Hero of Alexandria

Hero describes automatic spectacles, including birds made to sing with air and water, and a cart that moves by itself. A rope wound around its axle, with pegs placed at selected points, determines when it travels straight and when it turns. In modern terms, it resembles a program stored in rope.

Why it is in the museum

This room shows that the desire for self-moving machines, logical rules and artificial beings is far older than the electronic computer.

What supports this exhibit

Primary technical text

Descriptions of automata and programmable mechanical sequences.

Main source: Hero of Alexandria, Automata; Pneumatica.

The source is listed here, but no direct link is currently available in the register.

What to keep in mind: Historical engineering, not artificial intelligence in the modern sense.

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