since there are robotics people in here, would someone mind linking me to videos or blogs about tearing down/talking about the motors and drivers used in cutting edge robotic arms such as those used in the automotive industry?
If you're interested in the mechanical components of the robot arms, they all probably use harmonic drives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzRh672peNk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfmjhfN8D-Q
There's a video on the Kuka robot arm.