2013 Event The robot manufacturer Boston Dynamics is purchased by Google for an undisclosed amount; previously contracted by the U.S. military 2013 Event The U.S. Army robot, BigDog from Boston Dynamics, is upgraded to include arm that can manipulate nearby objects with great force; it is able to hurl a cinderblock 15 feet 2013 Event NASA reveals the Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot (RASSOR), a lunar mining robot which could be used to produce fuel and water directly on the Moon 2010 Event The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology announces it has developed the first ever spherical robot with telescopic arms 2003 Death "DeVon ""Robot Man"" Smith", world champion hitchhiker, dies at 76 1992 Death Isaac Asimov, Sci-Fi author (I Robot), dies from kidney failure at 72 1987 Event Monitor, Civil War warship, is discovered by a deep sea robot 1984 Event 1st documented case of a robot killing a human in U.S. 1983 Death Selena Royale, actress (Robot Monster), dies at 78 1977 Event "Dance and Shake Your Tambourine" by Universal Robot Band peaks at #93 1975 Death John Mylong, actor (Robot Monster), dies at 82 1922 Birthday Elmer Bernstein, born in New York City, movie music composer, Robot Monster 1921 Birthday George Nader, born in Pasadena, California, actor, Robot Monster, Away All Boats 1920 Birthday Isaac Asimov, Russia, scientist/writer, I Robot, Foundation Trilogy 1892 Birthday John Mylong, Austria, actor, Robot Monsters 1890 Birthday Karel Capek, Czechoslovakia, writer, R U R, ; coined the word "robot"