Robotics and autonomous systems are reshaping the world, changing healthcare, food production and biodiversity management. While they will play a fundamental role in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals, associated opportunities and threats are yet to be considered systematically. We report on a horizon scan evaluating robotics and autonomous systems impact on all Sustainable Development Goals, involving 102 experts from around the world. Robotics and autonomous systems are likely to transform how the Sustainable Development Goals are achieved, through replacing and supporting human activities, fostering innovation, enhancing remote access and improving monitoring. Emerging threats relate to reinforcing inequalities, exacerbating environmental change, diverting resources from tried-and-tested solutions and reducing freedom and privacy through inadequate governance. Although predicting future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on the Sustainable Development Goals is difficult, thoroughly examining technological developments early is essential to prevent unintended detrimental consequences. Additionally, robotics and autonomous systems should be considered explicitly when developing future iterations of the Sustainable Development Goals to avoid reversing progress or exacerbating inequalities.

机器人技术和自主系统正在重塑世界，改变医疗保健、食品生产和生物多样性管理。虽然它们将在实现联合国可持续发展目标方面发挥基础性作用，但相关的机遇和威胁尚未得到系统考虑。我们报告了一项评估机器人技术和自主系统对所有可持续发展目标的影响的地平线扫描，涉及来自世界各地的 102 位专家。机器人和自主系统可能会通过替代和支持人类活动、促进创新、加强远程访问和改进监测来改变实现可持续发展目标的方式。新出现的威胁与加剧不平等、加剧环境变化、将资源从久经考验的解决方案中转移出来，并通过不当的治理减少自由和隐私。尽管很难预测机器人技术和自主系统对可持续发展目标的未来影响，但尽早彻底检查技术发展对于防止意外的有害后果至关重要。此外，在制定可持续发展目标的未来迭代时，应明确考虑机器人技术和自主系统，以避免逆转进展或加剧不平等。