40 to 50% of all robots worldwide will be collaborative robots by 2030. The total market for robots will grow by a factor of 3.2 over the next decade, which is mainly due to the growing embrace of automation in China.
This predicts research firm IDTechEx in its report New Robotics and Drones 2018-2038: Technologies, Forecasts, Players. Traditional industrial robots are relatively inflexible. For instance, robots cannot be easily reprogrammed for a new task; this requires specialised programmers. Also, these industrial robots are unable to detect the presence of humans, so they cannot safely interact with workers.
Collaborative robots
Collaborative robots do offer these opportunities. Using sensors, collaborative robots can detect the presence of humans and adjust their behaviour accordingly. In practice, this means, for example, that the robots slow down or even stop their movements completely if a human comes too close. This capability allows collaborative robots to work closely with humans.
Another key advantage of robots is their flexibility. For instance, in many cases, collaborative robots can be programmed without requiring specialist knowledge. Collaborative robots can therefore be adapted to new tasks much more quickly and easily, which means they can also be used for smaller runs.
Demand for traditional robots remains high
Despite these advantages, the demand for traditional industrial robots remains high; especially in China. For now, the average robot density in the Asian country is low compared to other countries, such as Germany, Korea and Japan. IDTechEx therefore expects demand for industrial robots from China to continue in the coming years.
The research firm also points out that robots are being used for an increasing number of applications, partly due to the flexibility offered by modern robots. Robots are no longer used exclusively in factory environments, but also in environments such as homes, agriculture, shopping centres, office spaces and distribution centres.
Automated guided vehicles
For instance, robots can be used in distribution centres to automate tasks. These include automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which are capable of picking up goods automatically in distribution centres, among others. Here, the robots find their own way to the desired product, pick up the box or even the entire shelf containing this product and drive it to an employee. This employee removes the product from the box or shelf, after which the AGV drives it back to its original location.
Traditional AGVs use a special infrastructure here, which is built in the environment where the robots operate. This infrastructure tells the robots which route to take and helps them navigate through a facility. Modern variants of AGVs no longer need this infrastructure and are able to find their way independently with the help of vision systems and artificial intelligence, among others. This offers major advantages. For instance, this generation of AGVs is generally better suited dynamic environments, where human workers are also present, for example. If the robots unexpectedly find an obstacle on their route, they can find their own way around it.
Cleaning robots
In commercial and residential spaces, robots are increasingly being used to automate cleaning activities. Consider robot hoovers, which have been available for some time. Increasingly, large-scale versions of these robots are being deployed in commercial environments, such as shopping centres and office spaces. The emphasis here is on productivity, so hot-swappable batteries and long battery life are key concerns.
Robots are also increasingly being used in the agricultural sector. Think of fully autonomous tractors and drones. In addition, more and more small robots such as mowing robots are being deployed. IDTechEx points out that individually, these robots are not very productive and are often relatively slow. According to the research firm, the small robots are therefore especially interesting if deployed in a fleet, where large numbers of robots work together. Because the robots automate tasks that would otherwise have had to be performed manually, they help improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
'Do not underestimate market opportunities'
Despite these markets being relatively small at the moment, IDTechEx advises robot manufacturers not to underestimate the opportunities these markets present. "In our view, transformation is a long-term opportunity that should not be missed. The commercialisation process has begun, so now is the time to learn what the future holds and plan for it," the research firm said.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source: IDTechEx
Source photo: Pixabay / jarmoluk
