This book discusses a wide variety of robots, along with the history of robotics, from ancient Greece and Rome, to the development of automata and robots in ancient China and the Islamic world, through to Western Civilization in the present day. Describes the wide array of applications for robots, the technical, social, political, ethical, and economic issues created by their increasing use, and various aspects of robotics development. Includes a list of additional resources.

1. History and background -- 2. Problems, controversies, and solutions -- 3. Perspectives -- 4. Profiles -- 5. Data and documents -- 6. Resources -- 7. Chronology.