Robotics is the applied science of motion control for multi-axis manipulators and is a large subset of the field of "mechatronics" (Mechanical, Electronic and Software engineering for product or systems development, particularly for motion control applications). Mechatronics is a more general term that includes robotic arms, positioning systems, sensors and machines that are controlled by electronics and/or software, such as automated machinery, mobile robots and even your computer controlled washing machine and DVD movie player. Most of the information taught in mechatronic engineering courses around the world stems from industrial robotics research, since most of the earliest actuator and sensor technologies were first developed and designed for indoor factory applications.