George Devol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Devol
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George Devol in 1982
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| Born | February 20, 1912 |
| Died | August 11, 2011 (aged 99) |
| Occupation | Inventor, entrepreneur |
| Spouse(s) | Evelyn Jahelka |
George Charles Devol Jr. (born February 20, 1912 – died August 11, 2011) was an American inventor. He is famous for creating Unimate, which was the very first industrial robot. The National Inventors Hall of Fame recognized his work. They stated that Devol's patent for the first programmable robotic arm laid the groundwork for all modern robotics.
Early Life and First Inventions
George Devol grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. He came from a well-off family. He attended Riordan Prep school during his younger years.
Instead of going to college, George Devol started his own business in 1932. His company, United Cinephone, made equipment for the new "talkies" (sound movies). He later realized bigger companies like RCA were doing similar work. So, he decided to stop making that product.
In 1939, Devol thought of a new idea for laundry machines. He wanted to use radio waves to make them open and close automatically. This would help workers. When World War II began, his patent application was put on hold.
During the war, Devol worked on important projects. He joined Sperry Gyroscope and helped develop radar technology. Radar helps detect objects using radio waves. Later, he started General Electronics Industries. This company made devices to counter enemy radar for the United States Navy and United States Army Air Forces. These devices were used by Allied planes on D-Day.
After the war, Devol continued inventing. He even helped develop the first commercial microwave oven technology. It was called the "Speedy Weeny" and could quickly cook hotdogs in places like Grand Central Terminal.
In the early 1950s, Devol worked on a digital magnetic recording system. This system was meant for controlling machines. Even though it was too slow for business data, this invention later became the "brain" for his famous Unimate robot.
The Birth of Robotics: Unimate
George Devol saw how factories were starting to use more automation. He realized there was a need for a machine that could do many different tasks. In 1954, he applied for a patent for his robotics idea. This patent, granted in 1961, introduced the idea of "universal automation." His wife, Evelyn, suggested the name "Unimate" for this new product.
Devol explained that his invention was a "general purpose machine." It could be used for many different jobs where a machine needed to follow a set of digital instructions.
Finding someone to help build his robot was a challenge. Devol eventually met Joseph Engelberger, an engineer who was very interested. They worked together, and a new company division, Unimation Incorporated, was formed. Engelberger became its president.
The first Unimate robots used special electronic parts called vacuum tubes. Later versions used smaller, more efficient transistors. Many parts for the Unimate had to be designed and built from scratch. This was because existing parts were not good enough.
In 1960, George Devol personally sold the very first Unimate robot. It was delivered in 1961 to General Motors, a big car company. GM used the robot for handling hot metal in die casting and for spot welding car parts. Soon, other car makers like Chrysler, Ford, and Fiat also started buying Unimate robots.
It cost about $5 million to develop the first Unimate. By 1966, after many tests, Unimation started full-scale production in Connecticut. These robots could handle materials, weld, and do many other factory jobs.
In 1975, Unimation finally started making a profit. In 1978, they developed another important robot called PUMA. PUMA stands for "Programmable Universal Machine for Assembly."
In 2005, Popular Mechanics magazine named Devol's Unimate one of the Top 50 Inventions of the Past 50 Years. This shows how important his invention was.
Recognizing a Visionary and His Legacy
George Devol received many honors for his groundbreaking work.
- He became an honorary member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 1985.
- In 2011, he was inducted into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame.
- He was also a member of the Automation Hall of Fame.
- Today, Unimate robots are part of the collections at the Henry Ford and Smithsonian Museums.
- Devol's personal archives are kept at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
George Devol passed away on August 11, 2011, at the age of 99. He lived in Wilton, Connecticut. He left behind a loving family, including two daughters, two sons, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He was buried in Wilton.
