1 – Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning

330103-00-06-10-02-00 There is a growing trend towards the use of AI in robotics and automation. The advent of generative artificial intelligence opens up new solutions. This subset of AI is specifically designed to create something new from what is learned through training and has been popularized by tools such as ChatGPT. Robot manufacturers are developing generative AI-driven interfaces that allow users to program robots more intuitively using natural language rather than code. Workers will no longer need specialized programming skills to select and adjust robot movements.

330103-00-06-10-02-00 Another example is predictive artificial intelligence, which analyzes robot performance data to determine the future state of the device. Predictive maintenance can save manufacturers machine downtime costs. In the auto parts industry, each hour of unplanned downtime costs an estimated $1.3 million – the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation reports. This shows that predictive maintenance has great potential for cost savings. Machine learning algorithms can also analyze data from multiple robots performing the same process for optimization. In general, the more data a machine learning algorithm provides, the better it performs.

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2 – Cobots expand to new applications

Human-machine collaboration is still a major trend in robotics. Rapid advances in sensors, vision technology, and smart grippers allow robots to respond to changes in the environment in real time to work safely alongside human workers.

330103-00-06-10-02-00 Collaborative robot applications provide a new tool for human workers, reducing their burden and support. They can assist with tasks that require lifting weights, repetitive movements, or working in hazardous environments.

The range of collaboration applications offered by robot manufacturers continues to expand.

The most recent market development is the increase in collaborative robot welding applications, which is due to the shortage of skilled welders. This demand shows that automation is not causing labor shortages, but providing ways to solve them. As a result, cobots will complement rather than replace investments in traditional industrial robots, which operate much faster and therefore remain important for increasing productivity to cope with low product margins.

New competitors are also entering the market, with a particular focus on collaborative robots. Mobile manipulators are a combination of collaborative robot arms and mobile robots (AMRs), providing new use cases that can greatly expand the demand for collaborative robots.