Event / Publication
The 2016 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2016) was held in Daejeon, Korea, October 9-14, 2016. The venue for IROS 2016 was the Daejeon Convention Center (DCC), close by “Daedeok Innopolis”. The program integrated workshops and tutorials, plenaries, mini-plenaries, special sessions, exhibitions, robot demonstrations, an industrial forum, a futurist forum, and social activities for attendees and guests.
This paper describes the holistic phase model of the ‘4 Robotic Revolutions’ – disruptive waves of evolution in robotics and automation – and their impact on society, economy and other areas of human life over the next 50 years. Furthermore, an explanation is provided, why a new Generation ‘R’ of Robotic Natives will grow up in daily contact with automation technology perceiving technology as valuable enrichments for their lives.
The paper closes with an outlook into reasons why humankind has to ignite a holistic discourse about the responsible application of these disruptive technologies in order to shape a sustainable future enhanced (and not threatened) by robotics and automation. In consequence, the need for self-regulation in the sense of Technology and Robotic Governance will arise.