Will Robots Work Directly with Humans?

In today's work environments, robots are often kept isolated from humans due to their massive weight and speed, traits that could possibly endanger humans in their vicinity. Many machines are kept either inside glass cages or behind laser-controlled light curtains. New robots, however, are being built with mechanisms and sensors to protect the human workers it assists, including sonar sensors that automatically slow a robot's movements whenever a human approaches. The Demark-based Universal Robots firm, for example, has introduced a robot arm that does not need to be put in a glass cage, though the system requires a knowledgeable programmer to operate it.