That’s not a machine!

We finish up “building brain bits for bots based on big beasties,” and move on to some things that have to do with actual robots. Searching for the beginnings of the technology, we do make a short visit to the stone age.

Here’s a link to the document that inspired your host to waist his life trying to make a smart robot.

Advanced Automation for Space Missions

Here’s an article about how large enough animals, who need enough energy, can wind up with brains a bit too large for their lifestyles.

Trade-Off between Body Mass and Number of Neurons in the Cerebral Cortex of Large Carnivoran Species

And here’s an article about the earliest stone tools—the beginning of robotic technology before we were even human yet.

Becoming Human: The Origin of Stone Tools