So, whenever the water level tended to drop in the clepsydra (through its hole), water flowed from the larger container (through the bigger hole) into clepsydra and maintained the water level.īut if there was no drop in level of the water, the purpose of water clock remains incomplete. This was done by using another container (with a bigger hole) to supplement the main clepsydra jar. Known as the clepsydra or “water thieve”, this fascinating automaton always maintained its jar full. But Greek inventor and mathematician Ctesibius seemingly overcame this predicament by creating the world’s first artificial automatic self-regulatory system (in around 250 BC). However, in spite of the simplicity of this prototype design, there is one crucial shortcoming of the system – and that relates how the container would ultimately run out of the water, and had to be manually filled again. Such water clock designs are mentioned in various ancient sources, including Babylonian (17th century BC) Egyptian (15th century BC), Persian (4th century BC), and Indian (3rd century BC). So, as water gradually drained through this hole, the water level got reduced – which was correctly equated with the passing of time. This simple mechanism generally entailed a tank filled with water, but with a small hole in its bottom. But the very phrase ‘flow of time’ might have been derived from man-made contraptions known as water clocks. The comprehension of time itself started with the observation of the sun and stars, and as such the first ‘clock’ in human history was the sky itself. Furthermore, we have decided to include CONCEPTIONS in this list, as opposed to just actual physical designs of the automatons. *Please note – Automaton pertains to “a self-operating machine”, and as such could include mechanisms that are not humanoid. So, without further ado, let us take a gander at six such incredible automaton conceptions from history that preceded modern-day robots. However beyond just legends and myths, there were actual robotic designs that were contrived and conceptualized (before 19th century) by many an ingenious inventor and thinker. Other ancient literary works and mythological anecdotes also allude to similar robotic mechanisms – like the famed Talos, a bronze-made guardian crafted by Hephaestus himself and the ‘ bhuta vahana yanta‘ or mechanical robots of King Ajatasatru of Magadha (Eastern India), who guarded the Buddhist relics. For example, according to a Chinese legend (as mentioned in the 4th century BC Daoist text Lie Zi), one Yan Shi successfully created an automaton that resembled a human form. Contrary to our popular notions, the core concepts (and literary mentions) of automatons or ‘robots’ are almost 2,500 years old.
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