PurposeAims to provide a summary of global robot statistics as presented in World Robotics 2004, a new publication prepared jointly by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Also aims to highlight the trends displayed at the small exhibition of service robots that accompanied the publication launch.Design/methodology/approachSummarises the UNECE/IFR global robot statistics for 2003, separating the market for industrial robots from that of service robots, and providing a detailed analysis of both. Explanations from Jan Karlsson, who was responsible for the publication of the statistics, are included.Findings2003 was a bumper year for robots overall. The market for service robots is accelerating rapidly, in particular. Sales of robotic vacuum cleaners are rising fast.Originality/valueProvides an overview of in‐depth statistics on robotics, and highlights the trends for those interested in the robotics market.

Purpose Aims to describe the application of robotics to the cleaning of the glass roof of the 21 m high pyramid that stands in front of the Louvre in Paris. Design/methodology/approach Presents the design of the robot, its traction mechanism, cleaning system and operating mode. Findings Finds that a robot is capable of cleaning a glass roof at a great height and on a steep slope using only suction to adhere to the surface. Originality/value Introduces the concept of a robot in commercial use that cleans a steeply sloping glass roof.

PurposeAims to determine how BMW's use of robots in car manufacturing is evolving.Design/methodology/approachPresents the latest applications of robots at BMW's Regensburg plant where the new small 1‐series car started production in 2004.FindingsFinds that robots are being used to bring greater flexibility to car manufacture and to raise process quality and productivity, particularly in the area of the paint shop.Originality/valueReveals how one of the world's most innovative car manufacturers is applying robots in new ways to achieve increasing benefits.

BMW axle design has evolved considerably in recent years to reduce weight and increase performance. The latest developments have created the need for a relatively precise finish machining operation on axle carriers. To perform this machining, BMW uses innovative Tricept robots due to the high level of flexibility they offer. The automaker has installed two highly automated machining systems based on Tricept robots at its Dingolfing plant. Their capacity, operating three shifts a day, 5 days a week, is more than 1,400 parts per day.

Robotic exploration of the planet Mars is the goal of two space missions launched in 2003. Their aim was to use robots and a host of instrumentation to take samples of soil and rock and to analyse them for evidence of life. The NASA project, which landed on Mars in January 2004, has put the two wheeled rovers Spirit and Opportunity into operation. Between them they have driven a total of more than 3.5 km during a mission that has lasted more than 130 days. Beagle 2, the British‐led project, was designed to take samples from the vicinity of the landing craft, but this has not happened due to loss of contact with the lander.

Automatica 2004, a new exhibition dedicated to industrial automation, attracted 566 exhibitors from 22 countries, the first time it was held in Munich. Exhibits revealed a growing use of robots for inspection and measurement operations, particularly for automotive applications. In addition, assembly systems are becoming increasingly standardised and modularised, and robot installations are becoming more and more compact.

Reports from the 2004 Automotive Laser Applications Workshop in Plymouth, MI on the keynote presentation given by Klaus Loeffler, Volkswagen's joining specialist. Outlines the extent of Volkswagen's use of laser welding to build cars at both assembly plants in Germany and elsewhere.

Renault F1 Team UK has progressively introduced rapid prototyping technologies to actually produce the components it needs for the half‐size models of cars that it uses for wind tunnel testing. Most recently, the process is starting to find application on the race cars themselves.

The French Atomic Energy Commission, or CEA, has developed a range of remote controlled manipulators and mobile robots that is designed for inspection and intervention tasks in hostile environments, particularly those associated with nuclear power plants. This paper outlines the activities related to mobile robots, and highlights the need for varied mechanical concepts. Different locomotion principles are required, for example, for the inspection of the interior of a 100mm diameter pipe and for the movement of a 100kg payload up and down a stairwell.

Reports from the Hanover Fair on new developments in automated assembly technology, particularly robotic assembly, outlines the latest robot hardware and software innovations to be launched on the market, describes new applications being taken up by industry.

Traditional methods for toolmaking are slow and expensive. A new approach involving innovative metal spraying technology can cut months off lead‐times. This paper discusses the development and its industrial application.

Reports on a seminar entitled "Future trends in robotics" organised by the UK's institution of Mechanical Engineers, outlines recent developments in subsea robotics, reviews the evolution of surgical robotics, discusses the current state of application and research relating to mobile robots and looks at the progress being made in the development of climbing robots.

Reports from the Hanover Fair on new developments in robotic automation, outlines the latest robot hardware and software innovations to be launched on the market, and describes new applications being taken up by industry.

Describes a European project to develop vision‐based, closed‐loop robot control technology to facilitate assembly tasks in the automotive industry. Looks particularly at the problem of placing a sunroof on a car body accurately.

Reports on new automation technology for the tyre industry. Describes a laser process for the in‐press cleaning of tyre moulds. Outlines the potential for massive savings compared to conventional systems.

Describes dieless forming, an innovative sheet metal forming technology developed in Japan which enables a metal part to be formed directly from a CAD file in just a few minutes and with the utmost precision. The patented “dieless forming” technology involves a cold forming process that takes place on a three‐axis vertical CNC machine. On the vertical axis of the CNC machine is mounted a pencil‐like tool with a rounded end which progressively forms the sheet metal.

Reviews developments in the magnetic pulse welding process, describes how the technique can be used for joining two different metals, and outlines potential applications in the automotive industry.