<p>The first robot was created in 400-350 BC, a steam-powered pigeon engineered by the mathematician Archytas. Since then, robots have captured our imagination. They embody innovation, success and progress, and they inspire our vision of the future.</p><p>National Robotics Week, now in its fourth year, helps us realize that we are already knee deep in the robotics era. Robots are cleaning floors, making cars, keeping our military safe, assisting in patient care, exploring the depths of the oceans and patrolling the skies. However, for the United States to remain a dominant force in this quickly growing industry, we will need significantly more skilled professionals in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in the future.</p><p>Companies, universities, museums, and associations across the United States are embracing National Robotics Week this week as an opportunity to capture the imaginations of children and share the exciting world of robots with all. Robots serve as a way to engage and show off the fun side of STEM in the hopes of inspiring youth to pursue technology-related fields and combat the STEM crisis in the United States</p><p>Established by the House of Representatives in 2010, National Robotics Week celebrates the strength of robotics in the United States as a symbol of American innovation. Here in Massachusetts, we are home to almost 100 robotics companies and 10 robotics research institutions.</p><p><a href="http://bostonglobe.com/opinion/2013/04/12/podium-robotics/r7HKQ9sGf1Me0KYskKHW3O/story.html">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/techflash/2013/04/we-celebrate-national-robotics-week.html">We celebrate National Robotics Week with top 10 robotic businesses in Mass.</a> (Boston Business Journal (blog))</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dgL4aNoNM-CXhYM5G6noqcV0KI0-M&ned=us">2 additional articles.</a></p>