The Massachusetts Robotics Revolution

The Robotics Revolution
The MassTLC Robotics Cluster has grown dramatically in recent years, covering a broad spectrum of robotics companies, from large leaders that are selling successfully to consumer, industrial, and government markets to start-ups and early-stage companies that are launching exciting next-generation robotics products and systems.

Advanced robotics research and development (R&D) at ten leading Massachusetts research institutions is fueling the industry’s rapid growth. A phenomenal talent pool of highly skilled engineers graduating from the Commonwealth’s many world-class electrical, mechanical, and software engineering degree programs, including the country’s first-of-its-kind fully integrated undergraduate degree program in robotics engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), keeps the talent pipeline flowing.

Innovations in electronics, hardware, and components (such as sensors, motion controls, and vision systems) have enabled the development of entirely new kinds of specialized, smart automated products with military, commercial, medical, marine and consumer applications. Today, robots perform hazardous military missions and automate manufacturing and warehouse logistics; robotic-assisted devices perform noninvasive surgery and assist in physical rehabilitation; unmanned underwater vehicles are used for oceanographic survey and defense applications; and personal service robots make everyday life easier by mowing lawns and vacuum cleaning.

Robotics technology is revolutionary and disruptive. Robots are intelligent tools for increasing productivity, creating high-value jobs for new applications, and enabling workers to make industries more globally competitive. Nextgeneration robotics will be cheaper and easier to implement and operate, and they will work with people rather than substituting for people.