The Robot and Automation Almanac - 2019

The Futurist Institute

Edited by Jason Schenker, Chairman of The Futurist Institute

Explore the Future—Before It Happens.
Robots are no longer confined to factory floors or science fiction. They’re in our homes, our hospitals, our warehouses—and in 2019, they're poised to reshape industries, economies, and everyday life. The Robot and Automation Almanac – 2019 gathers expert insights from top thinkers in robotics, automation, and AI to deliver a comprehensive look at the trends and technologies driving the future.

In this forward-looking anthology, over 20 industry leaders—engineers, futurists, tech entrepreneurs, and academics—reveal what’s next for robots you see (and those you don’t). Whether it’s autonomous vehicles, collaborative cobots, quantum computing, blockchain in finance, or AI-driven cities and supply chains, this almanac unpacks what’s coming, what matters, and why.

🔍 Inside this Edition:

• Macro Forecasts: Economic, geopolitical, and investment insights affecting automation's growth
• Social Impact: How we perceive, regulate, and work with robots and AI in daily life
• Industry Disruption: Construction, transportation, finance, healthcare, education, and urban planning
• Supply Chain 4.0: Smart warehouses, hyperlocal logistics, and digital manufacturing
• Tech Frontiers: Voicebots, chatbots, cobots, and quantum computing breakthroughs

Each chapter is designed to be accessible and engaging, making this the perfect guide for business leaders, investors, students, technologists, and anyone curious about how automation is shaping our world.
Whether you’re trying to future-proof your business, career, or investments—or simply understand the forces transforming the 21st century—The Robot and Automation Almanac – 2019 is your must-read guide to the year ahead.

The robot, automation, and AI thought leaders that contributed to this book include Samuel Alexandersson, Djamila Amimer, Fred van Beuningen, Keith Blanchet, Jeff Burnstein, Lorenzo Carver, Brian La Cour, Craig Fuller, Jason Gouw, Rob Handfield, Robert Huschka, Maciej Lisiecki, Jayesh Mehta, Russell Nickerson, David Schwebel, Daniel Stanton, Kaleb Steinhauer, Daniel Theobald, Michael Walton, and Bruce Welty. The editor, Jason Schenker, also contributed to the book.