Mobile robots are increasingly interacting closely with humans in a variety of environments such as homes, hospitals, public spaces, public transport systems and disaster zones. The same is true for autonomous vehicles equipped with robot-like capabilities (sensing, decision-making and control).
Such robots have to balance constraints such as safety, efficiency and autonomy, while at the same time tackling new problems of acceptance and human-robot interaction. Given the high stakes involved, the development of these technologies is undoubtedly a major challenge for both industry and human society.
