They roll, scuttle, climb, and even hop, but no one will ever confuse them for runway beauties. Typically designed for specialized tasks, today's working robots lie well on the near side of the "Uncanny Valley," built with a pragmatism that emphasizes function over form. In their earliest forms, working robots have played an important role in industry. Robotic "arms" evolved as the centerpiece of stationary workstations, using articulated-boom-mounted end effectors to weld, paint, or otherwise complete work brought into their reach. For most applications, however, robots need the ability to move toward the work - whether that is conducting surveillance, performing search and rescue, or exploring off-world geology.
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