We are currently witnessing a resurgence of interest in robotics as demonstrated by the plethora of robotics startups that are being created and initiatives like the DARPA Robotics Challenge and Amazon Picking Challenge. In this talk, I will discuss this resurgence and some its key enabling technologies that span mechatronics, to sensing, to middleware, to high-level software capabilities. I will in particular focus on the needs and technologies that enable robots to safely work in close proximity to humans like series elastic actuators and force control strategies. In addition, I will also discuss some of the on-going projects within the HCRL that relate to the design and development of state-of-the-art robots with the hope of striking collaborations and support from members of the Austin branch of IEEE CEDA.