The development of robots and robotics technology requires the mastery of multiple disciplines—primarily software development and mechanical and electrical engineering. Robotics development is made even more difficult as it is limited by embedded and real-time constraints. But real-time concerns are only the beginning, especially as robots and robotics technology become more prevalent in the home, the workplace, in public places, and on the battlefield.

Commercial viability adds additional burdens for the robotics developer—the resultant systems must be innovative, robust in the extreme, work as advertised, and yet be competitively priced. It is clear that success for such an endeavor requires a thorough understanding of systems, systems engineering, design goals (and a clear delineation of those goals), a rigorous development process, and an adherence to both de jure and de facto standards whenever possible.

The next generation of robots and robotic devices must also be integrated with other systems in their environment. Solution providers have responded to these difficulties by providing a host of robotics design and development tools, as well as ready-made robotics “platforms” that dramatically simplify the job of designing, developing, testing, and manufacturing robots and robotics products.

In an effort to increase the pace of robotics development and advance the robotics industry as a whole, Robotics Business Review surveyed approximately 250 technical professionals involved with the production of robots and robotics technology, to determine how robotics design and deployment solutions are currently being used and will be used in the future. The resulting adoption profile provides solution providers, engineers, and the investment community with a basis for informed decision making.