2023

Fox, Stephen; Griffy-Brown, Charla

Robotics has been a topic of papers in Technology in Society since the 1980s. Early papers were concerned more with possible future scenarios than with studies of actual implementations. By contrast, papers published since 2010 have focused more on issues associated with robotics coming into widespread use. These recent papers fall into the following categories: robotics fundamentals, industrial robotics, service robotics, and social robotics. Papers concerned with fundamental issues have addressed human values, needs, and expectations in relation to robotics. In terms of industrial robotics, some papers addressed particular industries in specific countries. Other papers addressed broader issues in industrial robotics such as the interrelationships between employment, productivity, safety and sustainability. Papers exploring service robotics focused mainly on the hospitality sector including hotels and restaurants in different countries. Papers concerned with social robotics primarily addressed ethics and policy, with some research exploring implementations in particular settings such as disaster locations and hospital buildings.