robotica

Robotica, or robotics, is the interdisciplinary field that studies the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. In Italian and Spanish, the term robotica is commonly used to refer to the science and engineering of automated devices, from industrial arms to autonomous systems.

Historically, ideas of automated machines date to ancient times, but modern robotics emerged in the 20th century with industrial applications. The first programmable robot, Unimate, appeared in the 1950s, leading to widespread use in manufacturing in the following decades. Advances in sensors, actuators, artificial intelligence, and computing have expanded robotics beyond factories to service, medical, and mobile robots.

Robotics comprises subfields such as industrial robotics (manipulators and assembly), service robotics (domestic and professional assistance), autonomous systems (mobile robots and drones), and human-robot interaction. Core technical areas include mechanical and electrical design, actuators and power, control systems, perception (robot vision and sensing), planning and decision making, manipulation, and safety. The integration of AI enables perception, planning, and learning-based control, while standards and safety guidelines govern interoperability and risk management. The term collaborative robots, or cobots, refers to machines designed to work alongside humans.

Applications span manufacturing, logistics, healthcare (surgical robots, rehabilitation devices), agriculture, exploration, and public safety. Robotics research also addresses social and ethical questions such as job displacement, accountability, privacy, and safety.

Educational and research institutions worldwide contribute to robotics through universities, labs, and open-source platforms. Ongoing trends include increased autonomy, sensor fusion, edge computing, cloud robotics, and human-robot collaboration, accompanied by ongoing policy and regulatory developments.