It used to be the stuff of science fiction. Now it's simply science. Robotics has advanced to the point where industrial robots are no longer the sole province of a few big manufacturers in a handful of industries. Soon any manufacturer will be able – quickly, affordably, with no special technical skills – to acquire a robot and integrate it into the production process.  

How did the future get here? Much of it springs from the mind of Rodney Brooks, founder of Heartland Robotics and former director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Rod is also a co-founder of iRobot, where he and his team invented the Roomba.

At the risk of ignoring the rest of the world-class team we've assembled at Heartland, here is a sampler of videos, books and articles from one of the leading thinkers on robotics and artificial intelligence.

SELECT VIDEOS

Remaking Manufacturing With Robotics 32:45
Maker Faire 2009
Rod discusses how advances in robotics are poised to make dramatic improvements in industrial productivity – just when the world economy needs it.

Robots Will Invade Our Lives 18:44
TED 2003
Rod shows robots interacting with people and answers the question: Will they want to take over?

Big Thinkers
Part 1 6:05 
Part 2 7:50 
Part 3 8:05
TechTV 2002
Profile of Rod.


SELECT BOOKS AND ARTICLES

The Robot Invasion Is Coming – and That's a Good Thing
Article, Discover Magazine, 2010

The Robots Are Here
Technology Review, 2004
Rod compares robots today to computers in 1978.

Flesh and Machines: How Robots Will Change Us
Rod describes his vision for robots as simple, ubiquitous, curious little machines.
Published 2003

Cambrian Intelligence: The Early History of the New AI
A collection of Rod's early academic papers.
Published 1999


SELECT ARTICLES FEATURING ROD

I, Rodney
Cosmos Magazine, Profile, 2008

Robot Risk Is Worth It
BBC, Interview, 2002

The Bad Boy of Robotics
Popular Science, Profile, 1995


MORE INFORMATION

Rod's bio at MIT

Complete list of Rod's publications