Purpose – This paper aims to provide an insight into the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in robotics. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction to AI, this paper provides an overview of the application of AI to robotics. Mobile robots are then discussed, together with the...

Purpose – This first part of a two-part paper aims to provide an insight into the ethical and legal issues associated with certain classes of robot. This part is concerned with ethics. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction, this paper first considers the ethical...

Purpose This paper aims to provide an insight into light detection and ranging (lidar) technology and its growing applications in robotics. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, this paper first describes the main lidar techniques and then provides details of a selection of...

Purpose This paper aims to illustrate how the growth in e-commerce has catalysed innovative developments in robots for use in warehouses. Design/methodology/approach Following a brief introduction to e-commerce and warehouse robots, this first paper discusses Amazon’s involvement with robotic...

Purpose – This article aims to describe euRathlon 2013, the first competitive event in a three-year, EU-funded programme for autonomous robots, which was held in Germany in September 2013. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction, this describes the teams and their robots, the...