Keywords
Citation
(2003), "New IFR Special Interest Group: Service Robotics Group", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930dab.010
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
New IFR Special Interest Group: Service Robotics Group
New IFR Special Interest Group: Service Robotics Group
Keywords: IFR, Robots
On 9 October 2002, the Service Robotics Group was founded under the auspices of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). The constitutional meeting which was held during the 33rd international Symposium on Robotics (ISR) in Stockholm, was attended by numerous representatives from service robotic industries and research laboratories. Mr Martin Haegele was elected to chair the Group during its formation phase.
The IFR has recognized, through its national affiliates, the growing commercial activities associated with service robots. This category of robots aim at applications outside the manufacturing field and meanwhile have resulted in numerous products like surgical robots, autonomous cleaning machines, autonomous vehicles for courier services in buildings or robots in surveillance and maintenance. In Europe alone, more than 60 companies develop and produce service robot systems and components. It is estimated that some 12,500 service robots are in use world wide in addition to some 155,000 robots which have already entered homes as autonomous lawn mower or vacuum cleaners.
At the same time, it is found that there is little support nowadays for the mostly small and young companies working or entering this area to assist them in market assessment and creating visibility towards other industries, media or government bodies. In response to these facts the IFR operates the Group to increase the interests of this emerging industry.