Cross-Industry Whitepaper Series: Empowering Our Connected World ROBOTS BREAK OUT OF THE FACTORY: NON-CONSUMER ROBOTICS APPLICATIONS TAKE OFF Key topics we will discussin this paper include: New technologies and initiatives in the field of robotics Role of AI in helping robotics perform better How the Industrial Internet of Things make factories and supply chains more efficient Impact of open source and cloud computing on robotics costs Drones and the world of robotics Breaking barriers with advanced mobile communications networks INTRODUCTION Robotics is a very active area of technology right now. There have been long-standing uses for robots since the first industrial robot was installed by General Motors in Trenton, New Jersey, USA, in 19591. Today, there are established uses of robots across multiple areas will increase the scope of what industrial robots can manufacturing industries. These include automotive, do and lower the cost of robot systems. These include: aerospace, electricals/electronics and metals/machinery, food/beverages and pharmaceuticals. Outside ? Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning ? Factory planning, including cooperative robot–human systems (“co-bots”) and integration with the wider supply chain manufacturing,robotsare alsousedin agriculture, defense, and for moving things around in many sectors. Robot tasks include welding, cutting, materials handling, assembly, cleaning, spraying, and so on. ? Open-source code ? Cloud computing Statistics compiled by the International Robotics ? Drones Federation indicate that 254,000 industrial robots were shipped in 2015, and the organisation forecasts that by 2019, there will be 2.6 million industrial robots deployed ? Wireless connectivity (a key enabler of many of the most exciting changes in industrial robotics). worldwide. Sales are predicted to grow at a CAGR of 13% over the next three years2,3. Ro