Irobhothi lezimboni{0}liyi-manipulator ehlanganisiwe eminingi noma{1}}amadigri amaningi--erobhothi lenkululeko elakhelwe izinhlelo zokusebenza zezimboni. Inamandla okulawula okuzenzakalelayo kanye nokunyakaza, futhi iwumshini wokukhohlisa okwazi ukwenza imisebenzi eyahlukene. Kusukela irobhothi lokuqala elisebenzisekayo elifundisekayo lakhiqizwa e-United States ngo-1962, ukuthuthukiswa komhlaba wonke, ucwaningo, kanye nokusetshenziswa kwamarobhothi ezimboni sekuthathe iminyaka engu-50. Njengamanje, izimboni zamarobhothi zamazwe amaningi, amelwe iJapane, i-United States, iJalimane, iFrance, neNingizimu Korea, ziya ngokuya zivuthwa futhi ziba yinkimbinkimbi.
Irobhothi lezimboni ikakhulukazi liqukethe umzimba, isistimu yokushayela, kanye nesistimu yokulawula, ubuchwepheshe bokulawula ukunyakaza buwumgogodla walo. Incike ezingxenyeni ezifana nezinciphisi nama-servo motors ukuze ithole{1}}imisebenzi enembayo ephezulu. Izicelo zayo zihlanganisa ukushisela, ukuphatha izinto ezibonakalayo, nokudweba, futhi idlala indima ebaluleke kakhulu embonini yokukhiqiza izimoto neye-electronics, esikhundleni somsebenzi wezandla ekwenzeni imisebenzi enembayo ezindaweni ezinokhahlo.
Irobhothi lezimboni lichazwa njengelikwazi ukuhleleka,{0}}isikhohlisi sezinhloso eziningi. Izinga le-ISO (2012) licacisa ukuthi kufanele libe nezimbazo ezihlelekayo ezintathu noma ngaphezulu. Irobhothi lokuqala lezimboni elisetshenziselwa izingxenye zezimoto lakhiwa e-United States ngo-1956, futhi irobhothi lokuqala elisebenzayo elifundisekayo lakhiqizwa e-United States ngo-1962. Amarobhothi ezimbonini avela emazweni anjengeJapane, i-United States, iJalimane, iFrance neNingizimu Korea aseyimishini evamile emhlabeni wonke.
