Twenty years ago, robotics was thought to be more of a hobby for technology companies rather than a field with any real potential. Today, the robotics space is a $6 billion industry in the US alone. Several other countries currently consider artificial intelligence, advanced machinery and advanced material sciences to be major staples of their economy.
In this day and age, robots are used by almost every industrialized nation for a number of different purposes, including manufacturing, healthcare, farming, national security, nanotechnology and construction. Over the next two decades, the industry is expected to grow by another $100 billion, according to Inside the Bay Area.
While most countries utilize robots for more utilitarian purposes, Japanese companies continue to push the envelope and create products that are designed to be used in the consumer sector.
To showcase these products, the Japanese embassy recently put on an event in Singapore that brought together 10 of the most innovative robots from several Japanese firms and universities, NECN reported. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of the advanced level of robotic technology available in the Asian market.
On display were a number of robots that were designed for very specific functions. Inventors unveiled a baby robot that was developed to help study the human growth of infants as well as a pet robot that is used to provide comfort in the welfare and education fields.
In light of events such as this one, many industry experts believe that the United States needs to do a better job of pushing innovation in the burgeoning field of robotics, or risk falling farther behind.
As Inside the Bay Area notes, nearly 90 percent of US robotic products are assembled using imported components.
"Looking to the future, the real opportunity in robotics is for America to lead the revolution of safe, collaborative robots that can coexist with people in factories, hospitals, restaurants, rehabilitation centers, and homes,” John Dulchinos, president and CEO of Pleasanton-based Adept Technology, told the news source.
Beecher Tuttle is a Web Editor for TMCnet. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Tammy Wolf
