Robots are autonomous machines that can move within their physical environment and manipulate objects. Robots have four main features: mobility, interactivity, communication and autonomy. In general we use the word “robotics” to encompass ALL robotics-relevant fields such as computer and machine vision, artificial intelligence and machine learning as well as automation and autonomous systems. Some of the “robots” described in the roadmap may not demonstrate all four features, such as mobility or absolute autonomy.

Robots are often described in terms of two classes of robots, industrial or service, depending on their intended application. Industrial robots are used in industrial automation applications while service robots are not. Service robots may be for personal/domestic use or for use in professional settings, e.g., concierge robots in hotels. Statistics on the number of robots produced in the world each year are divided into these two broad categories by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Almost 300,000 industrial robots and 7.3 million service robots were sold in 2016 manufactured by more than 700 companies worldwide.

Robotics is an interdisciplinary field that includes, mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, design and, increasingly, the social sciences, creative arts and law.

The development of robotic technologies will lead to the creation of new companies, new jobs and will address a range of issues of national importance including an ageing population, servicing remote communities and dealing with labour shortages.