Amazon.com description: Product Description: The reader can find concise, up-to-date definitions of the terms, acronyms, and abbreviations being used today in the rapidly advancing field of robotics in this work. Included is expert coverage of advanced manufacturing technology, industrial robots, smart robots, military robots, CAD/CAM/CIM, machine vision, laser systems, production processes, factories of the future and bar code identification. More than a dictionary of terms, the "Robotics Sourcebook" features an introduction to robotic technology, including a basic explanation of how robots work, key factors in robot implementation and examples of typical applications from assembly functions to forging and inspection. Also featured is an overview and in-depth analysis of the world robotics market, focusing on the competitiveness of U.S. firms, and a forecast of market trends for the future. Fully illustrated with photographs, charts and diagrams, this text should be a useful reference source for the busy professional or engineer working in industrial robotics.