  Robotics and related technologies are central to the ongoing digitization and
advancement of manufacturing. In recent years, a variety of strategic
initiatives around the world including "Industry 4.0", introduced in Germany in
2011 have aimed to improve and connect manufacturing technologies in order to
optimize production processes. In this work, we study the changing
technological landscape of robotics and "internet-of-things" (IoT)-based
connective technologies over the last 7-10 years in the wake of Industry 4.0.
We interviewed key players within the European robotics ecosystem, including
robotics manufacturers and integrators, original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs), and applied industrial research institutions and synthesize our
findings in this paper. We first detail the state-of-the-art robotics and IoT
technologies we observed and that the companies discussed during our
interviews. We then describe the processes the companies follow when deciding
whether and how to integrate new technologies, the challenges they face when
integrating these technologies, and some immediate future technological avenues
they are exploring in robotics and IoT. Finally, based on our findings, we
highlight key research directions for the robotics community that can enable
improved capabilities in the context of manufacturing.
