Jacques de Vaucanson: the father of simulation

Jacques de Vaucanson's accomplishments are remarkable from almost every standpoint. His appreciation of human anatomy allowed him to formalize and discuss at the Royal Academie of Churgeons the first surgery/anatomy trainer.

Works on the history of automata are replete with descriptions of de Vaucanson's creations. I sought to better understand this intriguing individual and his mechanical accomplishments in light of current interest in surgical simulators and skill enhancement.

de Vaucanson is known to have built at least three highly sophisticated automated robotic devices. His first robot was constructed in 1735: a life-sized flutist that could play 12 melodies. The fingers moved by levers, and a bellow-like device piped air into the robot's mouth. His second robot, another musician, could play 20 melodies. His third automaton became the most famous, a mechanical duck. The duck consisted of a gold-plated copper exterior with more than a thousand moving parts, including a gastrointestinal system. Voltaire would quip that France now had as its glorious mascot a golden creature that was famous for its excrement. Lastly, de Vaucanson created another musical automaton that could play 20 melodies.

de Vaucanson worked with famed surgeon La Cat and in 1741 gave a talk to the Academy of Art on "Constructing an automaton figure which will imitate in its movements animal functions, the circulation of blood, respiration, digestion, the combination of muscles, tendons, nerves, etc." The Academy's minutes recorded "this ingenious machine, which will represent a human anatomy lesson." Add to de Vaucanson's list of accomplishments as devising, albeit not producing, the first anatomic simulator.