CRONOS/ECCE1, the first anthropomimetic robot

CRONOS/ECCE1 anthropomimetic robot, whose body structure is based on a human. Conceived by Owen Holland and constructed by Rob Knight, 2005. Made of 3D printed plastics, bungee cord (rope, rubber, elastic) electronic components, wood, aluminium, steel, wire, insulation cord

With its hand-crafted skeleton and complex rigging of artificial tendons, CRONOS was one of the first robots built with a human-like body structure. Humans spend their first few years learning how to use their complex bodies. Roboticist Owen Holland believes that this process is key to developing an advanced mind, and CRONOS was built to explore whether a robot with a human-like body could learn to control its own movements. Owen later wrote of his experiences with the robot:

'My role in the creation of CRONOS was limited to having the idea of making a robot that was like a human being on the inside with a human-like skeleton and elastic muscles, hustling the money for it from EPSERC, and asking Rob if he could make such a robot. He said yes. He would occasionally come back to me with questions about design choices and acceptable compromises, but CRONOS was essentially Rob's creation - the material reality transcended the original idea, and I was as surprised as anyone at the immediate emotional and intellectual impact of what he had achieved.'

This is a powerful statement of the imaginative power of the humanoid robot.