Robotic arms are the ultimate fabrication tools. It can be a 3d printer, a 6 axis CNC, and even a painter with a proper end effector and a program to run it. The versatility it presents places them on the pinnacle of manufacturing technology.
It has been my long wish to work closely with an industrial, multi-axis robotic arm to research and try out various combinations of traditional and modern digital fabrication techniques. Fortunately at the beginning of 2017 I got a hold of a KUKA KR6 r900 sixx (a 6 axis manipulator) for a few months to familiarize myself the basics of robot operation for developing possible future applications. More to come in the year of 2018.