While the term robot entered the English language in 1923, the concept of a robot existed long before. One of the earliest was designed by Leonardo da Vinci around 1495, though it's unknown if he attempted to build one. His designs were documented in a notebook then lost to history. In the 1950s the notebook was discovered and an effort was made to construct the robot, staying as true to the original design as possible. The robot's design allowed it to perform several human-like motions, including sitting up and moving arms, neck and jaw.
The reconstructed robot is now on display in Berlin. Mario Toddei has written a book about the robot, which includes some new information about its construction.
-Professor Walter
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