Purpose This paper aims to provide details of recent commercial and technological developments that are driving robotic warehouse automation. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, this first provides a commercial background and identifies the factors driving the market...

Purpose – This paper aims to discuss search and rescue (SAR) and disaster relief robot developments, trials and applications and to answer the question posed in the title. Design/methodology/approach – Following a short introduction, this first describes Integrated Components for Assisted...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the growing role of robots in environmental monitoring. Design/methodology/approach Following an introduction, this first considers aerial robots for monitoring atmospheric pollution. It then discusses the role of aerial, surface and underwater...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the growing role of robots in the logistics industry. Design/methodology/approach Following an introduction, which identifies key challenges facing the industry, this paper discusses robotic applications in warehouses, followed by sections...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide details of recent developments in agricultural robots with an emphasis of those that address labour shortages and environmental issues. Design/methodology/approach Following an introduction which highlights some of the challenges facing the...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed insight into the global military robot industry with an emphasis on products and their applications. Design/methodology/approach Following an introduction which includes a brief historical account, this provides an industry overview,...

Purpose This study aims to provide an insight into recent technological developments and applications that are driving growth and change in the automotive robotics sector. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction which provides a commercial perspective, this study discusses the...

Purpose This study aims to provide an insight into the role of robots in the entertainment industry. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, this study first considers applications in amusement parks and robotic rides and highlights some current development activities. It...

Purpose This paper aims to provide an insight into recent developments in the robotic exoskeleton business by considering research, corporate activities, products and emerging applications. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, this first provides examples of exoskeleton...