IFR: 5 Robotics Trends to Watch
The operational stock of industrial robots hit a new record, reaching about 3 million units worldwide and growing by an average of 13% per year from 2015 to 2020.
“The transformation of robotic automation is gaining momentum across traditional and new industries. More and more companies are recognizing the numerous benefits of robotics for their businesses”
IFR shared the following five trends that, in the federation's view, are shaping robotics and automation worldwide.
Robots are entering new industries
Segments that are relatively new to automation are quickly adopting robots. Consumer behavior is pushing companies to meet demand for personalization of both products and delivery.
The e-commerce revolution was triggered by the pandemic and will continue to accelerate in 2022. Today, thousands of robots are installed worldwide in this segment that did not exist just five years ago. Seeking to address labor shortages, companies that previously did not consider automation are reconsidering their decision.
Businesses that rely on service workers, such as retail and restaurants, cannot fill vacancies, and as a result the IFR expects them to invest in automation to meet customer needs. Relatively new robotics user industries, such as delivery and logistics, construction, agriculture and many others, are benefiting from technologies that are advancing every day.
Robots are becoming easier to use
Deploying robots can be challenging, but new generations of robots are easier to use. There is a clear trend toward user interfaces that allow simple programming with icons and hand-guiding of robots.
Robot manufacturers and some third-party suppliers are combining hardware packages with software to simplify deployment. This trend may seem simple, but offerings focused on complete ecosystems bring great benefits by reducing effort and time spent on operation.
The trend toward low-cost robotics is also linked to simple setup and installation, in some cases with preconfigured specific applications. Suppliers offer standard programs combined with grippers, sensors and controllers. App stores provide programs for various applications and support cheaper robot deployment.
Upskilling robots and people
More and more governments, industry associations and companies recognize the need for early-stage basic training in robotics and automation for the next generation. The path of data-driven production lines will focus on education and training.
In addition to in-house employee training, external training channels can improve staff training programs. Robot manufacturers such as ABB, FANUC, KUKA and YASKAWA register between 10,000 and 30,000 participants annually in their robotics classes in more than 30 countries.
Robotics is changing factory work for the better. As the recent "Great Resignation" shows, people want to work in modern environments where they can build careers. New robotics training opportunities are a win-win strategy for both companies and employees: dull, dirty and dangerous tasks are automated, while people learn key skills for the industrial jobs of the future and increase their potential income throughout their careers.
Robots are making production safer
Trade tensions and COVID-19 are bringing production closer to the consumer. Supply chain problems are pushing companies to consider nearshoring (outsourcing business processes to companies in countries neighboring the client) combined with automation.
One particularly telling statistic from the US shows how automation helps businesses get back to work: according to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), orders for robots in the United States rose 35% in the third quarter of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020. More than half of the orders came from non-automotive sectors. This record growth is not only about robotics: machine vision, motion control and motors are also showing significant growth.
“The pandemic and the subsequent disruptions in supply chains and labor availability appear to have provided the push many needed to justify investment. Companies most likely to invest in automation are those that have been considering it for some time but have not yet taken the final step”
Robots support digital automation
The IFR reported that in 2022 and beyond, the focus will be on data as a key factor in the future of production. Data collected through intelligent automated processes will be analyzed by manufacturers to make better-informed decisions.
Thanks to robots' ability to share tasks and learn with AI, companies can also more easily deploy intelligent automation in new environments, from construction to food and beverage packaging facilities and medical laboratories.
AI for robotics is advancing, and learning robots are becoming mainstream. The industry has moved past the pilot stage and can expect broader adoption of these technologies in 2022.
