Cheaper, smarter robots to spark factory revolution: study

WASHINGTON D.C.: Rapid advances in robotics combined with falling prices will spark a new manufacturing revolution, with factories dropping workers for automation at an increasing pace, a new study said on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

The pace of price falls and improved abilities of advanced robots to "see" better, grip better and self-adjust better make them an attractive option for even small manufacturers across an ever-wider range of industries, said the study by Boston Consulting Group.