Robotics and artificial intelligence hold the immense potential to transform many aspects of our lives. Recent experiments with humanoid robots in supermarkets, schools, hospitals and retirement homes in Europe, the United States of America and Japan illustrate this.br>Robots already have a significant impact on manufacturing processes in a variety of industries such as automotive and electronics. They are also increasingly used in agriculture, mining, transportation, space and oceanographic research, remote monitoring, health, education and many other fields. br>Robots can increase labour productivity, reduce production costs and also improve product quality. Robots also contribute to the well-being of humans by taking on the burdensome or dangerous tasks in their place, assisting an ageing population and making sustainable transport a reality.br>The industrial robot market is over $50 billion and growing.