Robots: A Reference Handbook teaches readers about a wide variety of robots. It opens with a history of robotics, dating to ancient Greece and Rome, at which time an impressive array of automata were invented for entertainment, religious, and instructional purposes. It follows the development of automata and robots in ancient China and the Islamic world, through to Western Civilization in the present day. Subsequent chapters describe the wide array of applications to which robots are put today and discuss the technical, social, political, ethical, and economic issues created by their increasing use. Additionally, a number of essays by interested individuals highlight various aspects of robotics development. The remaining chapters of the book provide resources that will assist readers in learning more about the topic of robotics.

History and background -- The precursors: automata -- How do automata work -- The transfer of knowledge: Islam to Europe -- Why automata -- Toward the golden age of automata -- Automata in the modern world -- From automata to robots -- The birth of the modern robot -- Evolution of the robot -- Humanoid robots in literature and the arts -- Types of robots -- Conclusion -- References -- Problems, controversies, and solutions -- A robotic threat to the human species -- Naysayers and Doubting Thomases -- Robots and a jobless future -- Moral robots -- Robots at work today -- Learning about robots -- Conclusion -- References -- Perspectives -- Where are all the robots -- Engaging students through robotics -- Robotics: a potential human adjunct needed for the improvement of global health care and research development -- How my life has been changed by robots -- Will we accept care robots in our homes in the near-future -- Social robots for individuals with autism -- I-C-MARS Project built by Native American students for Native American schools and STEM programs -- Chatbots and human conversation -- Profiles -- Isaac Asimov -- Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence -- Nick Boström -- Rodney Brooks -- George Devol -- Joseph Engelberger -- Future of Humanity Institute -- Future of Life Institute -- Heron of Alexandria -- IEEE Robotics & Automation Society -- Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies -- International Federation of Robotics -- Hiroshi Ishiguro -- Al-Jazari -- Ray Kurzweil -- Leonardo da Vinci -- Machine Intelligence Research Institute -- Marvin Minsky -- Martin Rees -- Robotics Industries Association -- Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University -- Victor Scheinman -- Alan Turing -- Jacques de Vaucanson -- Data and documents -- Resources -- Chronology.