Introduction into Service Robots

The first chapter of the World Robotics 2014 ""Service Robots"" introduces the yearbook as well as its chapters and gives some general information about service robotics. The yearbook presents the results of a survey among 250 companies that were identified as producers and developers of service robots. The companies were asked about their data on sale in 2013 and projections for the timespan from 2014 to 2017. Furthermore, the yearbook offers reports about service robotics industry, e.g. robot-related initiatives, profiles of three selected research labs and activities in the area of ISO related robotics standardization activities in non-manufacturing environments. Also, the introduction details the definition of ""service robotics"", presents their main application areas in professional and personal/domestical use and gives an overview about cost-benefit considerations.