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The International Journal of Robotics Research
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Redefining Robotics for the New Millennium

James Trevelyan

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6907, Western Australiajamest{at}mech.uwa.edu.au

This paper argues that the term "robotics" needs to be redefined as "the science of extending human motor capabilities with machines," and uses the author’s experience with robotics over the past 25 years to support this argument. The current definition is tied by default to the term "robot," which emerged from science fiction—this tie needs to be broken if robotics research is to be based on reality. The paper reviews the author’s research on sheep shearing, vision, calibration, telerobotics, and landmine clearance, and draws some conclusions that point to the need for changing the contemporary view of robotics. A brief survey of subjects addressed by robotics-research journal articles and comments from other robotics researchers support this view. Finally, at a time when many people regard technology, and particularly automation, with considerable skepticism, the proposed definition is easier for ordinary people to understand and support, and it provides more freedom for researchers to find creative approaches.

Key Words: robot • robotics • definition • human motor capacity • intelligent machines • sheep shearing • landmine • tele-robotics • calibration

The International Journal of Robotics Research, Vol. 18, No. 12, 1211-1223 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/02783649922067816
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