Jacques de Vaucanson

Jacques de Vaucanson (February 24,1709-November 21,1782) was a French engineer and inventor who is credited with creating the world's first true robots, as well as for creating the first completely automated loom.

Career as Inventor of Automatons

In 1737, he built his first automaton, The Flute Player, a life-size figure of a shepherd that played the tabor and the pipe and had a repertoire of twelve songs. The following year, in early 1738, he presented his creation to the Académie des Sciences http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/pschmid1/essays/pynchon/vaucanson.html.

Related Topics:
1737 - Automaton - Tabor - 1738 - Académie des Sciences

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At the time, mechanical creatures were somewhat a fad in Europe, but most could be classified as toys, and de Vaucanson's creations were recognized as being revolutionary in their mechanical life-like sophistication.

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Later that year, he created two additional automatons, The Tambourine Player and The Digesting Duck, which is considered his masterpiece. The duck had over 400 moving parts, and could flap its wings, drink water, digest grain, and defecate http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/pschmid1/essays/pynchon/vaucanson.html. He is credited as having invented the world's first flexible rubber tube while in the process of building the duck's intestines. Despite the revolutionary nature of his automatons, he is said to have tired quickly of his creations and sold them in 1743.

Related Topics:
The Digesting Duck - 1743

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His inventions brought him to the attention of Frederick II of Prussia, who sought to bring him to his court. Vaucanson refused, however, wishing to serve his own country http://www.chez.com/soie/vaucans.htm.

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