• Reprogrammable: whose programmed motions or auxiliary functions may be changed without physical alterations; 
• Multipurpose: capable of being adapted to a different application with physical alterations; 
• Physical alterations: alteration of the mechanical structure or control system except for changes of programming cassettes, ROMs, etc. 
• Axis: direction used to specify the robot motion in a linear or rotary mode 

• A professional service robot or a service robot for professional use is a service robot used for a commercial task, usually operated by a properly trained operator. Examples are cleaning robot for public places, delivery robot in offices or hospitals, fire-fighting robot, rehabilitation robot and surgery robot in hospitals. In this context an operator is a person designated to start, monitor and stop the intended operation of a robot or a robot system.

Paquito ANT by Bluebotics

• A personal service robot or a service robot for personal use is a service robot used for a non-commercial task, usually by lay persons. Examples are domestic servant robot, automated wheelchair, personal mobility assist robot, and pet exercising robot.

Care-o-bot 4 by Fraunhofer IPA 

The IFR (International Federation of Robotics) is responsible for the collection of worldwide statistical robotics data. The compiled data are categorized by application area as well as by geographical region, and are summarized in the annual publication "World Robotics".  World Robotics contains two separate studies for the two main robot categories:  Industrial Robots and Service Robots.

EUnited Robotics works in close cooperation with the IFR Statistical Department.

This unique publication presents comprehensive global statistics on industrial robots in uniform tables allowing consistent country comparisons. It contains detailed statistical data for some 40 countries, broken down by application areas, industrial branches, types of robots and by other technical and economic variables. Data on production, exports and imports are presented for a selection of countries. Trends in robot densities, i.e. number of robots per 10,000 persons employed in relevant sectors, robotics innovations, research and vision, as well as sales forecasts are also featured.

This unique publication presents comprehensive global statistics on service robots, market analysis, case studies and international research strategies of service robots, as well as sales forecasts. The study is evaluated in cooperation with our partner the Fraunhofer IPA, Stuttgart, Germany.