HISTORY

OF
MACHINES
HISTORY OF MACHINES....................................................................................................................................
PREHISTORIC MACHINES AND MECHANISMS...................................................................................
THE MACHINE RENAISSANCE................................................................................................................
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.............................................................................................................
MACHINES AND COMPUTATION..............................................................................................................
IMPORTANCE OF MACHINES AND MECHANISMS....................................................................................
EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY.........................................................................................................
LABOR REDUCTION FROM AUTOMATION..........................................................................................
INCREASED PRECISION AND ACCURACY.............................................................................................
FUTURE DIRECTION OF MACHINES..............................................................................................................
CITATIONS..............................................................................................................................................................

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HISTORY OF MACHINES
Since the dawn of time mankind always sought out means to simplify from the most mundane of
tasks to complex and very difficult problems ,this has led to the advent of machines and
mechanisms . By definition a machine is defined as a device, having a unique purpose, that
augments or replaces human or animal effort for the accomplishment of physical tasks. This
broad category encompasses such simple devices as the inclined plane, lever, wedge, wheel and
axis, pulley, and screws(the so-called simple machines) as well as such complex mechanical
systems as the modern automobile(Encyclopedia Britannica 2023). Analogously a mechanism
can be defined as a device that converts input motion and force/torque to output motions and
force/torque. Mechanisms include linkages, gears and gear trains, cams and followers, belts and
chain drives, and combinations of these. Brakes, clutches, escapements, frames, fasteners,
bearings, springs, lubricants, splines, pins, and keys are also involved(H.H Mabie and C.F
Reinholtz , 1987).

PREHISTORIC MACHINES AND MECHANISMS

In ancient times ancient humans made wedges by repeatedly striking at the edge of an object to
make weapons for hunting which in the hand transforms force and movement of the tool into a
transverse splitting force ,this an early example of a wedge in use to simplify a task. Fastfording
to a later time ,humans created incline planes to move large objects such as blocks for
construction (Dutch, Steven 1999).The wheel, along with the wheel and axle mechanism, was
invented in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) during the 5th millennium BC which led to the
advancement of mankind and the creation of other machines using these mechanisms(D.T.
Potts ,2012).further along ,The lever mechanism first appeared around 5,000 years ago in the
Near East, where it was used in a simple balance scale.One of the 8 wonders of the world ,The
Great Pyramid of Giza , were constructed using using three of the six simple machines, the
inclined plane, the wedge, and the lever ,to move extremely large blocks and other support
structures.

THE MACHINE RENAISSANCE

The renaissance is considered one of the greatest and monumental eras in the discipline of
machines and mechanisms as it is when most fundamentals were developed. During the
Renaissance of Machines, in the 15th and 16th centuries, the need and practice of studies and
designs were identified and regularly developed for enhancing machinery through reference to
previous experiences, studies and designs began. The art of linear perspective drawing arose in
this era for which the likes of Taccola and Leonardo da Vinci. Da vinci was able to develop
machines with a high level of genius because he lived in an environment that accepted his ideas.
He also faced a lot of competition from other designers and builders of similar technical ability.

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Indeed, Francesco di Giorgio may be recognised as a great engineering genius with tremendous
innovative skills and a wide ranging production of machines.The publication of machine
knowledge in the form of treatises began at the end of the fifteenth century.

A first line of activity was the study of machine mechanics as an application of physics that was
undertaken by outstanding personalities like Guidobaldo del Monte and Galileo Galilei.Work
was mainly undertaken in three areas: hydraulics, lifting devices, and war machines, while other
devices such as clocks and automatons were left in the background.Load lifting, radial
movement, and load rotation movement principles were also refined in this era .

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

This era is testament to the prior developments and efforts in machinery and mechanisms, a
culmination of the engineering feats of the past.with the advent of the steam engine that this era
is well known for, led to an influx of automation and development of new machines that would
harness the true capabilities of the steam engine. The perfection and details of the drawing
should also be noted, with diagrams showing a general view, elevation, and cross-section of the
machine with as much information as possible, including exact geometric relations and
dimensions so that the machine could be physically built without any assistance from the
designer. The Industrial Revolution identified the need for a new kind of machine namely for
mass production. Industrial machine tools had specifications and features that were needed for
mass production and with long duration. The first machine of this type may be attributed to John
Wilkinson who, in 1775, built a vertical drilling machine. Then, in 1794, Henry Maudslay
developed an industrial mechanical lathe.The usefulness of steam is based on its performance.
According to texts of the time, “A quintal (~46 kg) of coal carefully used produces an amount of
work that is greater and more regular than that of 12 strong, tough men”. This statement makes it
quite clear that the steam engine and the use of coal as an organic propulsion material had
become an absolutely necessary aid.

MACHINES AND COMPUTATION

One of the oldest and simplest forms of computation is mechanical computation, which involves
using physical devices such as levers, gears, springs, and pulleys to perform arithmetic
operations or logical functions. Examples of mechanical computers include adding machines,
mechanical counters, slide rules, and the Antikythera mechanism. Mechanical computers are
limited by the precision and durability of their components, and by the speed at which they can
operate. However, they have the advantage of being relatively cheap, easy to use, and robust to
environmental conditions.

Later on with the advent of digital electronics revolutionizing computation and research in
general .This technology led to the creation of AI and machine learning that allow machines to
learn and be capable of completing tasks without human involvement.

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IMPORTANCE OF MACHINES AND MECHANISMS
The invention of the mechanisms and machines has helped humans in many ways, machines
have taken a great load off of mankind allowing for even more discoveries and
advancements .Some of the ways machines have helped include ;

EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY

● It has made doing menial tasks easier and in fields like agriculture and farming ,yield has
increased from the advent of machines

● In the field of manufacturing , most redundant tasks are done by large machines therefore
leading to more effective production of goods

● In transportation , machines have led to the mass production of cars and other forms of
transport allowing people to cover great distances easily, this has led to more connectivity
of people leading to more sharing of ideas and resources

LABOR REDUCTION FROM AUTOMATION

● Automation has caused most redundant tasks such as printing and mass manufacturing to
be occupied by machines, freeing up time for people to do other more meaningful and
fulfilling tasks in life.

● People being freed up from labor intensive has led them to take up jobs in other scientific
job leeding again to more research and development of technologies to better people's
lives

● Again as a result of automation ,life expectancy has gone up as people are no longer in
harm's way working with large dangerous machines

INCREASED PRECISION AND ACCURACY

● In the field of medicine ,machines are now capable of doing complex operations on
patients , this allows for greater precision in operations involving delicate tissues and
organs increasing the chance of patients undergoing surgery.

● The manufacturing of goods has also been revolutionized as machines can produce
multiple of the same object with extremely high accuracy

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To conclude, machines and mechanisms have been a great boon to humanity, as they have
enabled us to achieve a lot more than we could have ever imagined. Machines and
mechanisms have improved our efficiency and productivity, reduced our labor needs and
increased our leisure and down time, and enhanced our precision and accuracy in various
fields. Machines and mechanisms are not only tools, but also partners in our quest for
knowledge, innovation and progress. We should appreciate the importance of machines and
mechanisms, and use them wisely and responsibly for the benefit of ourselves and future
generations.

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FUTURE DIRECTION OF MACHINES
It's hard to say what exactly the future holds, but those in the fields of robotics and artificial
intelligence speculate that in the future machines will be fully autonomous meaning that they
would not require any human assistance or effort to complete tasks (Wang Weiyu, 2019).

An area of interest is the development of machines and mechanisms for military purposes.with
modern warfare becoming more and more complex and requiring better soldiers and vehicles
that can cover all terrains and long distances quickly , which can be very costly, which is why a
solution to this is the development of machine swarm systems,that coordinate together
autonomously to perform a specified task. Another future machine for this are soft robots that
change shape to fit into small spaces for better navigation depending on what is required.

Transportation is another field that could see significant changes in the future due to the
advancement of machines and mechanisms. As people seek faster and safer ways to travel across
distances, there is a need for more innovative and sustainable modes of transport that can reduce
congestion, pollution, and accidents. AI and Machine learning will also play a key role as they
allow for vehicles to be fully autonomous ,mitigating the chances of accidents resulting from
human error .

In the field of medicine, new machines known as nanorobots that ,as their names imply ,are
small machines that are capable of entering the body through the blood and capable of operating
on tumors or other diseased areas within the body without having to use large incisions . Also in
future ,humans will be capable of replacing limbs with mechanical prosthetics that read
movement directly from the impulses released by the brain and thus allowing them to move like
a real arm (Collins KL ,2017).

The education sector could also possibly see great strides as the integration of machines becomes
more and more mainstream (Siau 22-24 ,2018).Machines could take over jobs like teaching
students and grading assignments and tests replacing the need for human labor as the machines
would not need to take breaks or take time off. The machines would even work more efficiently
with the aid of machine learning and AI ,allowing it to learn at an exponential rate and improve
while on the job.

To conclude , machines and mechanisms ,though already having a strong footing in our current
society ,could still change and evolve in many ways to fit best as solutions to future
problems.from medicine to military and household and personal use ,machines will very much ,if
not more, be a deep part of human lives as we continue to rely on the machines to solve problems
day to day.

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CITATIONS
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "machine". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Mar. 2023,
https://www.britannica.com/technology/machine. Accessed 24 August 2023.
H.H. Mabie and C.F. Reinholtz, 1987, Mechanisms and Dynamics of Machinery, fourth edition,
John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY (first edition 1957 with Prof. Fred W. Ocvirk).
Dutch, Steven (1999). “Pre-Greek Accomplishments”. Legacy of the Ancient World. Prof. Steve
Dutch's page, Univ. of Wisconsin at Green Bay. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016.
Retrieved March 13, 2012.
D.T. Potts (2012). A Companion to the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. p. 285
C. Cesariano, Di Lucio Vitruvio Pollione de Architectura Libri Dece traducti de latino in
vulgare, raffigurati, commentati (1521)
I.I. Artobolevski, Mechanisms in Modern Engineering Design, 7 vols. (Mir Publishing, Moscow,
1976)
Collins KL, Guterstam A, Cronin J, Olson JD, Ehrsson HH, Ojemann JG. Ownership of an
artificial limb induced by electrical brain stimulation. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences of the United States of America. 2017;114(1):166-171. Accessed Dec
Wang, Weiyu & Siau, Keng. (2019). Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Automation,
Robotics, Future of Work and Future of Humanity: A Review and Research Agenda. Journal of
Database Management. 30. 61-79. 10.4018/JDM.2019010104.
Pizoń, Jakub & Gola, Arkadiusz. (2023). Human-Machine Relationship-Perspective and Future
Roadmap for Industry 5.0 Solutions. 11. 203. 10.3390/machines11020203.
Siau, Keng. (2018). Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: How Will Technology Shape
Learning?. The Global Analyst. 7. 22-24.