Westinghouse · Humanoid · 1939
One of the most famous early humanoid robots, built by J.M. Barnett and Westinghouse engineers in Mansfield, Ohio between 1937 and 1938 and unveiled at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Standing 2.1 m (7 ft) and 120 kg, Elektro had a steel gear-cam-motor skeleton under an aluminium skin, walked by voice command, spoke about 700 words via a 78-rpm record player, moved its head and arms, smoked cigarettes and blew up balloons. Its photoelectric 'eyes' could distinguish red from green light. In 1940 it was joined by the robot dog Sparko.
Price on application
View full interactive profile, comparisons & videos →| Category | Humanoid |
| Status | Active |
| Year | 1939 |
| Weight | 120 kg |
| Frame | Steel gear/cam/motor skeleton with aluminium skin |
| Camera | Photoelectric 'eyes' (distinguish red/green light) |
| Actuator type | Electric motors + relays |
| Use cases | World's Fair exhibition, Museum / heritage |
| Made in | USA (Westinghouse, Mansfield, Ohio) |