Will the Robotics Industry Be Huge in the Future?

It sure looks like the field of robotics and the robotics industry could be huge.  As the technology advances, I can see robots doing some really cool stuff.  Bill Gates was quoted a year or so back as saying he thought robotics would be the next big tech industry.  Really though – what does he know?
Check out some of the videos online for the Japanese robotics walking on the runways.  Those images are spooky as the robots look to be able to walk and run better than I can.  Not to say that I am the perfect example of running and walking, but I would like to think I was better at it than a robot.  After watching those videos, I am pretty sure I have mechanic competition on  the way.
My students and kids in general really do enjoy working with robotics.  They like building them and writing code to make them go.  Using robotics in class gets students excited and builds interest in Computer Science.