Al-Jazari

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0:00:02 > 0:00:03This is Absolute Genius!

0:00:03 > 0:00:08Dive into a world of action, adventure and explosions.

0:00:09 > 0:00:13Each show, we'll introduce you to a different genius.

0:00:13 > 0:00:17An amazing person, who had a genius idea which shaped the world.

0:00:17 > 0:00:19And they will inspire us to come up

0:00:19 > 0:00:22with our own genius idea at the end of each show.

0:00:22 > 0:00:25- But, will it be any good? - Will it be any good?!

0:00:25 > 0:00:27It'll be...

0:00:27 > 0:00:29BOTH: Absolute Genius!

0:00:31 > 0:00:35'On today's show, we'll be making things go round and round...'

0:00:35 > 0:00:36Circular motion.

0:00:36 > 0:00:38'Up and down,

0:00:38 > 0:00:40'in and out.

0:00:40 > 0:00:44'As we explore a mysterious engineering genius

0:00:44 > 0:00:45'from centuries ago.

0:00:45 > 0:00:48'We'll be entering a world of curious machines

0:00:48 > 0:00:50'and fantastic robots.'

0:00:50 > 0:00:52- This...- ..is Absolute...- ..Genius!

0:01:26 > 0:01:29Today's genius was an extraordinary showman!

0:01:29 > 0:01:31Yes, he built mind-blowing machines,

0:01:31 > 0:01:34that were designed to entertain and impress everyone who saw them.

0:01:34 > 0:01:37He lived more than 800 years ago, in a country

0:01:37 > 0:01:39far, far, far-far-far, from here.

0:01:39 > 0:01:43A brilliant mechanical engineer, craftsman, and an inventor.

0:01:43 > 0:01:46Ladies and gentleman, we give you... Al Jazari!

0:01:46 > 0:01:48Actually, boys, my full name is

0:01:48 > 0:01:54Badi'al-Zaman Abu al-'Izz ibn Isma'il ibn al-Razaz Al Jazari.

0:01:54 > 0:01:57- Finished? - But you can call me Al.

0:01:57 > 0:01:59Later on in the show, inspired by his genius,

0:01:59 > 0:02:02we'll be coming up with our own genius idea.

0:02:02 > 0:02:05'Yes, we'll be getting out the power tools...'

0:02:05 > 0:02:06Yes!

0:02:06 > 0:02:10'Precision engineering a machine with just one purpose...'

0:02:10 > 0:02:12BANGING

0:02:12 > 0:02:15But now, let's find out more about this mysterious man.

0:02:18 > 0:02:21Al Jazari was born in the year 1136 in the Middle East,

0:02:21 > 0:02:25roughly where the country of Iraq is today.

0:02:25 > 0:02:27He spoke the language of Arabic

0:02:27 > 0:02:31and worked as the chief engineer for a Middle-Eastern king.

0:02:33 > 0:02:37Al Jazari's genius was designing and building extraordinary machines!

0:02:37 > 0:02:41We know about him because of a brilliant book he wrote called...

0:02:45 > 0:02:48In it, he shows a great understanding of engineering ideas

0:02:48 > 0:02:50that are still very important today.

0:02:50 > 0:02:55And it's also packed with amazing designs of mechanical human figures,

0:02:55 > 0:02:59machines that are some of the world's first ever robots.

0:03:03 > 0:03:07Very few copies of Al Jazari's book have actually survived.

0:03:07 > 0:03:09Which is why we've come here.

0:03:09 > 0:03:12This building is the Bodleian Library in Oxford University.

0:03:12 > 0:03:17And it holds some of the oldest and most valuable books in the world.

0:03:17 > 0:03:20This amazing library contains 11 million books

0:03:20 > 0:03:24and is more than 400 years old.

0:03:24 > 0:03:27But the book we're going to see is even older than that.

0:03:30 > 0:03:33Meet Professor Salim Al-Hassani,

0:03:33 > 0:03:36an expert on the ideas and machines of Al Jazari.

0:03:36 > 0:03:39So, Professor, what is this beautiful-looking book?

0:03:39 > 0:03:43This is a copy of a book written by Al Jazari

0:03:43 > 0:03:47entitled The Book Of Knowledge Of Ingenious Mechanical Devices.

0:03:47 > 0:03:50- It's about 500 years old. - A 500-year-old copy!

0:03:50 > 0:03:53What was the date of the original?

0:03:53 > 0:03:55Something like 1206.

0:03:55 > 0:03:58And what does it actually contain? What's it about?

0:03:58 > 0:04:01It's about all sorts of machines and devices,

0:04:01 > 0:04:04and robots, clocks, water-raising machines.

0:04:04 > 0:04:06What kind of machines did Al Jazari invent?

0:04:06 > 0:04:09I can show you one. Let's have a look. This is a model.

0:04:09 > 0:04:11This model is battery-operated.

0:04:11 > 0:04:15But the original machine would have been driven by animal power.

0:04:15 > 0:04:17This is a water-raising machine,

0:04:17 > 0:04:21which shows us a fantastic original principle

0:04:21 > 0:04:24of how to convert rotary motion into a linear motion,

0:04:24 > 0:04:28which you can find in so many machines today.

0:04:28 > 0:04:32As the animal turns this round, it's converting the motion up and down.

0:04:32 > 0:04:36Ah, so what's happening is that a circular motion

0:04:36 > 0:04:40- is being turned into an up-and-down motion.- Yes.- Ah, very good.

0:04:40 > 0:04:43Now, on Al Jazari's original water-raising machine,

0:04:43 > 0:04:47there would have been a big spoon at the end of the rod

0:04:47 > 0:04:48to scoop up the water.

0:04:48 > 0:04:51This ingenious device uses what's known as

0:04:51 > 0:04:54a crank-and-connecting-rod mechanism

0:04:54 > 0:04:59and Al Jazari was a pioneer in using this system.

0:04:59 > 0:05:03And that engineering principle of converting a circular movement

0:05:03 > 0:05:05into a vertical or horizontal one,

0:05:05 > 0:05:08is still used in lots of machines today.

0:05:08 > 0:05:12- Could we see this in the modern day? - If you know where to look for it.

0:05:12 > 0:05:15I think there's only one person who can find this for us.

0:05:15 > 0:05:17- Fran.- Fran right. - Back in a moment.

0:05:17 > 0:05:19Back in a minute. Don't go anywhere.

0:05:19 > 0:05:22Our genius scientist Fran explains things in ways even

0:05:22 > 0:05:24we can understand.

0:05:24 > 0:05:27Best of all, she loves a good experiment.

0:05:27 > 0:05:30And she's guaranteed to pop up just when you need her most.

0:05:34 > 0:05:38- Where are we?- Well, by the looks of it, we're at a tractor dealership,

0:05:38 > 0:05:42- somewhere near Walsall in the West Midlands.- Oh, yeah. Where's Fran?

0:05:43 > 0:05:44Ah!!

0:05:44 > 0:05:47- Ah, that's a first, isn't it?! - Isn't it just!

0:05:49 > 0:05:51- Fran?- It's brilliant, isn't it!

0:05:51 > 0:05:54It is brilliant. But why are you driving a tractor?

0:05:54 > 0:05:56Well, inside a tractor is a bit of engineering

0:05:56 > 0:05:58that Al Jazari would actually recognise.

0:05:58 > 0:06:02- Can we take a look, then? - Yep. Come with me.

0:06:02 > 0:06:05You know about the crank- and-connecting-rod mechanism?

0:06:05 > 0:06:09OK, so that's the mechanism where one part goes round and round...

0:06:09 > 0:06:10And the other bit goes up and down.

0:06:10 > 0:06:12It can happen the other way round.

0:06:12 > 0:06:15You can have one part of it going from side to side or up and down,

0:06:15 > 0:06:16and that causes another part of the machine

0:06:16 > 0:06:19to start rotating or turn around and around.

0:06:19 > 0:06:23That is, basically, how tractors work. Let's take a look underneath.

0:06:23 > 0:06:24Right, OK.

0:06:26 > 0:06:28- OK.- It's very oily.

0:06:28 > 0:06:29Can you see it?

0:06:29 > 0:06:32- Yeah, yeah.- You see that thing going round and round?- Yeah.

0:06:32 > 0:06:33That's the crankshaft,

0:06:33 > 0:06:36- and that eventually turns the wheels of the tractor.- Yeah.

0:06:36 > 0:06:40But connected to the crankshaft, are connecting rods

0:06:40 > 0:06:43- and they're what make the crankshaft go round and round.- I see.

0:06:43 > 0:06:47- They go up and down.- You can see them connected to the pistons.

0:06:47 > 0:06:50Yep, if we go up, let's go up again... So, here are the pistons.

0:06:50 > 0:06:53- And can you see them going up and down?- Yeah.

0:06:53 > 0:06:55Now, these pistons are connected to the connecting rods.

0:06:55 > 0:06:57That's why they're called "connecting rods".

0:06:57 > 0:06:59They make the crankshaft turn around,

0:06:59 > 0:07:01which makes the wheels of the tractor move.

0:07:01 > 0:07:02Ah, that goes right back to Al Jazari then?

0:07:02 > 0:07:05Yeah, and it's not just tractors that use this mechanism.

0:07:05 > 0:07:09Every single modern car makes its wheels turn in this way.

0:07:09 > 0:07:12Cheers, Fran, we best go because we have got a professor waiting for us.

0:07:12 > 0:07:14- Cheers.- Bye.

0:07:15 > 0:07:18Ah, right good. Now, we understand that. Thank you.

0:07:18 > 0:07:22- What other machines did Al Jazari invent?- I'll show you one.

0:07:22 > 0:07:25It's an ingenious one. It's called the Elephant Clock.

0:07:25 > 0:07:28- Wow.- That's a clock? - That can tell the time?- Indeed.

0:07:28 > 0:07:31That is a beautiful, beautiful illustration.

0:07:31 > 0:07:33- What's going on here then? - This is an elephant.

0:07:33 > 0:07:36And on top of the elephant there is a sort of castle.

0:07:36 > 0:07:40And the way it tells the time is a sequence of events,

0:07:40 > 0:07:43motion that is triggered from inside the elephant.

0:07:43 > 0:07:47It's not a real elephant, it's a machine.

0:07:47 > 0:07:52Inside the elephant, a leaky bowl sinks in a tank of water.

0:07:52 > 0:07:56Strings attached to the bowl trigger a series of clever mechanisms.

0:07:56 > 0:08:00You can't put it on your wrist, but it does actually tell the time!

0:08:00 > 0:08:05The Elephant Clock is Al Jazari's most famous invention,

0:08:05 > 0:08:06and like lots of his machines,

0:08:06 > 0:08:09it was designed to be both impressive to watch

0:08:09 > 0:08:12and almost too complicated to understand.

0:08:14 > 0:08:16The way that he had built them,

0:08:16 > 0:08:19and the colours that he used, they are meant to impress people.

0:08:19 > 0:08:21So, whilst he was a master craftsman,

0:08:21 > 0:08:22he was also a bit of a showman.

0:08:22 > 0:08:25He liked extravagance within his creations.

0:08:25 > 0:08:28Indeed, that's why they are called "ingenious devices".

0:08:28 > 0:08:31I see! One thing I've noticed with a lot of his designs,

0:08:31 > 0:08:35- is that they have little figures on them.- Are they actual people?

0:08:35 > 0:08:37They're actually what we call today "robots".

0:08:37 > 0:08:40But we refer to them as "automaton".

0:08:40 > 0:08:43Al Jazari's automatons were mechanical models

0:08:43 > 0:08:45of human beings and animals.

0:08:46 > 0:08:50They're one of the earliest examples of what we now call robots.

0:08:50 > 0:08:53Automatons. Are there any around in existence today?

0:08:53 > 0:08:58There are none but there are people who can make similar automatons.

0:08:58 > 0:09:01Now, THIS we should go and see.

0:09:01 > 0:09:05Later on, we'll be playing with an incredibly talented robot.

0:09:05 > 0:09:07But now, here are some other brilliant ideas

0:09:07 > 0:09:09and discoveries from the Middle East.

0:09:10 > 0:09:13It's the Genius Top Five! Five - blood circulation.

0:09:13 > 0:09:17How our bodies pump blood between the heart and lungs

0:09:17 > 0:09:19was first understood in the 13th century

0:09:19 > 0:09:23by a man called Ibn al-Nafis in Damascus.

0:09:23 > 0:09:25Four - algebra.

0:09:25 > 0:09:27Not those clever ancient Greek mathematicians,

0:09:27 > 0:09:30but al-Khwarizmi, a brilliant bloke from Baghdad.

0:09:30 > 0:09:31I'm clever, squared!

0:09:31 > 0:09:35Three - staying in to wash my hair.

0:09:35 > 0:09:37Yes, shampooing was first practised

0:09:37 > 0:09:40- by a Sake Mahomed from Patna in India.- Bathroom's clear!

0:09:40 > 0:09:42Two - coffee.

0:09:42 > 0:09:45Discovered 1,200 years ago by Kaldi, a goat herder,

0:09:45 > 0:09:48who noticed his animals getting excitable

0:09:48 > 0:09:50after eating some strange red berries.

0:09:53 > 0:09:54One - the hospital.

0:09:54 > 0:09:57The first organised hospital with free medical treatment

0:09:57 > 0:10:00was built in Cairo in the year 872 AD.

0:10:00 > 0:10:01Oi, no goats!

0:10:03 > 0:10:05Back to our genius.

0:10:05 > 0:10:10Now, none of the original machines made by Al Jazari exist today.

0:10:10 > 0:10:14But the kind of automatons he made can be found -

0:10:14 > 0:10:15if you know where to look.

0:10:15 > 0:10:18Here in the middle of Kimberley Park in Falmouth, Cornwall

0:10:18 > 0:10:20is a great example.

0:10:20 > 0:10:22Yes, look, a mechanical goat!

0:10:22 > 0:10:25- It's just what every kid wants in their playground!- Ah.

0:10:25 > 0:10:28And not only does it move but... Keep turning it, keep turning it!

0:10:28 > 0:10:34- I'm doing it.- It makes a sound. Are you ready for the big noise?

0:10:34 > 0:10:35Come on!

0:10:37 > 0:10:39PARP! Ooh!

0:10:39 > 0:10:42BOTH LAUGH I wonder who made this?

0:10:43 > 0:10:47That gaseous goat is the kind of automaton that Al Jazari

0:10:47 > 0:10:51would have put on his machines hundreds of years ago.

0:10:51 > 0:10:54But we used camels in those days.

0:10:55 > 0:10:57We've come to meet a modern day Al Jazari

0:10:57 > 0:11:00in this remote village in Cornwall...

0:11:03 > 0:11:06This is master automata-maker, Paul Spooner.

0:11:08 > 0:11:12Paul, you're the man behind the goat that we've just seen in the park?

0:11:12 > 0:11:15- It is fantastic! - But it's not all about goats, is it?

0:11:15 > 0:11:18What does an automata-maker like you do?

0:11:18 > 0:11:22My plan is to use machinery to tell a story or a joke.

0:11:22 > 0:11:25- Make people laugh, mostly. - So, very much like Al Jazari?

0:11:25 > 0:11:28- To impress people and entertain people.- It's entertaining, yeah.

0:11:28 > 0:11:31Have you got a lot in common with Al Jazari and his work?

0:11:31 > 0:11:35All people who make mechanical things have something in common.

0:11:35 > 0:11:37All of this stuff, with cranks and gears and cams,

0:11:37 > 0:11:39it really is just one thing pushing another thing...

0:11:39 > 0:11:41But I'm just astonished

0:11:41 > 0:11:44at how somebody COULD have made the things that he did.

0:11:44 > 0:11:46I mean, they were made with enormous precision.

0:11:46 > 0:11:49You know, I've got things like this gauge here

0:11:49 > 0:11:51that I can use to tell you that this screwdriver

0:11:51 > 0:11:54- is 5.91 millimetres in diameter. - He didn't have one of them!

0:11:54 > 0:11:57He wouldn't have one of those, no!

0:11:57 > 0:11:59We're dying to have a look at some of your amazing work.

0:11:59 > 0:12:02- Can we have a look?- Yes. - We promise to be careful.

0:12:02 > 0:12:05- This is called an Allegory Of Love. - Oh, yes, very good.

0:12:05 > 0:12:07Look at all the workings inside!

0:12:07 > 0:12:11However hard he tries, he's never going to get that nail in.

0:12:11 > 0:12:14- Poisoned Milk.- Poisoned Milk.

0:12:14 > 0:12:17Oh, right, licking at the splat of milk.

0:12:17 > 0:12:18There you go.

0:12:18 > 0:12:19Poisoned milk!

0:12:19 > 0:12:21It was poisoned.

0:12:21 > 0:12:23- All in one turning motion. - It's great!

0:12:23 > 0:12:27I don't quite know what's happening on this one. Let's have a look.

0:12:27 > 0:12:29SQUEAKING

0:12:29 > 0:12:31But they're all using the same principle.

0:12:31 > 0:12:35This mechanism that Al Jazari came up with hundreds of years ago.

0:12:35 > 0:12:37- Yes, yes... - The Science Of Conversation.

0:12:37 > 0:12:41The king's talking, he's chattering quite a lot, but...

0:12:41 > 0:12:44Oh! His brain's come out!

0:12:44 > 0:12:48- They share a brain, you see? - Ah, wow!- And then, she can talk.

0:12:48 > 0:12:52Paul, that is absolutely mind-blowing!

0:12:52 > 0:12:54I love your work, Paul.

0:12:56 > 0:12:58Playtime over. Now, with Paul's help,

0:12:58 > 0:13:02we're going to make our very own Al Jazari-inspired game.

0:13:02 > 0:13:04It's got bits of wood.

0:13:04 > 0:13:06Exactly the same length. See?

0:13:06 > 0:13:07About right, anyway.

0:13:07 > 0:13:09It's got currant buns.

0:13:13 > 0:13:16It's even got an elephant automaton.

0:13:17 > 0:13:20I can't wait to play this!

0:13:21 > 0:13:25Ah, look, there it is. Our very own crank-and-connecting rod.

0:13:25 > 0:13:28If you remember Al Jazari's water-raising machine,

0:13:28 > 0:13:30this is all the same principles.

0:13:30 > 0:13:33It's got circular motion, which makes an up-and-down motion.

0:13:33 > 0:13:36Up, down, circular, up and down.

0:13:38 > 0:13:40- Here it is. - Piece de resistance.

0:13:40 > 0:13:44You'll recognise this from Al Jazari's book. The elephant.

0:13:47 > 0:13:51- And finally the elephant's tail. Finished.- Brilliant!

0:13:51 > 0:13:53- How does it work? - Right, well, as the ball comes up.

0:13:53 > 0:13:56- That's the Al Jazari bit. - That is a very Al Jazari bit.

0:13:56 > 0:13:58So, it trickles down the nails.

0:13:58 > 0:14:00- NAILS TINKLE - Nice tune.

0:14:00 > 0:14:01Goes in one of the gutters.

0:14:01 > 0:14:03Ah, you don't know which side it's going to go.

0:14:03 > 0:14:05You don't know which side.

0:14:05 > 0:14:09And it flips a string and it triggers the elephant's bottom

0:14:09 > 0:14:11or the elephant's trunk.

0:14:11 > 0:14:13It's either bum or bun!

0:14:13 > 0:14:14That's the kind of game.

0:14:14 > 0:14:16Precisely, yes. That was my concept.

0:14:16 > 0:14:19- Either a bun comes out of the trunk or it poos into a bowl!- Very good.

0:14:21 > 0:14:23Bun or bum. Bun or bum. Bun or bum...

0:14:23 > 0:14:25I'm afraid it's going to be...

0:14:25 > 0:14:26Bum!

0:14:30 > 0:14:31No, no.

0:14:35 > 0:14:38- Tilt!- Bum for you! - Absolutely determined.

0:14:38 > 0:14:40Three bums!

0:14:40 > 0:14:43- Here we go, go on.- We've got one this time.- Yeah. Watch the trunk.

0:14:45 > 0:14:48There's one of our lovely painted currant buns.

0:14:48 > 0:14:49# Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum

0:14:49 > 0:14:51# Bum-bum-bum-bum-bum bum-bum-bum, bum

0:14:51 > 0:14:53# Bum-bum-bum, bum, bum, bum-bum. #

0:14:53 > 0:14:56Now, THAT was inspiring!

0:14:56 > 0:14:59Yeah, but what we haven't found yet is an example of a modern-day robot

0:14:59 > 0:15:02with a touch of Al Jazari about it.

0:15:02 > 0:15:03Ah, Paul's given us a tip-off.

0:15:03 > 0:15:06He knows someone who can make exactly what we're after ...

0:15:08 > 0:15:11'We've seen that Al Jazari built machines to impress.

0:15:11 > 0:15:17'And that his genius engineering can be still be found today.

0:15:17 > 0:15:19'Coming up, we unleash the power tools.'

0:15:19 > 0:15:22- It's going to cause some damage that, innit?- 'But first...

0:15:22 > 0:15:25'This humble industrial estate in Penryn, Cornwall, is home

0:15:25 > 0:15:29'to some of the most sophisticated humanoid robots in the world.'

0:15:32 > 0:15:33Look at these!

0:15:34 > 0:15:36Hello, pleased to meet you.

0:15:36 > 0:15:40Hello, boys! Welcome, welcome!

0:15:40 > 0:15:42- Delighted to meet you. - Delighted to meet you, too.

0:15:42 > 0:15:45Now, which one is Ant, and which one is Dec?

0:15:45 > 0:15:48- Charming(!)- I can never remember.

0:15:48 > 0:15:51- I'll rip your batteries out. - I'm only joking!

0:15:51 > 0:15:56I'm actually a big fan. Hey, Dick, what's that on the end of your nose?

0:15:56 > 0:15:58Is it a bogey? A bogey!

0:15:58 > 0:16:00Oh, a sense of humour, as well!

0:16:00 > 0:16:03Well, that's because I'm not just any old robot.

0:16:03 > 0:16:07- Oh, he likes you.- I'm Robothespian.

0:16:07 > 0:16:10What's Robothespian? What do you do?

0:16:10 > 0:16:13I am fully programmable interactive humanoid robot

0:16:13 > 0:16:18designed to inspire, communicate, interact, and entertain.

0:16:18 > 0:16:21But, like you, gentlemen, I am, at heart, a performer!

0:16:21 > 0:16:23Well, yes, we can see that.

0:16:23 > 0:16:25But have you heard of this genius engineer, Al Jazari,

0:16:25 > 0:16:29who invented an early kind of robot hundreds of years ago?

0:16:29 > 0:16:31Ah, yes, the great Al Jazari.

0:16:31 > 0:16:35He's responsible for some of my distant ancestors.

0:16:36 > 0:16:40Of course, robotics has come a long way since those days.

0:16:40 > 0:16:42Yeah, but what we want to know is, who invented YOU?

0:16:42 > 0:16:45Ah, now, that was Will.

0:16:45 > 0:16:47- Ah...- Will!

0:16:50 > 0:16:51This is Will Jackson...

0:16:53 > 0:16:55# I'm singing in the rain... #

0:16:55 > 0:16:58He invented the very first Robothespian

0:16:58 > 0:17:02and has been building robots since he was 13 years old.

0:17:04 > 0:17:08Will, Robothespian is quite mind-blowing.

0:17:08 > 0:17:10But how does it actually work?

0:17:10 > 0:17:14He's a big collection of motors, and muscles and wiring.

0:17:14 > 0:17:17But you can control the whole thing from this touch screen.

0:17:17 > 0:17:19Let's try one...

0:17:19 > 0:17:22# Ah, ah, ah, ah staying alive, staying alive

0:17:22 > 0:17:25# You can tell by the way I use my walk, I'm a woman's man

0:17:25 > 0:17:27# No time to talk. #

0:17:27 > 0:17:29Fair enough... Clever stuff. What else can it do, Will?

0:17:29 > 0:17:32Here's another impression that Robothespian can do.

0:17:32 > 0:17:34'Oh, yes, Master Luke.

0:17:34 > 0:17:38Remember that I am fluent in over six million forms of communication.

0:17:38 > 0:17:41I beg your pardon, General Solo, but that just wouldn't be proper.

0:17:41 > 0:17:44It's against my programming to impersonate a deity.

0:17:44 > 0:17:46- C3PO from Star Wars!- That's great!

0:17:46 > 0:17:49You've got a robot doing an impression of a robot?

0:17:49 > 0:17:52It's amazing. It's like he's almost human.

0:17:52 > 0:17:55Yes, we really have tried to design Robothespian

0:17:55 > 0:17:56to be just like a human.

0:17:56 > 0:18:00- If you feel his arms there, they're quite soft and bouncy.- Oh, yeah!

0:18:00 > 0:18:03It's not like an industrial robot that's a very rigid machine.

0:18:03 > 0:18:05We want him to be flexible.

0:18:05 > 0:18:08The way the hands move is totally human-like.

0:18:08 > 0:18:11One really important thing is the robot must make eye contact.

0:18:11 > 0:18:13He's looking around. He's watching me.

0:18:13 > 0:18:15He's trying to guess your age.

0:18:15 > 0:18:17Oh, this is what he's watching, right now.

0:18:17 > 0:18:22Go and stand round there and see if he can guess your age. Age 25.

0:18:22 > 0:18:24It's cos I'm short!

0:18:24 > 0:18:2727! It's taken ten years off me!

0:18:27 > 0:18:31So, this is great, because you can see a clear camera image of us.

0:18:31 > 0:18:33But what's this next to it?

0:18:33 > 0:18:37Here, he's trying to guess where your bones are basically.

0:18:37 > 0:18:40- What kind of pose you're in. - That's mad!

0:18:40 > 0:18:44'Robothespian can be programmed to do lots of other brilliant stuff.'

0:18:44 > 0:18:48OK, so we can write anything? 'Anyone can write a script for it.'

0:18:48 > 0:18:50- Press this one?- Yep. - Absolute Genius.

0:18:50 > 0:18:53'And it can speak 30 different languages!'

0:18:53 > 0:18:55Absolute Genius.

0:18:55 > 0:18:57Absolute Genius.

0:18:57 > 0:18:59But does it speak Arabic?

0:18:59 > 0:19:01IT SAYS "ABSOLUTE GENIUS" IN ARABIC

0:19:01 > 0:19:02Very good.

0:19:02 > 0:19:06'And it knows talent when it sees it.'

0:19:06 > 0:19:10I love Dick. He is the best one.

0:19:10 > 0:19:13The other one is too small and hairy.

0:19:14 > 0:19:17And the engineering Will and his team are using

0:19:17 > 0:19:20is making not just one Robothespian,

0:19:20 > 0:19:22but lots of Robothespians!

0:19:24 > 0:19:26This is a robot production line.

0:19:38 > 0:19:40Will, being here has been a fantastic experience.

0:19:40 > 0:19:42but Robothespian is a long way

0:19:42 > 0:19:45from the original automaton that Al Jazari created.

0:19:45 > 0:19:47Does he have anything in common with them?

0:19:47 > 0:19:51You can find some things that go all the way back to Al Jazari's designs.

0:19:51 > 0:19:53If we have a look at this jaw mechanism here,

0:19:53 > 0:19:56we'll see the little disc driving a lever here,

0:19:56 > 0:20:00converting a circular motion into an up-and-down motion for his jaw.

0:20:00 > 0:20:02Which was part of his genius, wasn't it? Circular motion

0:20:02 > 0:20:04- turning into an up-and-down motion? - Yeah.

0:20:04 > 0:20:09You see, boys. Some ideas are so good they're still used today.

0:20:09 > 0:20:14Robothespian is an incredible piece of machinery. It really is!

0:20:14 > 0:20:17So brilliant that it's inspired us to come up with

0:20:17 > 0:20:19our own genius robot idea.

0:20:19 > 0:20:22This is great because Robothespian can speak different languages.

0:20:22 > 0:20:25It can do impressions. It can sing.

0:20:25 > 0:20:28But one thing that it can't do, yet, is travel.

0:20:28 > 0:20:32Hmm, yes. So, we should make a robot that can move, and move fast.

0:20:32 > 0:20:34It's going to be our tribute to Al Jazari

0:20:34 > 0:20:37but with some of our own unique ideas thrown in.

0:20:37 > 0:20:41A robot that can stand up for itself when the going gets tough.

0:20:41 > 0:20:43A robot that can go into battle!

0:20:46 > 0:20:48Before we build our genius robot...

0:20:48 > 0:20:51It's time for the Not So Genius Idea!

0:20:51 > 0:20:53Not all robots are clever.

0:20:53 > 0:20:57In fact, to enter the International Stupid Robot Championships,

0:20:57 > 0:21:00a robot has to be both useless and funny.

0:21:00 > 0:21:02Recent entries include...

0:21:02 > 0:21:06a hula-hooping robot powered by an electric drill.

0:21:06 > 0:21:08A pair of shivering robots that live in a fridge.

0:21:08 > 0:21:13And the Binbot, a mechanical wheelie-bin that follows flies!

0:21:13 > 0:21:14That's just rubbish!

0:21:14 > 0:21:16WEAK LAUGHTER

0:21:18 > 0:21:21Another day, another robot workshop.

0:21:24 > 0:21:27Welcome back genius engineer Grant Cooper.

0:21:27 > 0:21:29He's helped us before on Absolute Genius,

0:21:29 > 0:21:31and building robots is his speciality.

0:21:33 > 0:21:36- All right, Grant? How are you doing?- OK, there, guys?- What's that?

0:21:36 > 0:21:38ROBOT GROWLS

0:21:38 > 0:21:41- Stop!- I thought we were mates!

0:21:41 > 0:21:45'This is one of Grant's latest creations.

0:21:45 > 0:21:49'It's called Attacknid, a kind of robotic giant spider.

0:21:49 > 0:21:51'And it's just given birth!'

0:21:51 > 0:21:53BOTH GROAN

0:21:53 > 0:21:55Ooh!

0:21:55 > 0:21:57'Let's just watch that again.'

0:21:57 > 0:21:59Ooh!

0:21:59 > 0:22:00Grant, over the past few days,

0:22:00 > 0:22:03we've been massively inspired by the great Al Jazari.

0:22:03 > 0:22:05Yeah, he made an early kind of robot.

0:22:05 > 0:22:07And we want to make our own robot.

0:22:07 > 0:22:09What sort of robot is it you want to create?

0:22:09 > 0:22:12You're king of robots, right? You make the best robots.

0:22:12 > 0:22:14We don't necessarily need anything that's sophisticated

0:22:14 > 0:22:16or beautiful to look at.

0:22:16 > 0:22:19But something that's tough, strong, and can go into battle.

0:22:19 > 0:22:22Something like a combat, fighting robot, cos that's our forte.

0:22:22 > 0:22:24That's what you do best. Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

0:22:24 > 0:22:28It's got to have engineering that dates back to Al Jazari's machines.

0:22:28 > 0:22:31- I'm sure we can sort something out. - Good stuff. Let's get to work.

0:22:32 > 0:22:36Our Genius idea - to build our own fighting robot from scratch!

0:22:36 > 0:22:39The challenge - to include clever engineering gizmos

0:22:39 > 0:22:42that the great Al Jazari would recognise.

0:22:42 > 0:22:43Very good.

0:22:43 > 0:22:46But where his machines impressed with their looks,

0:22:46 > 0:22:48ours will be all about the action!

0:22:48 > 0:22:51The problem - if our robot's not good enough,

0:22:51 > 0:22:53it could get smashed to pieces!

0:22:53 > 0:22:55Smashed to pieces!

0:22:56 > 0:22:57'There's loads to do!'

0:22:57 > 0:23:00SPARKS CRACKLE

0:23:00 > 0:23:01'Welding!'

0:23:01 > 0:23:04Now, I've messed that up, what do we have to do?

0:23:04 > 0:23:07We'll need to grind that off. Start again. I'll go and get the grinder.

0:23:10 > 0:23:12'Angle-grinding!'

0:23:12 > 0:23:14Ahhhhhh!

0:23:15 > 0:23:17'And let's not forget...

0:23:17 > 0:23:19'the precision metal-cutting.'

0:23:19 > 0:23:22ELEGANT WALTZ PLAYS

0:23:22 > 0:23:24- This is the weapon.- Look at that.

0:23:24 > 0:23:28Powering our weapon is this big DC motor. That's three horsepower.

0:23:28 > 0:23:29- Three horsepower, OK.- Beauty.

0:23:29 > 0:23:32- So, Al Jazari would recognise that mechanism?- Yes, exactly.

0:23:32 > 0:23:36It's used in a different way, but on exactly the same principles.

0:23:36 > 0:23:39It's going to cause some damage, that!

0:23:39 > 0:23:42Oh, perfect fit! Round, round, round, circular motion,

0:23:42 > 0:23:45which causes this to go up and down.

0:23:52 > 0:23:55- Nice! All finished.- Love it when a plan comes together.

0:23:55 > 0:23:57- If you wiggle those sticks. - Just like a remote-control car?

0:23:57 > 0:23:59Exactly, yeah.

0:23:59 > 0:24:00- MOTOR WHIRS - Ahh. Nice!

0:24:00 > 0:24:03That's the remote control for the car part of it,

0:24:03 > 0:24:05but what about the Al Jazari magic?

0:24:05 > 0:24:09You'll have a joystick here. Forwards to fire it.

0:24:09 > 0:24:14'So, there'll be two joysticks. One to control driving our robot.

0:24:14 > 0:24:16'The other to operate its weapon!

0:24:16 > 0:24:19- Right, time to go into battle! - Battle!

0:24:23 > 0:24:25Come on, then, let's go into battle.

0:24:26 > 0:24:28To battle, boys!

0:24:29 > 0:24:33Here's our robot opponent, Beauty 2!

0:24:33 > 0:24:37Operating it are fighting-robot veterans John Lear and Kane Aston.

0:24:38 > 0:24:40Like taking candy off a baby!

0:24:41 > 0:24:42Like that, is it?!

0:24:42 > 0:24:45Well, um... Pppbbbt!

0:24:45 > 0:24:47We're going to have ya!

0:24:47 > 0:24:49I fart in your general direction!

0:24:49 > 0:24:52'Our fighting robot is named Stingray.

0:24:52 > 0:24:54'It's just itching to give Beauty 2 a battering!'

0:24:57 > 0:24:58OK, guys.

0:24:58 > 0:25:01Three, two, one.

0:25:01 > 0:25:02Battle!

0:25:08 > 0:25:13Stingray gets in an early hit, but then Beauty 2 flips him.

0:25:15 > 0:25:18Yes, go, go!

0:25:21 > 0:25:23YELLING

0:25:23 > 0:25:26'Flipped again. He's making pancakes!

0:25:26 > 0:25:28'The crowd are loving this.'

0:25:28 > 0:25:31Ah, ha, ha, ha! Yes!

0:25:35 > 0:25:39'Flipped again! But Stingray's fighting back!'

0:25:40 > 0:25:42Forward! Don't let him flip you!

0:25:45 > 0:25:47Oh! Ohhh!

0:25:50 > 0:25:53- He's weighing you up! Why's he gone all quiet...?- No!

0:25:53 > 0:25:55He flipped him!

0:25:56 > 0:25:58You pigs!

0:25:58 > 0:26:00No, get out the way!

0:26:02 > 0:26:04'Stingray's hammer just keeps missing!'

0:26:11 > 0:26:12Agh!

0:26:12 > 0:26:15Oh, getting a mashing!

0:26:15 > 0:26:17Oh, no!

0:26:17 > 0:26:18No...

0:26:22 > 0:26:25- No, we're not moving.- What do you mean we're not moving?

0:26:25 > 0:26:28'Another hit from Stingray, but something seems to be wrong.'

0:26:28 > 0:26:32I think it's stalled. Why's it not moving, Grant?

0:26:32 > 0:26:35It looks like the amount of flips and hits you've taken from Beauty 2

0:26:35 > 0:26:38has bent your wheels in. So, sadly, you're out.

0:26:38 > 0:26:41- They've literally smashed us. - Yeah, you're out.

0:26:41 > 0:26:43We did some damage, though not enough.

0:26:43 > 0:26:45It's a good bit of kit that, though, Grant.

0:26:45 > 0:26:47A mighty machine! Old Stingray.

0:26:51 > 0:26:55It has been the best experience exploring the genius of Al Jazari.

0:26:55 > 0:26:59From cranks and connecting rods to elephant automatons,

0:26:59 > 0:27:01we've seen how his ideas are still being used today

0:27:01 > 0:27:05to make machines that are clever and entertaining.

0:27:05 > 0:27:07And how his influence can be found

0:27:07 > 0:27:11in one of the most impressive robots in the world.

0:27:11 > 0:27:14- Absolute Genius.- Absolute Genius.

0:27:14 > 0:27:18Well, I think it's quite clear that after these incredible few days

0:27:18 > 0:27:20learning about Al Jazari,

0:27:20 > 0:27:23that we now officially LOVE robots! Mwah!

0:27:23 > 0:27:26And it all goes back to Al Jazari.

0:27:26 > 0:27:28Thank you, Al. You are an absolute genius!

0:27:28 > 0:27:31Oh, you're so kind.

0:27:35 > 0:27:37YELLING

0:27:38 > 0:27:40Ah! It smacked me in the face!

0:27:40 > 0:27:43Oh, no!

0:27:43 > 0:27:45What are you doing?!

0:27:45 > 0:27:48Let me get it straight!

0:27:48 > 0:27:49Ooh!

0:27:49 > 0:27:51What's all that black stuff?

0:27:51 > 0:27:53BOTH LAUGH

0:27:56 > 0:27:57SPLASHING

0:27:57 > 0:27:59LAUGHTER