Intelligent mobile robots are increasingly crucial across diverse sectors like industry, medicine, and military operations, driving business growth through versatile applications.  This paper provides a comprehensive overview of intelligent mobile robot research (1920-2021), focusing on autonomous vehicle development, principles, and applications.  It's the first century-spanning survey of the field, tracing progress from the word "robot's" inception to today's sophisticated systems.  This work serves as a valuable resource for both new and established researchers, anticipating further research spurred by its broad scope and in-depth analysis.  The article significantly contributes to future research directions within the field of mobile robotics.