Robotics

Robotics


This
essay
summarizes
the
current
state
of
robotics,
and
previews
the
findings
of
a
 robotics
roadmapping
effort
currently
under
way.
 Robotics
originated
with
the
goal
of
building
human‐like
machines,
but
it
has
become
 much
more
than
that.

Even
though
we
are
still
decades
away
from
human‐like
 machines,
the
developing
robotics
technologies
are
proving
useful
in
ways
that
nobody
 expected:
robot‐assisted
noninvasive
surgery;
disposal
of
roadside
bombs;
automated
 lab
science
for
drug
discovery;
even
auto‐focus
features
in
digital
cameras.

The
broad
 impact
of
robotics
is
proven,
even
though
robotics
is
still
in
the
early
stages
of
its
 development.
 Robotics
thus
affords
a
unique
opportunity
to
make
a
cross‐cutting
investment
that
 advances
both
fundamental
research
and
development
in
an
area
vital
to
U.S.
 competitiveness
while
providing
the
potential
for
near
term
job,
business
development
 and
educational
returns.
Outlined
below
are
the
broad
critical
application
areas
for
 robotics.
The
creation
of
a
$100
million
initiative
to
be
matched
by
industry
to
establish
 test
beds
in
the
major
application
areas
could
generate
nearly
10,000
new
jobs
 impacting
a
wide
range
of
sectors.

The
specific
proposal
advanced
is
to
create
a
 competitive
process
to
establish
a
series
of
robotics
test
beds
in
communities
across
the
 nation.

These
test
beds
would
be
devoted
to
specific
health,
transportation,
agriculture,
 manufacturing
and
extended
care
services.
The
selected
test
beds
must
include
large
 and
small
industrial
partners,
universities
and
engaged
partners
in
the
end
use
 community.
Recognizing
the
unique
capacity
of
robotics
to
be
a
powerful
tool
for
 education,
each
proposal
should
incorporate
a
strategy
for
the
test
bed
to
engage
K‐12
 students
and
to
foster
the
development
of
new
educational
applications.
 The
remainder
of
the
essay
addresses
the
unexpected
breadth
and
significance
of
 robotics.
 Connecting
computers
to
the
real
world
...