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de Silva. Intell Robot 2021;1(1):3-17 Intelligence & Robotics
DOI: 10.20517/ir.2021.01

Perspective Open Access

Intelligent robotics - misconceptions, current trends,

and opportunities

Clarence W. de Silva
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.

Correspondence to: Prof. Clarence W. de Silva, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250
Applied Science Lane, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. E-mail: desilva@mech.ubc.ca

How to cite this article: de Silva CW. Intelligent robotics - misconceptions, current trends, and opportunities. Intell Robot
2021;1(1):3-17. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/ir.2021.01

Received: 25 Jul 2021 First Decision: 21 Jul 2021 Revised: 24 Jul 2021 Accepted: 28 Jul 2021 Published: 11 Oct 2021

Academic Editor: Simon X. Yang Copy Editor: Xi-Jun Chen Production Editor: Xi-Jun Chen

Abstract
The concepts of “Robots” have been of interest to humans from historical times, initially with the desire to create
“artificial slaves”. Since the technology was not developing to keep up with the “dreams”, initially, Robotics was
primarily of entertainment value, relegated to plays, movies, stories, etc. The practical applications started in the
late 1950s and the 1960s with the development of programmable devices for factories and assembly lines as
flexible automation. However, since the expectations were not adequately realized, the general enthusiasm and
funding for Robotics subsided to some extent. With subsequent research, developments, and curricular
enhancement in Engineering and Computer Science and the resurgence of Artificial Intelligence, particularly
machine learning, Robotics has found numerous practical applications today, in industry, medicine, household, the
service sector, and the general society. Important developments and practical strides are being made, particularly
in Soft Robotics, Mobile Robotics (Aerial - drones, Underwater, Ground-based - autonomous vehicles in particular),
Swarm Robotics, Homecare, Surgery, Assistive Devices, and Active Prosthesis. This perspective paper starts with a
brief history of Robotics while indicating some associated myths and unfair expectations. Next, it will outline key
developments in the area. In particular, some important practical applications of Intelligent Robotics, as developed
by groups worldwide, including the Industrial Automation Laboratory at the University of British Columbia, headed
by the author, are indicated. Finally, some misconceptions and shortcomings concerning Intelligent Robotics are
pointed out. The main shortcomings concern the mechanical capabilities and the nature of intelligence. The paper
concludes by mentioning future trends and key opportunities available in Intelligent Robotics for both developed
and developing counties.

© The Author(s) 2021. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, sharing,
adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as
long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and
indicate if changes were made.

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