The first robot was inspired by a sewing machine

In 1868, French inventor Jacques de Vaucanson created a mechanical duck that could quack, flap its wings, and even eat and digest food. However, the precursor to his mechanical duck was a series of automata, including a mechanical flute player, and most notably, a mechanical loom and sewing machine. These early machines used a combination of clockwork and pneumatics to mimic human-like actions, laying the groundwork for the development of modern robots.

Verification: The Smithsonian Institution has an exhibit featuring Vaucanson's automata, and several books and articles have documented his contributions to robotics.