Robots Resources for the Masses.

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Tuesday, June 05, 2001

Tech watch: Robotics is a fast-growing field with big opportunities

Sunday, June 3, 2001

Robotics is moving into its next growth phase. Last year, the industrial robot market totaled $1.4 billion, compared with $615 million in 1995. The United States ranks third in robot sales, behind Japan and Western European countries (Germany leads). But, according to the Robotics Industries Association, the use of robots in the electronics industry should grow an average of 35 percent a year over the next several years.

There are four categories of robotics. The first and largest category is industrial robots used in manufacturing industries for welding, painting and feeding components into machines. These robots are programmable, but not smart. If something goes wrong and an assembly line breaks down, the robots keep moving, accomplishing nothing.

The second group is personal robots, most of which are expensive high-tech toys. Honda Motor Co. sells Robopal, a 2-foot-tall home security robot that patrols your home, walks up and down stairs and senses danger with ultraviolet sensors.

The third area is the medical field. T.J. Tarn, director of the Center for Robotics and Automation at Washington University in St. Louis, said one of the most exciting recent developments is the use of robots in surgery. Surgical robots can do everything from tying sutures to moving cameras on voice commands.

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