future expansion because it was modular (hence the name). Furthermore, it seems like a nice guy, I would invite it for a beer.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
The "friend of homo-sapiens", designed for home use, but with possibilities for future expansion because it was modular (hence the name). Furthermore, it seems like a nice guy, I would invite it for a beer.

Mr. Telebot (1982, Android Amusement Corp)

There is little information about Mr. Telebot. But, if one has to go by the photos, its name, and its appearance, it is plausible to conclude that it was a telepresence robot controlled remotely, capable of moving its arms, traveling over various terrains, and attending parties where formal attire is required.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
There is little information about Mr. Telebot. But, if one has to go by the photos, its name, and its appearance, it is plausible to conclude that it was a telepresence robot controlled remotely, capable of moving its arms, traveling over various terrains, and attending parties where formal attire is required.

Odex I (1984, Odetics Inc)

Coming straight from your worst nightmares, Odex-1 shows that robots can come in all shapes and colors. Weighing 136 kilograms and with six "legs", Odex-1 looked like a metallic octopus. This terrifying robot was able to lift 952 kilograms vertically or 408 kilograms without decreasing its normal speed. In fact, during tests, engineers managed to have Odex lift a pickup truck without breaking or complaining.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
Coming straight from your worst nightmares, Odex-1 shows that robots can come in all shapes and colors. Weighing 136 kilograms and with six "legs", Odex-1 looked like a metallic octopus. This terrifying robot was able to lift 952 kilograms vertically or 408 kilograms without decreasing its normal speed. In fact, during tests, engineers managed to have Odex lift a pickup truck without breaking or complaining.

Quadracon (1984, ShowAmerica Inc.)

Quadracon was a robot designed for promotional purposes. You could rent it for events or shows, where the little robot acted as host or entertainment. It could speak several languages and shake hands with guests. It was controlled by a remote control via FM radio and had little lights on its chest, among other things.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
Quadracon was a robot designed for promotional purposes. You could rent it for events or shows, where the little robot acted as host or entertainment. It could speak several languages and shake hands with guests. It was controlled by a remote control via FM radio and had little lights on its chest, among other things.

RP-IIIZ Robot (1980s, The Robot People Company)

A little robot for promotional purposes that was rented for events, conventions, and commercial shows. Its main function was to attract people, so don't think it was an engineering milestone. Controlled by an operator, the robot included a microphone to capture user questions and a speaker through which the answers of someone who put on a robotic voice were heard. The Wizard of Oz, almost.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
A little robot for promotional purposes that was rented for events, conventions, and commercial shows. Its main function was to attract people, so don't think it was an engineering milestone. Controlled by an operator, the robot included a microphone to capture user questions and a speaker through which the answers of someone who put on a robotic voice were heard. The Wizard of Oz, almost.

Tinker (1966, Dennis Weston of Leeds)

One of the cutest robots on the list, because it looks like it came out of a science fiction movie from the 60s. No wonder, since it was designed in that decade by Dennis Weston of Leeds. We already dedicated an entire article to this robotic marvel, where you can even see it in action in a video, so I invite you to stop by here.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
One of the cutest robots on the list, because it looks like it came out of a science fiction movie from the 60s. No wonder, since it was designed in that decade by Dennis Weston of Leeds. We already dedicated an entire article to this robotic marvel, where you can even see it in action in a video, so I invite you to stop by here.

Kludge (1983, Cybermation Inc.)

An industrial, modular, and omnidirectional robot. It was capable of manipulating materials and traversing uneven terrain (since it could change direction without turning and overcome slopes of up to 10 centimeters). Being modular, Kludge could be customized depending on the task for which it was needed.

Robots of the Past: The Most Interesting Retro Robots (Gallery)
An industrial, modular, and omnidirectional robot. It was capable of manipulating materials and traversing uneven terrain (since it could change direction without turning and overcome slopes of up to 10 centimeters). Being modular, Kludge could be customized depending on the task for which it was needed.

Anyway... which is your favorite robot from the list? The one I like most is Odex-1, which seems to come out of "Matrix". Garco amuses me, because in the country where I live that means something very scatological.