What types of companies use robotics? How do they use them?

I am most familiar with industrial uses of robotics:

6-Axis Robots

• Examples: Motoman, Fanuc, ABB, Kuka, Nachi
• Uses: Welding, painting, transfer of parts, assembly
• Programming: Motoman and Fanuc use a kind of instruction list, and ABB and Kuka are more PC-based, but use a language that's a mix of instruction list and structured text, I believe
• Cost: Around $50,000 each (only ballpark)

Spider robots

• Examples: ABB IRB 360
• Uses: Higher speed pick and place
• Cost: less than a 6-axis, but probably $25,000 to $40,000 range, not sure

Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS)

• Examples: on Wikipedia
• Uses: warehousing
• Programming: Ladder Logic or other IEC-61131-3 Languages, sometimes embedded C
• Cost: Hundreds of thousands of dollars, or more

Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV)

• Examples: on Wikipedia
• Uses: replaces conveyors in manufacturing plants
• Programming: Ladder Logic or other IEC-61131-3 Languages, sometimes embedded C
• Cost: not sure

Hard Automation

• Examples: too many to mention. Google for: Automatic Machine.
  
• Uses: any specialized machine used in manufacturing, which may employ discrete, analog, or motion control
• Programming: Ladder Logic or other IEC-61131-3 Languages
• Cost: $5000 to $250,000 or more