What Is the Difference Between Robotics and Automation? An Informal Discussion by IEEE RAS Experts

At an IEEE RAS Communications Committee meeting, several experts informally discussed the boundary between the concepts of "robotics" and "automation." Key points included: automation focuses on making processes repeatable, efficient, and scalable, while robots are its physical embodiment; however, not all robots are automated (e.g., fully teleoperated robots), and not all automation requires robots. Participants noted that vague definitions can affect national statistical standards for service robots, international comparisons, educational examples, and the evolution of terms such as "physical AI" along with research trends.