Robots have been part of automation systems for a very long time, and in public perception, they are often synonymous with automation and industrial revolution perse. Fueled by Industry 4.0 and Internet of Things (IoT) concepts as well as by new software technologies, the field of robotics in industry is currently undergoing a revolution on its own. This article gives an overview of the evolution of robotics from its beginnings to recent trends like collaborative robotics, autonomous robots, and human- robot interaction. Particular attention is devoted to the deep changes of the last decades, from the traditional industrial scenario based on isolated robotic cells up to the most recent coworking and collaborative robots. The role of robotics in the Industry 4.0 framework is analyzed, and the relationships with industrial communications and software technologies are also discussed. Some future directions for robotics are envisaged, focusing on the contributions coming from new materials, sensors, actuators, and technologies. Open issues are highlighted as well as the main barriers that currently limit the deployment of industrial robots in the small and medium enterprise (SME) world.

中文翻译：

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工业机器人：与人类合作的过去，现在和未来

机器人很长时间以来一直是自动化系统的一部分，在公众看来，它们通常是自动化和工业革命本身的代名词。在工业4.0和物联网（IoT）概念以及新软件技术的推动下，工业机器人领域目前正在经历一场革命。本文概述了机器人技术从开始到最近的发展趋势，例如协作机器人，自主机器人和人机交互。从基于隔离机器人单元的传统工业场景到最新的协作和协作机器人，过去数十年来的深刻变化尤其受到关注。分析了机器人技术在工业4.0框架中的作用，还讨论了与工业通信和软件技术的关系。设想了一些机器人技术的未来方向，重点是新材料，传感器，执行器和技术的贡献。突出强调了开放性问题以及当前限制中小企业（SME）世界中工业机器人部署的主要障碍。