An introductory article from the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society launching a monthly series on robotics roadmaps from leading countries worldwide. It explains what robotics roadmaps are, why they matter, and how they shape national priorities in the global race to advance physically embodied AI. Examples covered include the US National Robotics Roadmap, the EU's ADRA Strategic Research Agenda, and China's Made in China 2025 plan. The series aims to help roboticists understand their role in influencing policy and innovation trajectories.
Questions this post answers
What is the US National Robotics Roadmap and who leads it?
The US National Robotics Roadmap is a bottom-up, academic-led initiative that incentivizes major government investment toward innovations in collaborative robots. It has been developed through institutions like UC San Diego in partnership with the Computing Community Consortium and Engineering Research Visioning Alliance, with a version published in April 2024 titled 'A Roadmap for US Robotics – Robotics for a Better Tomorrow'. Roboticists tracking national robotics policy developments find the latest roadmap discussions on daily.dev.
What was China's Made in China 2025 plan and what did it achieve in robotics?
Made in China 2025 was a major government-driven industrial plan issued by China's State Council in 2015 that included robotics development goals. Over the course of a decade, it helped transition China from low-cost manufacturing workshops into a global high-tech leader, with robotics as one of its key strategic sectors. Engineers following the global robotics race and its policy drivers keep up on daily.dev.