robotics
English
Etymology
Coined by American science fiction author Isaac Asimov in 1941 from robot + -ics by comparison to "physics ... hydraulics, celestial mechanics, and so on" in his short story Liar!.
Pronunciation
- (UK) enPR: rō-bŏt′iks IPA(key): /ɹəʊˈbɒt.ɪks/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
- (US, Canada) enPR: rō-bŏ′tiks IPA(key): /ɹoʊˈbɑ.tɪks/, [ɹoʊˈbɑ.ɾɪks]
Audio (Texas): (file)
- (General Australian) enPR: rō-bŏt′iks IPA(key): /ɹəʉˈbɔt.ɪks/, [ɹəʉˈbɔɾ.ɪks]
Noun
robotics (uncountable)
- The science and technology of robots, their design, manufacture, and application
- 1941 May, Isaac Asimov, “Liar!”, in Astounding Science-Fiction, volume 27, number 3, page 53:
- There's irony in three of the greatest experts in robotics in the world falling into the same elementary trap, isn't there?
- 2025 March 25, John Liu, “Elon Musk thinks robots are a $10 trillion business. He’s got some competition from China”, in CNN[1]:
- While it may take another five to 10 years for humanoid robots to make a real societal impact, they could eventually become the next widely adopted consumer electronics, according to Xi Ning, chair professor of robotics and automation at the University of Hong Kong.
Hypernyms
Coordinate terms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
the science and technology of robots
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References
- Jeff Prucher, editor (2007), “robotics”, in Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction, Oxford, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 165.
- Jesse Sheidlower, editor (2001–2025), “robotics n.”, in Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.