The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the industries and has caused a slump across economies. However, one thing that this pandemic has spurred is the development and innovation in the field of robots. Every industry - from healthcare to automotive, from aerospace to security, and others - has witnessed a need for a task force that can carry out important duties, especially critical times such as the present.
This led to the progress and expansion of programs pertaining to mobile robots. Certain companies have even successfully launched these robots on a trial basis in their manufacturing units. For instance, Ford Motor Co. recently introduced 70-pound quadruped robots in its Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, MI. These robots are deployed in the plants to reach areas that are not so easy for humans to access. Also, these robots are a pilot run and can be operated from up to 50 meters of range. Autonomous mobile robots today are not only limited to manufacturing facilities and warehouses, but they can also work across industries, such as hospitals, hotels, institutes, and delivery purposes as well.
According to the market intelligence published by BIS Research, the global mobile robot market is estimated to generate a revenue of $11.95 billion in 2020 and grow at a CAGR of 18.62% during the forecast period from 2020-2030.
The growth can be attributed to factors such as increasing concerns for labor safety and eliminating human error, growing demand for technological advancement in both software (cognitive technologies) and hardware (sensors, actuators, and batteries), and increasing usage of robots in emerging countries for varied applications.
Based on the BIS Research market, study it has been highlighted that the mobile robot industry is highly competitive, and several key players are opting for strategies, such as product launches, contracts, mergers, and acquisitions to sustain the competition and expand their business in the market. This can be noted from a recent instance wherein Sherpa Mobile Robotics, a French robotic specialist, which produces collaborative robots for production and logistics purposes, collaborated with Wiferion, which develops charging systems for robots.
However, due to the continuous evolution and advancements occurring in the field of technology, significant research and development are still needed to be carried out to ensure that future mobile robots can operate in an environment that is unmapped and poorly understood by the robots.
