Robotics research: The promise of a new generation: Robots have much promise, but a long way to go. Advancement depends on R&D, education, capital investment, and our own motivation

Some time, perhaps around the turn of the century, robot technology will develop to the degree necessary to produce the totally automated factory. In such factories, robots will perform most, if not all, of the operations that now require human skills. There will be totally automated inventory and tool management, automated machining, assembly, finishing, and inspection systems. Automated factories will even be able to reproduce themselves, i.e., automated factories will make the components for other automated factories.