2011 will offer exciting developments of manufacturing robots but also point out the weaknesses apparent in U.S. robotics. Read “Manufacturing with Robots: prospects and Problems Ahead”.
Predictions for 2011-2020: Predictors include Bill Gates, Samsung, the government of South Korea, Toyota, Ray Kurzweil, CMU’s Hans Moravec and the Robotics Industry Association.
The Intl. Fed. of Robotics (IFR) forecasts welding, electronics assembly and food packaging – and any application in China – will almost double by 2013. And Fanuc’s Chairman says, “Everything comes down to China. That’s where the growth is.” Fanuc is challenging ABB and Kuka for the lead in China’s robot market.