Johns Hopkins Beast

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The Johns Hopkins Beast was an early robot built in the 1960 at Johns Hopkins University. The machine had a rudimentary intelligence and the ability to survive on its own. As it wandered through the white halls of the physics department, it would seek black wall outlets. When it found one it would plug in and recharge.

The robot was cybernetic. It did not use a computer or any digital electronics. Its control circuitry consisted of dozens of transistors controlling analog voltages. It used photocell optics and sonar to navigate.