American robotics companies are advocating for the development of a national robotics strategy, which includes the establishment of a federal office dedicated to promoting the industry. This initiative comes as China has prioritized the advancement of intelligent robots on a national level.
Representatives from major companies such as Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Agility Robotics met with lawmakers in Washington to showcase their products and emphasize the importance of offering support to American companies in the global race to innovate the next generation of robots.
During the meeting, Jeff Cardenas, CEO of humanoid startup Apptronik, highlighted that the United States, through General Motors, introduced the first industrial robot in 1961 but later lost its initial advantage to countries like Japan and Europe in the field of industrial robotics. Cardenas expressed confidence that the U.S. has the potential to lead the upcoming robotics race as it excels in artificial intelligence and produces cutting-edge robots. However, he stressed the necessity of a national strategy to sustain this momentum and outpace competitors.
The Association for Advanced Automation emphasized the importance of a national strategy to help U.S. companies expand production and drive the adoption of robots as a tangible application of AI. The association warned that without proactive leadership, the U.S. could fall behind in both the robotics and AI races, pointing out that China and other countries have already devised strategic plans.
To support the growth of the industry, the association recommended introducing tax incentives to encourage robot adoption, implementing federally-funded training programs, and providing financial support for academic and commercial research. The establishment of a new federal robotics office was suggested as vital due to the intensifying global competition and the evolving technology landscape.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois acknowledged the U.S.'s current advantage but highlighted the rapid progress made by Chinese companies in the robotics sector. He stressed the importance of upholding innovation and entrepreneurship to stay ahead in the competition.
Jonathan Chen, manager at Tesla's Optimus Engineering, underlined that manufacturing capabilities will play a crucial role in gaining a competitive edge at the national level, emphasizing the significance of scaling up robot production.