With the massive and pervasive diffusion of robotics technology in our society, we are heading towards a new type of AI, which we call Physical AI at the intersection of Robotics with AI, that is the science of robots and intelligent machines performing a physical action to help humans in their jobs of daily lives. Physical assistance to disabled or elderly people; reduction of risks and fatigue at work; improvement of production processes of material goods and their sustainability; safety, efficiency and reduction of environmental impact in transportation of people and goods; progress of diagnostic and surgical techniques are all examples of scenarios where the new InterAction Technology (IAT) is indispensable.

The interaction between robots and humans must be managed in a safe and reliable manner. The robot becomes an ideal assistant, like the tool used by a surgeon, a craftsman, a skilled worker. The new generation of robots will co-exist - the cobots- with humans not only in the workplace but, gradually, in homes and communities, providing support in services, entertainment, education, health, manufacturing and care.

As widely discussed above, interaction plays a crucial role for the development of modern robotic systems. Grasping, manipulation and cooperative manipulators are covered in the first part of the third book of the Robotics Goes MOOC project, respectively in Chapter 1 by Prattichizzo et al, Chapter 2 by Kao et al, and Chapter 3 by Caccavale. Specific interaction issues along with the development of digital and physical interfaces are dealt with in Chapter 4 by Marchal et al and in Chapter 5 by Croft et al, respectively. Interaction between robot and human also means that a robot can be worn by a human as presented in Chapter 6 by Vitiello et al. A different type of interaction at a cognitive and planning level is the focus of Chapter 7 by Lima devoted to multi-robot systems and Chapter 8 by Song et al on networked, cloud and fog robotics, respectively.

About the Author

Bruno Siciliano is professor of robotics and control at the University of Naples Federico II. He is also Honorary Professor at the University of Obuda where he holds the Kalman Chair. His research interests include manipulation and control, human-robot cooperation, and service robotics. Fellow of the scientific societies IEEE, ASME, IFAC, AAIA, he received numerous international prizes and awards, including the recent 2024 IEEE Robotics and Automation Pioneer Award. He was President of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society from 2008 to 2009. He has delivered more than 150 keynotes and has published more than 300 papers and 7 books. His book "Robotics" is among the most adopted academic texts worldwide, while his edited volume "Springer Handbook of Robotics" received the highest recognition for scientific publishing: the 2008 PROSE Award for Excellence in Physical Sciences & Mathematics. His team has received more than 25 million Euro funding in the last 15 years from competitive European research projects, including two ERC grants.

Book Information
ISBN 9783319772691
Author Bruno Siciliano
Format Paperback
Page Count 313
Imprint Springer International Publishing AG
Publisher Springer International Publishing AG