In　most　existing　bolt　assembling　operations,　the　human-machine　collaboration　(HMC)　is　used　to　guarantee　both　the　operational　efficiency　and　the　connection　quality.　However,　the　huge　labor　intensity　and　costs　are　still　needed　when　there　exist　bolts　with　huge　quantity　and　multiple　models　in　some　special　working　environments,　for　example　locomotive　maintenance　and　automobile　assembly.　Actually,　the　robotic　application　can　better　solve　the　above　problem.　The　main　reason　why　this　application　is　limited　in　the　bolt　assembly　is　due　to　the　technological　barriers　related　to　the　intelligent　control.　This　paper　firstly　introduces　the　HMC-based　and　the　robot-guided　bolt　assembly　processes　in　detail,　then　summarizes　the　latest　researches　related　to　the　significant　technologies　needed　in　the　robot-guided　assembly　to　show　their　present　status　and　future　trends.　Finally　based　on　the　technology　limitations　this　paper　further　presents　some　suggestions　for　future　studies　of　each　technology,　which　attempts　to　help　readers　broaden　their　research　thoughts　and　speed　up　the　development　of　the　robot-guided　bolt　assembly.