< Previous9 /9 8 /10 9 TRL /9 D RONES, which are in the Productisation Stage, is the field of research concerned with making a wide range of unmanned, semi-autonomous, or autonomous machines that come in a variety of sizes and formats that have applications in a multitude of different environments and situations. Drones are one of a number of fields that are now taking off and in the Productisation Stage, but despite that they, like many technologies, are still in their infancy and there’s still a huge amount of potential to be embedded into, and extracted from them. Recently there have been significant advances in Drone control systems, energy, and materials. DEFINITION Drones are unmanned, semi autonomous or autonomous vehicles or machines. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using Drones in a myriad of ways, including to survey buildings, energy grids, and pipelines, but we are also using them for content creation, defence, entertainment, and transportation, and much more. In the future the primary use case of the technology will include applications where semi- autonomous and autonomous drone operations add value. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Aerospace, Defence, Consumer Electronics, Energy, and Transportation sector, with support from government funding, and university grants. In time we will see the variety of drones available on the market, and their capabilities, both semi- autonmous and autonomous, increase, and it goes without saying that their futures are closely tied to developments in the Advanced Manufacturing, Compute and Systems, Communications, Energy, Intelligence, and Sensor categories. While Drones are in the Productisation Stage, over the long term it will be enhanced by advances in 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Creative Machines, Diffractive Neural Networks, Laser Energy Transmission, Machine Vision, Materials, Molecular Assemblers, Photovoltaics, Polymers, Printable Batteries, Self-Healing Materials, Sensor Technology, Simulation Engines, Solid State Batteries, Structural Batteries, Swarm Artificial Intelligence, Swarm Robotics, Transient Electronics, and Wireless Energy, but at this point in time it is not clear what it will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, with a view to implementing it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 9 8 7 9 9 8 7 9 1972 1986 1989 2001 2028 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘17, ‘18, ‘19 DRONES EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 390311institute.com MRL3 /9 9 /10 4 TRL /9 E VOLUTIONARY ROBOTICS, which are in the Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing new ways to emulate and replicate the evolutionary qualities of living organisams in robots. Recent breakthroughs in the space include the ability for robots to merge code bases, in the same way animals combine genetic material in order to evolve, and the development of new robotic systems that allow robots to sense their environments, and then use Creative Machines and simulated environments to help them discover new ways to adapt to it - whether those adaptations result in minor functional or shape changes, or result in the robots designing new parts for themselves and 3D printing them off, such as 3D printing a new type of leg that helps them cover a different tye of terrain. DEFINITION Evolutionary Robotics are a class of robots that can combine their code, evolve, and reproduce in the same way natural organisms do, but at an exponential rate. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using prototypes to prove the theory behind the technology and refine it. In the future the primary use case of this technology will be almost limitless and ultimately lead to a point were we see robot evolution accelerated millions fold and where one robot really can “do it all.” FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, primarily led by organisations in the Technology sector. In time we will continue to see the rapid development of the technology and as it matures it is inevitable that organisations will see it as a must have technology that they can use and adapt for their own use, and as a result once the technology is established it is likely to become the defacto way robots in the future are architected and built. While Evolutionary Robotics are in the Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Advanced Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Brain Machine Interfaces, Creative Machines, Hive Minds, Machine Vision, Materials, Molecular Assemblers, Neuromorphic Computing, Neuro-Prosthetics, Quantum Computing, Sensors, and Simulation Engines, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 3 4 2 8 9 4 3 9 1977 1981 2017 2029 2036 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT EVOLUTIONARY ROBOTICS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘20, ‘21, ‘24 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 391311institute.com MRL6 /9 7 /10 9 TRL /9 E XO-SUITS, which are still in the Prototype Stage and early Productisation Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing external mechanical systems that help augment the capabilities of the people and products that are wearing and using them. Recently there have been a variety of breakthroughs in the control systems, energy, and materials used in the manufacture of both hard form and soft form Exo- Suits, which means that they are now useful for an increasing range of applications that involve, initially either fine motor movements and, or heavy lifting. DEFINITION Exo-Suits are non invasive, artificial external mechanical systems that allow people to extend the range of their capabilities EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using Exo-Suits to assist factory workers, and help people regain their motor functions after they’ve suffered catastrophic neurological injuries, and in the military sector to help warriors on the battlefield. In the future the primary applications of the technology will include any applications where being able to augment a humans natural capabilities add value. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, primarily led by organisations in the Aerospace, Defence, Healthcare, and Manufacturing sectors, with support from government funding, and university grants. In time we will see researchers in the space experiment with a range of new control systems, energy types and materials to create lighter, more capable platforms. While Exo-Suits are in the Prototype Stage and early Productisation Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in 3D Printing, 5G, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Co-Bots, Creative Machines, Flexible Electronics, Hive Minds, Printable Batteries, Neural Interfaces, Printable Batteries, Screenless Display Systems, Neural Interfaces, Neuro-Prosthetics, Self-Healing Materials, Structural Batteries, and Wireless Energy, but at this point in time it is not clear what it will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, with a view to implementing it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 8 7 4 9 7 7 7 9 1963 1979 1981 1988 2030 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT EXO-SUITS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 392311institute.com MRL4 /9 7 /10 6 TRL /9 G ENERAL ROBOTS, which are in the Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing new ways to develop robots that are able to complete tasks and navigate their environments either without ever having to be explicitly taught, by self-learning or via intuition, or just by simply observing others performing them. Recent breakthroughs in the field include the development of robots that can complete household tasks aswell as recycling and sorting tasks without ever having to be trained. DEFINITION General Robots are a class of robots that are capable of learning new skills via intuition and observation without having to be explicitly programmed or taught them. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using prototypes to prove the theory behind the technology and refine it. In the future the primary use case of this technology will be to develop robots that are capable of learning and completing a wide range of tasks just through observation that could include everything from performing complex surgeries through to performing more mundane household or search and rescue duties. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, primarily led by organisations in the Technology sector, with support from univesity grants. In time we will see the technology mature to a point where it becomes the defacto way to architect and build robots and it will inevitably help accelerate the use of robots in the wider world across a wide range of use cases and sectors, and increase their utility. While General Robots are in the Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Artificial Intelligence, Evolutionary Robotics, Hive Minds, Machine Vision, and Sensors, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 3 4 3 7 9 3 2 9 1978 1985 2017 2026 2031 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT GENERAL PURPOSE ROBOTS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 393311institute.com MRL5 /9 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 3 /10 5 TRL /9 I NFLATABLE ROBOTS, which are in the Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing new types of inflatable robots that, when inflated, are capable of performing many of the same tasks regular robots are capable of performing. Recent breakthroughs in the field include the development of new control systems and actuators that allow these robots to complete increasingly complex tasks even while they themselves are unstable. DEFINITION Inflatable Robots are a class of robots that can be inflated and deflated on demand but are that are still capable of carrying out tasks. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using prototypes to prove the theory behind the technology and refine it. In the future the primary use case of this technology will be to send inflatable robots into space, which can be done at very low cost because of their format, where they can perform a range of tasks, however the fact that they can be compacted down into a small package before being inflated also opens the door to use cases where that is an advantage, such as in the home where space is limited, and where they can be inflated before performing tasks and being de-flated again. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, albeit from a very low base, primarily led by organisations in the Aerospace and Defence sector, with support from university grants. In time as the control mechanisms for the technology improves we will eventually see them become much more of a viable commercial proposition, but given the current narrow development focus and the relatively low levels of investment it could be a while before they are properly commercialised. While Inflatable Robots are in the Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Artificial Intelligence, Evolutionary Robotics, General Robotics, Machine Vision, and Sensors, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 3 3 5 4 7 3 1 8 1981 1992 2017 2027 2034 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT INFLATABLE ROBOTS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘20, ‘22, ‘23 394311institute.com MRL3 /9 L IVING ROBOTS, which are in the Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing new ways to create robots that are alive, but not necessarily sentient, or, as others describe it “Programmable Organisms.” Recent breakthroughs in the field include the use of Artificial Intelligence, a supercomputer, and stem cells to create the world’s first truly living robots that were adaptable and responded to external stimuli. DEFINITION Living Robots are neither traditional robot nor animal but are a form of re-programmable and controllable cell based living machine. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using prototypes to prove the theory behind the technology and refine it. In the future the primary use case of this technology could be almost unlimited and they could be used in everything from monitoring pollution levels all the way through to being involved in in vivo healthcare treatments. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, albeit from a very low base, primarily led by university grants. In time we will see the technology mature to the point where it is safe and viable, as well as commercially feasible, but given the nature of the technology it is highly likely that it will be subject to stringent regulatory scrutiny which will inevitably delay its adoption. While Living Robots are in the Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Artificial Intelligence, Bio-Sensors, Creative Machines, Evolutionary Robotics, Semi-Synthetic Cells, Simulation Engines, Stem Cells, Synthetic Biology, Synthetic Cells, Synthetic DNA, and Swarm Robotics, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, and establish a point of view, and re-visit it every few years until progress in the space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 2 2 2 6 8 2 1 8 1997 2006 2019 2033 2046 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 395311institute.com 7 /10 4 TRL /9 LIVING ROBOTS EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. MRL3 /9 7 /10 4 TRL /9 M OLECULAR ROBOTS, which are in the early Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing molecule sized robots that can perform a variety of actions within a variety of environments. Recently there have been breakthroughs in creating molecular sized robots that are capable of performing pre-programmed actions while interacting and sensing their environments, and while it is still very early days for the field it is inevitable that it will play a pivotal role in helping create the world’s first viable Molecular Assemblers. DEFINITION Molecular Robots are robots made from molecules that can be pre-programmed perform specific actions. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using prototype Molecular Robots to create automated molecular sized manufacturing lines, and create molecular sized products. In the future the primary use cases of the technology will include using it to develop the first Molecular Assemblers, and in any situation where being able to assemble, or re-arrange, systems at the molecular scale adds value. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Defence and Manufacturing sectors, with support from government funding, and university grants. In time we will see researchers in the space create increasingly sophisticated Molecular Robots that rely on a standardised programming language, to be designed and controlled, that are capable of communicating in real time with other molecular systems and behaving in a semi-autonomous and autonomous manner. While Molecular Robots are in the early Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in 3D Bio-Printing, 3D Printing, Biological Computing, CRISPR Gene Editing, DNA Neural Networks, Molecular Energy Systems, Nano-Manufacturing, and Sensor Technology, but at this point in time it is not clear what it will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, establish a point of view, and re- visit it every few years until progress in the space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 3 3 3 6 9 4 1 8 1965 1978 2017 2029 2042 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23 MOLECULAR ROBOTS EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 396311institute.com MRL3 /9 9 /10 4 TRL /9 N ANO-MACHINES, which are in the Concept Stage and Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing semi-autonomous and autonomous nanoscale machines that can be both organic and inorganic, or combinations thereof. Recently there have been several major breakthroughs in the field including the development of Nano-Machines that are capable of re-configuring themselves, the control systems to co-ordinate and track nanobots and nanobot swarms within the human body, as well as a wide range of other nanobot machines that are capable of patrolling the human body seeking out and killing disease, including Cancers. And as our understanding of the technologies we rely on to manufacture and operate these machines improves so will they and the applications they can master. DEFINITION Nano-Machines are mechanical or electromechanical devices whose dimensions are measured in nanometers EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using the first Nano-Machine prototypes to create controllable nanobot swarms capable of in vivo human surgery, and perform targeted drug delivery within animals, as well as to target, drill into, and choke off the blood supplies to diseased cells. In the future the primary applications of this technology will be almost limitless. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Aerospace, Consumer Electronics, Defence, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology sectors, with support from government funding, and university grants. In time we will see researchers in the field create increasingly complex and intricate machines capable of tackling many more applications, however, in some industries the eventual adoption of these products will be slowed down by regulation. While Nano-Machines are in the Concept Stage and Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Bio-Hybrid Robots, Biological Computing, CRISPR Gene Editing, DNA Computing, DNA Robots, Micromotes, Molecular Assemblers, Molecular Robots, Nano-Manufacturing, Sensor Technology, Swarm Artificial intelligence, and Swarm Robotics, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, establish a point of view, and re- visit it every few years until progress in the space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 4 4 3 7 8 6 3 8 1951 1978 1983 2007 2044 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT NANO-MACHINES STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 397311institute.com MRL2 /9 8 /10 4 TRL /9 N EUROBIOTICS, which is in the Concept Stage and early Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing robots whose technology is fused with biological nervous systems to, in essence, create what some are calling the first “Conscious Robots.” Recently there have been a couple of notable breakthroughs in the field including the fusion of a digital worms brain with a Lego robot, which many regard as the first step in realising the first true fusion between a basic biological animal brain and a robot, and then more recently with the announcement that several teams of researchers have secured significant funding to press ahead with the technology to create the first conscious robot platforms. DEFINITION Neurobiotics is the intricate fusion of biological nervous systems with technology. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using the prototype Neurobiotic robots to test the theory that animal nervous systems can be integrated with machines, and refine the technology. In the future the primary applications of this technology will involve using these robots in applications that are either prone to hacking, or unsafe for digital lifeforms. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Defence and Technology sectors, with support from government funding, and university grants. In time we will see researchers become more capable at mapping the individual neural pathways to individual robotic systems to drive behaviour, and then expand the scope of applications they can tackle. While Neurobiotics are in the Concept Stage and early Prototype Stage, over the long term it will be enhanced by advances in 3D Bio-Printing, 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Neural Interfaces, and Sensor Technology, but at this point in time it is not clear what it will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, establish a point of view, and re- visit it every few years until progress in the space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 2 2 2 7 7 3 2 7 1956 1986 2018 2018 2042 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 NEUROBIOTICS EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 398311institute.com MRL9 /9 9 /10 9 TRL /9 R OBOTS, which are in the Prototype Stage and Productisation Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing principally hardware based robots, of all shapes and sizes, that can be used in a variety of applications. Recently there have been significant advances in designing and building increasingly advanced robots, whether humanoid or otherwise, thanks to advances in complimentary technology fields, including Artificial Intelligence and Cloud, which now equips robots with Hive Mind capabilities that allow them to share and learn from joined experiences, Machine Vision, Simulation Engines which have been used to dramatically increase their dexterity, as well as Neural Interfaces and Sensor Technology which not only provide them with Human-Machine telepathic links that accelerate learning, but also with new forms of Artificial Skin that allow them to feel, and even experience pain. DEFINITION Robots are machines that are capable of carrying out a series of complex actions semi-autonomously or autonomously. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using Robots in a wide variety of applications, including, but not limited to, consumer, healthcare, factory, military and warehouse applications where they do everything from the assembly, packing, picking, and transporting of goods, as well as providing welfare services. In the future the primary applications for the technology will be limitless. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Technology sector, with support from university grants. In time researchers in the field will create increasingly autonomous and intelligent self-evolving, self-manufacturing robots capable of acquiring and learning new skills via Hive Minds without being specifically re-coded or trained. While robots are the Prototype Stage and Productisation Stage, over the long term it will be enhanced by advances in 3D Printing, 4D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Creative Machines, Molecular Robots, Hive Minds, Metamaterials, Neural Interfaces, Photovoltaics, Self-Healing materials, Sensor Technology, Soft Robots, Structural Batteries, and Wireless Energy, but at this point in time it is not clear what it will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, with a view to implementing it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 9 8 6 9 8 8 6 8 1940 1944 1951 1956 2032 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT ROBOTS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘17, ‘18, ‘19 EXPLORE MORE. 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