The purpose of this paper is to assist those in education, government, and industry who are responsible for managing vocational and technical training in their decisions about what programs should be initiated to accommodate the growing use of robots. Section 1 describes robot characteristics (type of drive, method of teaching, lifting capacity, shape, type of motion or path, and sensory capabilities). Robot systems, computer-aided design and manufacturing, and flexible manufacturing are also defined. In section 2 the practicalities of robot applications are discussed in terms of payback periods and constraints on robot usage. The third section attempts to assess what may happen to robotics over the next few years, including changes in: (1) performance characteristics of robots (sensory perception and control), (2) their degree of use, (3) producers, and (4) impacts of robots on employment. The last major section makes recommendations for robotics education at the vocational and two-year college levels. Recommendations include no robotics training in secondary vocational schools and teaching of robotics at the two-year college level as part of an integrated approach to automation, with electronics as the core curriculum. Recommendations are also made to industrial managers considering robotics and government manpower agencies considering retraining programs. (YLB)