Economic and Social Aspects of Robotics

Industrial robots (programmable manipulators) can be regarded as replacements for human workers. A list of reasons for replacing people by robots is given shortly. They can also be installed as part of a flexible automation system such as a manufacturing cell; in this case it is dedicated automatic machinery, rather than people, with which robots compete. Similarly an AGV can replace a man with a fork lift, or a fleet of AGVs may replace a conveyor-style assembly line. A teleoperator does not replace a person but extends his capabilities.