The Mechanical Turk

By Crusader1307

A ‘’automaton’’ designed in 1770s Germany – The ‘’Mechanical Turk’’ was a machine that could play Chess against a Human opponent. Featuring a large wooden table, to which was affixed a robotic torso dressed as a Persian (sometimes called ‘’Oriental’’), the machine was a collection of wires, tubes, etc. The Turk (most often than not) beat those ‘’He’’ played. The robots ‘’arms and hands were so articulated, that it almost moved as a ‘’real’’ Player. For over 80 years, The Turk was exhibited not only in Europe, but Colonial America (even Statesman Benjamin Franklin was beaten by The Turk). But in reality, the robotic Turk was in reality a Human player (whom manipulated the arms and hands very much as a puppet). Hidden behind the mass of wires and other non-working components, the manipulator sat. History speculates on several Chess Masters who were ‘’in on’’ the Hoax, but most of these names can not be proven to any reasonable doubt. In fact, even with the original surviving blueprints, ‘’Modern’’ observers are not quite sure just ‘’how’’ The Turk was made or even worked. In 1854, The Mechanical Turk was destroyed by a fire. But n 1989, a Los Angeles based Magician ‘’acquired’’ the blueprints and set about to construct an exact replica. However, still unsure as to how to place a ‘’real’’ Human inside, a computer Chess Program was used as well as basic (then) modern robots to make The Turk move (according to The Programs commands). To date, The Turk is still seen as a puzzlement in Robotics.