Abstract
Robotic telescopes have evolved through the development of technologies, which started with precision electronic clocks, computers and intensified TV cameras. The development lines of robotic telescopes are outlined and the major applications for the different areas of astronomy are discussed. Just as precision electronic clocks made robotic astronomy possible they also destroyed the major national reason for the support of astronomy: the keeping of time. Now robotic astronomy has developed new reasons for a national interest in its development
and support: access to the stars for school students to excite them with the physical sciences and encourage them into a career in engineering, physics, mathematics, computing or technology.
