Clockwork Bodies
Lots of interesting information and photos of early automata will keep visitors to this site busy for hours. The "Building Better Humans" website is a selective history of the interaction between technology and the body. The "Clockwork Bodies" section pertains to the amazingly life-like automata constructed in Europe during the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.

An Unhurried View of Automata
A four part supplement to The Magic Cauldron, this article contains a great deal of interesting information about historical automata including The Franklin Institute's Maillardet's Automaton. The writing style is informative and entertaining at the same time. A "must read" site for anyone interested in automata!

Encyclopedia Britannica - "Automaton"
Britannica.com's online encyclopedia article on automata.

The British Clockmaker - Automata
This page contains photographs of devices known as automata .Automaton (singular) is defined as: "A mechanism having its motive power so concealed that it appears to move spontaneously." The term is generally applied to mechanical human or animal figures which move by clockwork motivation. These figures, the swan, soldier clock, bird box, and Cox carousel clock, and above all, the Jack figures, Southwold Jack and Jack-o-the-Clock, are all automatons.

Cabaret Mechanical Theatre
A delightful website to visit on a rainy afternoon! Automata museum, theater, and shop based in Covent Garden, London. Provides information on mechanical objects and automata. Also contains virtual exhibitions, and an online shop. Among the items offered for sale is the book "Cabaret Mechanical Movement - Understanding Movement and Making Automata" which contains a lot of theory but it’s also packed with practical tips and ideas for making your own automata, moving toys or mechanical sculpture. Excellent resource!

Flying Pig - Animated Models For You to Make
A quirky range of unique card and paper moving models! Several patterns are available for free download and others can be obtained for a reasonable fee. Cardboard engineering is an inexpensive and entertaining way to learn more about automata and design. The site also includes some useful lessons on mechanisms & structures.

Spotlight on Simple Machines
Information on the six basic simple machines from The Franklin Institute's InQuiry Almanac archives.

Inventor's Workshop
This section of the Exploring Leonardo website highlights some of Leonardo da Vinci's futuristic inventions, introduces the elements of machines, lets you explore how these elements can work together to perform new functions, and offers you a chance to try analyzing Leonardo's inventions and designing your own.

Simple Machines
The Ithaca City School District has a nice site about simple machines for grades 3+. Click on any of the pictures of the simple machines to learn more about them.

MIKids Simple Machines Page
Waukazoo Elementary School in Holland, Michigan offers brief explanations of all the simple machines and has a great collection of photos demonstrating objects that represent each type.

The Tech Museum of Innovation - Robotics Exhibit
The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, CA created an online resource to accompany the "Robotics-sensing-thinking-acting" traveling exhibit. Features include the history and workings of robots, a timeline, classroom activities, robot art, and much more. This is a "must-see" site.