Jun 25, 2011 11:18 GMT  ·  By
The field of robotics is the way to the future, the Obama Administration believes
   The field of robotics is the way to the future, the Obama Administration believes

An ample research effort has just been set in motion in the United States. Four governmental agencies are cooperating to support the Obama Administration's National Robotics Initiative, which calls for the development of advanced robots to augment the nation's capabilities.

The robots would work side by side with humans in many aspects of life, replacing the latter only in high-risk jobs that pose significant health risk. The new additions to the workforce should help improve overall productivity and income.

The main pillars of the national Robotics Initiative (NRI) are NASA, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

NRI comes as a complement to the Advanced Manufacturing Initiative (AMI), which already includes technology transfer efforts meant to encourage the development and widespread adoption of robots in key areas of industry and manufacturing.

According to authorities, the main goal of the two endeavors is to enhance individual human capabilities, performance and safety, while at the same time cutting down production times and cost.

“To help everyone from factory workers to astronauts carry out more complicated tasks, NASA and other agencies will support research into next-generation robotics,” President Obama said on Friday, during a speech he gave to an audience gathered at the Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh.

Fields including manufacturing, logistics, medicine, health care, military, agriculture, and consumer products have had their respective capabilities significantly augmented over the past 5 years, and now the Administration is bound to see the effort through.

Through this effort, the US plans to remain ahead in the new global technology economy, which is heavily reliant on science and technology. Over the next decade, the country will face stiff opposition from China, India, the European Union and emerging economies.

“It's exciting to be on the forefront of creating new knowledge and to play a catalytic role in the development of smart technology that enhances America's productivity and ultimately the quality of life of Americans,” NSF Director Subra Suresh said in a statement.

“It's also an opportunity to harness the expertise of our colleagues in several government agencies to tackle a major challenge and to bolster creative science and the U.S. economy. NSF is proud to lead this effort,” the NSF official added.

“NASA has been focused on human-robotic interaction for more than a decade, leading to flight of our newest crew member on the International Space Station, Robonaut2,” added the Chief Technologist at NASA, Bobby Braun.

“Our challenge today is to develop robotics technology that can increase the effectiveness and safety of humans in space and deliver cutting-edge science. Through our participation in the [NRI], NASA will create the new knowledge, technology and capabilities needed for our future space missions while benefiting life here on Earth, today,” he concluded.