Automata Old and New

"Automata Old and New" by Conrad William Cooke is a historical exploration of self-operating machines, with roots in ancient civilizations leading up to more modern-day creations. The book explores the connection between artistry and technical skill, focusing on prominent individuals such as Hero of Alexandria and Robert-Houdin, who influenced this interesting area. Cooke shares his motivation to present a paper on automata after a discussion on Robert-Houdin. Cooke plans to focus his study of automata on devices similar to living things that display self-movement. He mentions examples from old writings, noting moving statues and machinery from well-known people like Homer and Aristotle, stating that the mechanical inventiveness of ancient societies built the path for the advancement of automata. The opening shows both the historical value of automata and Cooke's commitment to investigating their technical complexities.