The thing about robotics is that, as a field, its so monumentally huge that there's not really going to be a specific "industry" like, say software engineering.

The thing about robotics is that, as a field, its so monumentally huge that there's not really going to be a specific "industry" like, say software engineering. There will be so many sub disciplines that take lifetimes to master, and meta-disciplines that specialize in getting them together, it will be mind-blowing. Right now, when I look at robotics, I usually see mechanical engineers making neat chassis that are useless because they can't build a simple H-Bridge with transistors, EE's making cool circuits that are then bodged onto cardboard so flimsy it doesn't work, and everyone failing for want of decent software. Robotics needs welders, material scientists, psychologists, chemists, mechanical engineers, EE's, botanists, etc etc.. It takes a village to raise a robot. Don't be an expert in robots. Be an expert in something who happens to have a passion for robots, and then go find a tribe. This is kind of why the Media Lab at MIT has kicked butt at robotics for so long.