The National Robotics Roundtable lauded the financial aid extended towards the development of robotics in America by the President through the National Robotics Initiative. Jared L. Cohon, the president of Carnegie Mellon University, was of the opinion that the aid from the administration was capable of generating new jobs and setting up new industries.
He regarded robotics as an important area of growth that would strengthen the global economic position of the country and help in leading a safe and healthy life.
Robotics and unmanned systems have exhibited the potential to extend the reach in industries such as defense, manufacturing, security, agriculture, healthcare etc. Robotics has already established a firm hold in the functioning of manufacturing industries, offering protection to civilians and soldiers, maintaining environmental balance and developing educational teaching aids. In healthcare, robotics has been of immense help in performing surgical procedures with minimum incision, low infection rates and quicker recovery time. Manufacturing industry has also been greatly benefitted by robotics in increasing their revenues and in expansion of business. Helen Greiner stated that the face of robotics has radically changed from being a research function to a function that is transforming the way America lives. She is the President and CEO of CyPhyWorks and also the President of the Robotics Technology Consortium and co-founder of iRobot. Some of the recent man-made and natural disasters, such as the tsunami in Japan, have strengthened the importance of robotics and unmanned systems. Another example of the usefulness of robotic systems is in handling the Deepwater Horizon explosion that happened in the Gulf of Mexico. Such incidents serve to remind us of the importance of robotics and how the use of these systems offers protection to mankind.
Source: http://www.roboticsroundtable.org/