Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, explains why his organization is pushing for adoption of a National Robotics Strategy in the U.S.

Formed in 1974, A3 is a U.S.-based trade association consisting of some 1,450 members in the areas of robotics, artificial intelligence, machine vision and motion control. Burstein says it’s the world’s largest business group dedicated to automation.

The U.S. is where industrial robotics was created — at one point, it contained more than 100 domestic companies in that area. But in the ensuing years, other countries came to realize the importance of developing their own robotics industries, and have eclipsed American entities. China now leads the world in robotics adoption, Burnstein says.

In the early 1980s, a plea to the U.S. government by American robotics companies for a policy that would keep domestic producers competitive went unanswered. Now, A3 is making a fresh attempt to convince policymakers of the need for a national robotics strategy.

To begin with, the initiative calls for creation of a central robotics office or national commission that would serve as a “focal point” for discussions between the domestic industry and government officials and lawmakers. Together, Burnstein says, they would devise an overall strategy for promoting the sector.

The effort would spur interest and adoption in domestic robotics, countering beliefs over the years that it’s too costly to implement in the U.S. Another objective would be to ensure a supply of skilled workers. For its part, government could commit to the use of American-made robotics in ships, munitions and other applications. At the same time, it could be spurring academic research into robotics development.

Government, says Burnstein, “could be setting the tone — saying robots aren’t a threat. That they’re going to make your industries more competitive.”