A Look Ahead to 2011

On behalf of the RIA Board of Directors and staff, I want to wish each and every one of the readers of Robotics Online a happy and healthy holiday season.

2010 has been a very good year for the robotics industry, a strong recovery from the “Great Recession” of 2009.  We believe the momentum will continue in 2011 and stand ready to assist our members in any way that we can.

Speaking of members – RIA added some 50 new member companies this year, the most we’ve added in several years.  We believe this is a tribute to the efforts of our Board to keep the focus on providing tangible benefits that help suppliers, integrators, users, educators, and consultants alike.

We’re looking forward to hosting some 300 leaders from the robotics, machine vision and motion control industries at the upcoming Robotics Industry Forum in Orlando, January 19-21, which is collocated with the Automated Imaging Association Business Conference and the Motion Control Association Business Conference.  Great talks, terrific networking opportunities, and the relaxed environment of Disney’s BoardWalk Resort add up to a great way to jump-start 2011 – we hope to see you there!

In March, we head to Chicago for the Automate 2011 event which we hope will provide new momentum for the use of automated solutions by companies in every industry.   The focus will be on complete solutions that incorporate robotics, vision, and motion – we believe this is what users are looking for and they will find it at Automate!

WEBINAR: MAY 6

The Age of Cognitive Robots: How Do We Get There?

We knew it was coming, the next generation – smart robots. What is the difference between artificial cognition and artificial intelligence? Is it just a natural progression of our collaboration with the machines? We have already jumped into the world of humanoid bi-pedals and our robots are recognizing our patterns of behavior, learning, and imitating our behaviors. What does it mean and where are we headed?

Register Free

As you may know, 2011 represents the 50th anniversary of the installation of the first industrial robot.  We’ll celebrate this milestone with a booth highlighting the past, present and future of robotics – it will be one of the highlights of the event.

Later in 2011 we expect to unveil the new ANSI/RIA national robot safety standard.  First adopted in 1986, the ANSI/RIA standard plays a critical role in safeguarding people working around robots.  The new standard will further that important focus on safety as a top priority for RIA.

It’s going to be a very busy year and hopefully a successful one for you and your colleagues.  Please be sure to contact me or anyone on the RIA staff whenever we can be of service.

Best regards,