The prospect that robots will take over the economy, displacing millions of workers in all walks of life, makes headlines and causes palpable anxiety in many people. David Mindell, professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, offers a sober argument against the hysteria that often accompanies the topic, and highlights the numerous opportunities robots present to humankind, including the ability to explore the deep sea and outer space. His latest book is Our Robots, Ourselves: Robotics and the Myths of Autonomy.