Pioneering the personal robotics industry

The world has yet to see an affordable commercial robot that can do more than one distinguishable task. In this paper I investigate the status of the home robotics industry. The work attempts to gauge when home robotics will become a successful norm. In my research, I interviewed leaders in the robotics industry. Their responses lead me to believe that the majority of robotics companies are isolated and independent. Where home robotics has been in the past shows missed opportunities while where it is going holds uncertain outcomes. A fact this paper confronts is often left undiscussed: the American government funds military robotics more than any other commercial entity. However, assistive commercial robotics is not within the scope of government funding. While this government support is also seen with Japan, the focus is on assistive technology rather than military. Robotics companies, venture capitalists, the United States government and the consumer are all entwined in the fate of commercial assistive home robotics. If unseen opportunities aren´t utilized soon, Japan will be in place to dominate the home robotics market, leaving America behind.