Ismail Al Jazari: The Father of Robotics
How an Engineer from Upper Mesopotamia Became a Pioneer of Automation
Robotics and automation are becoming increasingly involved in our everyday lives. For better or worse, it seems inevitable that technology is headed further in that direction.
From cars to clocks, we often take automated items for granted.
We encounter them every day, so it’s no surprise that we don’t think too much about the ways in which they are structured.
But, what if you did take a step back and thought about the history of automation?
Who were some of the key figures in its development?
There have been some famous engineers throughout history, including the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci in 15th and 16th Centuries. But, there were also some lesser known pioneers hundreds of years before his time in the medieval Islamic world.
One of which is man called Ismail al-Jazari.
Ismail al-Jazari was born in 1136CE in Upper Mesopotamia (now southeast Turkey). Not much is known about al-Jazari’s upbringing. But, what is clear is that he worked as an engineer in the royal court of the Turkic Artuqids, just as his father had done.
Al-Jazari specialised automating machines. He was a huge fan of previous scientists including Archimedes, Hero of Alexandria, and the more recent, Banu Musa brothers.
His Work
During the Islamic Golden Age, water devices were important in building reservoirs, dams, and developing irrigation techniques. His mechanical devices were also helpful in efficiently extracting water from wells.
Preserving work was vital, so the king ordered al-Jazari to write a book, documenting his inventions and how they operated.
This collection of work would be titled, The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices(1206CE).
Automatic Water-Clocks
His most famous and influential device was The Elephant Clock – This was a 7 metre tall time-telling device.
How did it work?
A bowl with a hole at the bottom is located within the elephant figure, floating on top of water. It slowly sinks into a tank of water until it is completely submerged. Once it is filled, which takes 30 minutes, it tugs on a series of strings which lead to the top.
From there, a ball is released at the top, which then spins the bird around to change the time, and leads the ball into the mouth of the dragon. This then tilts, leading the ball back down to the elephant driver who hits the elephant and starts the mechanism all over again.
Water clocks, such as this, would become significant in helping to determine prayer times more accurately in the Middle East.
Impact
Al-Jazari has left an undeniable legacy in robotics and machinery. Much like the Banu Musa brothers, his manipulation of water was vital in pushing the field of automation and machinery.
This would became clearer in the design of steam engines which came into full effect during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century.
Al-Jazari was also the first to detail the crankshaft; this is another component that would become important in producing automated vehicles, like cars.
His work in creating hydro-mechanical systems and manipulating water pressure laid an important foundation in the development of automatic machines.
His vision for automation was ahead of its time. As with any engineering and scientific endeavour there’s a certain level of imagination, creativity and persistence that’s needed to apply new ideas and concepts.
Multiculturalism in the Muslim World
In many ways, the Elephant Clock represents respect being shown for a wide range of cultures. The clock used Greek technology with elements of Chinese traditions in the form of dragons. It had an Indian elephant, Persian carpet, and Arabic patterns decorated across the device.
The appreciation of other arts and cultures is a common theme throughout the Islamic Golden Age, and this clock is probably one of the best examples of it.
Al-Jazari sought direct inspiration from other thinkers and merged different concepts, both artistically and mechanically.
In a world which has seemingly become so divided, examples like al-Jazari show that this wasn’t always the case throughout history.
Many scientists, engineers and philosophers in the medieval Islamic world knew the value of using different traditions and perspectives, not only to prevent fear or resentment, but to also enhance scientific and technological progress.
They recognised differences in background and thought as strengths, and not as threats.