Market Trends of Service Robotics Industry
Professional Use of Robots to Account for a Significant Share in the Market
- Professional robots consist of field robots, defense, and security robots, medical assisting robots (MAR), public assistant robots, electrical industry robots, and robots for construction purposes. The increasing penetration of digital technologies and automation solutions across these sectors drives the demand for professional robots.
- For instance, service robots are deployed in the construction industry to overcome heavy labor costs, shortages, and accidents. It also helps construct more reliable buildings since there is less chance of human error. Technologies like 3D printing and demolition robots further act as catalysts in adopting robots in the construction sector.
- Exoskeleton robots are used as public relations robots. Most public relations robots are used to assist customers in finding an item or completing a task. These robots are deployed in retail to guide customers around a store and in the hospitality industry, banks, shopping malls, family entertainment centers, and more.
- Major application areas for professional robots are transportation, hospitality, medical, professional cleaning, and agriculture. Transportation was among the leading consumer of professional robots in the aforementioned year. For instance, according to IFR, in 2023, the United States boasts the largest number of professional service robot manufacturers, significantly surpassing the combined count of China and Germany, its closest competitors. Notably, leading nations, including the United States, see a robust presence of robotics startups, challenging the dominance of established firms.
- Service robots are used in medical and healthcare for various applications, including diagnostic systems, robot-assisted surgery or therapy, rehabilitation systems, etc. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic played an important role in driving the demand for robots across the sector. For instance, according to IFR 2021, a 23% growth in the sales of medical robots was recorded in 2021, with the number of shipments touching 14,823 units.
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Asia Pacific to Exhibit a Significant Growth Rate
- The Asia Pacific is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, owing to the presence of a large consumer base, among which the demand for service robots is increasing, especially in countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and India, among others. For instance, according to IFR, in 2021, the sales of professional robots grew by about 30% in Asia.
- Regional governments are also a significant factor in developing a regional robotics market. For instance, India plans to invest in military robotics, and the country is preparing to deploy advanced robotic soldiers in the next few years. This is evident from the fact that in January 2022, the All India Robotics Association (AIRA) announced the beginning of indigenous manufacturing of defense robots.
- A similar trend has been observed across other countries of the region as well. For instance, the Chinese government has ambitious plans for the country's robotics industry. The government has listed the robotics industry, along with artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, as one of the priority sectors for high-end development to push forward the transformation and upgradation of the manufacturing industry. This push is expected to raise the global market share of Chinese-made robots.
- Further, financial services companies in Asia are looking to streamline costs to boost dividends to shareholders, maintain profitability, and have a new tool at their disposal that appeals to customers, for example, service robots.
- Some major countries, such as Japan, China, etc., are also witnessing significant growth in the aged population. According to the estimation of UN DESA and the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBSC), the percentage of the population aged 60 and above is expected to grow to about 38.81% by 2050. Such trends are expected to drive the demand for service robots in the country.
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