The Nuts and “Bots” of Our Future [Editor's Remarks]

I have recently returned from the US after attending the 2010 IEEE Panel of Editors (PoE) meeting at New Brunswick. On the 18-hour flight back home, I was thinking if the courteous stewardesses could one day be replaced by intelligent robots serving my favorite meal. Imagine asking a robot to prepare a cup of cappuccino and bringing it to you.