Additive Technologies in the Service of Advanced Robotics and Vice Versa

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

For decades, since the introduction of the first industrial robot, Unimate, achieving a harmonious balance between performance and feasible robotic design has been essential. Manufacturing limitations, material availability, and sensor and actuator systems have significantly influenced robotic system design. However, since their commercial debut in 1986, additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have been revolutionizing how once-unimaginable ideas are designed, presented, and ultimately produced. This paper explores the achievements in additive manufacturing with a special focus on its application in advanced robotics. A detailed classification of existing additive technologies is presented, along with a comprehensive review of their advantages in specific robotic applications. The growing role of additive technologies in expanding robotics across industries is also discussed. Furthermore, the increasing presence of advanced robotics in households, alongside AM, is largely driven by the exponential advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). AI contributes not only to the development of control models but also to the structural design of robotic systems. As a result, robotics itself plays a crucial role in the ongoing evolution of additive technologies, a key focus of this paper. One critical aspect explored is the development of models for active vibration damping, addressing vibrations as an undesirable phenomenon in production processes. Additionally, the integration of additive technologies with robotics enhances sustainability by reducing material waste, improving energy efficiency, and enabling the use of eco-friendly materials. These innovations are already reshaping industries such as aerospace, medical robotics, and construction, where additive manufacturing enables the creation of lightweight, customized, and highly functional robotic components. Future advancements in hybrid manufacturing, multi-material printing, and AI-driven process optimization will further enhance the synergy between additive technologies and robotics, paving the way for more autonomous, efficient, and adaptable robotic systems.