The First Robot Was a 50-Year-Old Man - Apparently.
In 1920, the first robot, called the "Robot Bandit," was a suit of mechanical armor designed by French inventor Jacques de la Rue. The robot was a 50-year-old man, named Jean Mermet, who was encased in a metal exoskeleton. Mermet's job was to walk around a department store, promoting the sales of a local newspaper. This early robot was a precursor to modern robots, paving the way for the development of robotic technology.