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Ktesibios's Water Clock
- Ktesibios, a barber and inventor, created the first automatic device using feedback: a self-regulating water clock.
- This invention, from the 3rd century BC, is the ancestor of the modern flush toilet.
Drebbel's Thermostat
- Cornelius Drebbel, a Dutch alchemist, invented the first thermostat while trying to turn lead into gold.
- His thermostat, using a nail-shaped glass tube, controlled furnace temperature through a feedback loop.
Watt's Governor
- James Watt adapted a centrifugal regulator for his steam engine, leading to the first centrifugal governor.
- This invention, though initially kept secret, became a key component of the industrial revolution.