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Digesting Duck, 1739 Jacques de Vaucanson Exploring theCGVNI realms 4-2-20 of history, Keeping science, Students nature Top and Ad technology This mechanical duck seemed to have the AUTOMATA ability to eat and poop. Since ancient times, people have been creating mechanical wonders made to look and act like humans or animals. A combination of art and science, these mostly self-operating machines give the illusion of acting on their own. Maillardet’s How they work All automata make use of six Henri Maillardet was a Swiss mechanician basic mechanisms. of the 18th century who worked in , producing clocks and other mechanisms. Cams: The basic principle of His “Draughtsman-Writer” automaton has the cam is to turn a circular the largest “memory” of any automaton ever motion in to one that moves made — it can create four drawings and up and down. three poems (two in French and one in English). It arrived at the The Franklin Institute science museum in Philadelphia in 1928. The com- plex, ruined brass machine was studied and repaired, and the automaton was once again able to draw and write. Floutiste For many years, this automaton wore c. 1869-77 a full outfit of clothes, but today it is This life-size displayed to show more of the inner Cranks: Cranks are often the flute player workings of the automaton. driving mechanism for hand- automaton operated automata. was built by Alexandre Théroude.

Gears: Gears produce move- ments that control the speed of action. They also alter the direction of rotation. Singing bird box (mid-19th century) Draughtsman- These popular Writer mechanical boxes c. 1800 were a Swiss In a word Henri Maillardet invention crafted by talented clock The word automata (the plural of Did you know? makers in . automaton) comes from a Greek During the Han Rachets: The ratchet word meaning “acting of one's dynasty (50 B.C.) is used to slow own will.” The Greek poet Homer a mechanical movement down. used the word to describe auto- orchestra was The Dancing matic movement. made for the Lesson emperor of c. 1895 Looking back China. Roullet et The ancient Greeks made some Decamps very complex automata. These mechanical wonders were used as toys, as religious displays and to demonstrate scientific principles. Levers: A lever helps apply The Greek inventor Ktesibios or transfer force. used water to sound a whistle Wind-up and to move a mechanical owl. lion He also invented a . c. 1930 Steiff Automata continued to amaze people through the Middle Ages Pulleys: In order to speed or and into the Renaissance, when slow movement, the diam- huge, complex clocks with auto- eters of the pulley wheels are mated figures were built. made larger or The 19th century is considered smaller. the Golden Age of automata.

SOURCES: World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc.; The Franklin Institute; https://morrismuseum.org; https://www. Tin toy monkey theriaults.com; https://themadmuseum.co.uk/history-of-automata; Science Corner: History of Humanoids by Molly Lambert; with cymbals Automata: The Golden Age 1848-1914 by Christian Bailly; 1930s https://www.mechanical-toys.com

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