Technical reporter(wp/es):
London’s Science Museum has brought the UK’s first ever robot “back to life” – thanks to a crowdfunding campaign.
Eric the robot disappeared just months after wowing crowds across the world when he was created in 1928.
The Rebuilding Eric Kickstarter campaign was launched in May and pulled-in £51, 813 from 861 donors.
A replica of the machine was launched tonight and will go on display to the public from tomorrow until November 30.
Ben Russell, curator at the museum, described how Eric was put together based on “a few newspaper clippings and an old video”.
He said: “Eric holds a unique place in our history. He was everything we now imagine a robot to be – a talking, moving mechanical person.
“Originally built in 1928 by Captain Richards & A.H. Reffell, Eric was one of the world’s first robots. Built less than a decade after the word robot was first used, he travelled the globe with his makers but then disappeared, seemingly forever.
“In May 2016, 861 backers joined our Kickstarter campaign to bring Eric back to life. Thanks to this support we worked with artist and robot builder Giles Walker to recreate Eric, keeping his appearance as close to the original as possible. Eric has now been saved for the nation as part of our permanent collection.”
London’s Science Museum has brought the UK’s first ever robot “back to life” – thanks to a crowdfunding campaign.
Eric the robot disappeared just months after wowing crowds across the world when he was created in 1928.
The Rebuilding Eric Kickstarter campaign was launched in May and pulled-in £51, 813 from 861 donors.
A replica of the machine was launched tonight and will go on display to the public from tomorrow until November 30.
Ben Russell, curator at the museum, described how Eric was put together based on “a few newspaper clippings and an old video”.
He said: “Eric holds a unique place in our history. He was everything we now imagine a robot to be – a talking, moving mechanical person.
“Originally built in 1928 by Captain Richards & A.H. Reffell, Eric was one of the world’s first robots. Built less than a decade after the word robot was first used, he travelled the globe with his makers but then disappeared, seemingly forever.
“In May 2016, 861 backers joined our Kickstarter campaign to bring Eric back to life. Thanks to this support we worked with artist and robot builder Giles Walker to recreate Eric, keeping his appearance as close to the original as possible. Eric has now been saved for the nation as part of our permanent collection.”
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