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Robots: The Sorcerer's Apprentice Broom?

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  • van Brussel, Hendrik

Abstract

By virtue of its outspoken multidisciplinarity, robotics is an extremely popular research field, but is not always exercised by researchers with the broad scientific view required to make breakthroughs. This leads to a very fragmentary research landscape. Robots have their roots in fiction (the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Frankenstein, Golem, RUR). Their first appearance in the real world came in the early 1960s when Unimation sold their first industrial robots. However, only recently are robots invading people’s daily lives, as service robots, and in health care, as surgery robots, intelligent wheelchairs, and rehabilitation robots, for example. This migration from structured factory environments to cluttered homes is a tremendous step, requiring much more intelligent behaviour. In this paper, the major research questions to be answered will be outlined and illustrated with partial solutions, mainly taken from the author’s own research experience at KU Leuven.

Suggested Citation

  • van Brussel, Hendrik, 2012. "Robots: The Sorcerer's Apprentice Broom?," European Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(3), pages 356-364, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:eurrev:v:20:y:2012:i:03:p:356-364_00
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