Top 5 Robotic Trends of 2023

The stock of operational robots around the globe hit a new record of about 3.5 million units, and the value of installations reached an estimated 15.7 billion USD. The International Federation of Robotics analyzes the top 5 trends shaping robotics and automation in 2023. 1 – Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency is key to improve companies’ competitiveness amid rising energy costs. The adoption of robotics helps to lower energy consumption in manufacturing in many ways. For example, through reduced heating. Robots also work at high speed, increasing production rates and making manufacturing more time- and energy-efficient. Today’s robots are also designed to consume less energy, which leads to lower operating costs. To meet sustainability targets for their production, companies use industrial robots equipped with energy saving technology. For example, robot controls are able to convert kinetic energy into electricity and feed it back into the power grid. Another feature is the smart power saving mode that controls the robot’s energy supply on-demand throughout the workday. Since industrial facilities need to monitor their energy consumption, connected power sensors are likely to become an industry standard for robotic solutions. 2 – Reshoring Resilience has become an important driver for reshoring in various industries: car manufacturers, for example, invest heavily in short supply lines to bring processes closer to their customers. These manufacturers use robot automation to manufacture powerful batteries cost-effectively and in large quantities to support their electric vehicle projects. These investments make the shipment of heavy batteries redundant. This is important as more and more logistics companies refuse to ship batteries for safety reasons. Relocating microchip production back to the US and Europe is another reshoring trend. Since most industrial products nowadays require a semiconductor chip to function, having their supply near the customer is crucial. Robots play a vital role in chip manufacturing, as they live up to the extreme requirements of precision. Specifically designed robots automate silicon wafer fabrication, take over cleaning tasks, and test integrated circuits. Recent examples of reshoring are Intel’s new chip factories in Ohio, United States, or the recently announced chip plant in the Saarland region of Germany, run by chipmaker Wolfspeed and automotive supplier ZF. 3 – Ease of use Robot programming has become easier and more accessible to non-experts. Original equipment manufacturers work hand-in-hand with low code or even no-code technology partners that allow users of all skill levels to program a robot. The easy-to-use software paired with an intuitive user experience replaces extensive robotics programming and opens up new robotics automation opportunities. Start-ups are entering this market with specialized solutions for the needs of small and medium-sized companies. For example, a traditional heavy-weight industrial robot can be equipped with sensors and a new software that allows collaborative setup operation, which allows workers to adjust heavy machinery. Companies will thus get the best of both worlds: robust and precise industrial robot hardware and state-of-the-art cobot software. Easy-to-use programming interfaces, that allow customers to set up the robots themselves, also drive the emerging new segment of low-cost robotics. Many new customers reacted to the pandemic in 2020 by trying out robotic solutions. Robot suppliers acknowledged this demand: easy setup and installation, for instance, with pre-configured software to handle grippers, sensors or controllers support lower-cost robot deployment. Such robots are often sold through web shops and program routines for various applications are downloadable from an app store. 4 – AI and digital automation Propelled by advances in digital technologies, robot suppliers, and system integrators offer new applications and improve existing ones regarding speed and quality. Connected robots are transforming manufacturing. Robots will increasingly operate as part of a connected digital ecosystem: cloud computing, big data analytics, or 5G mobile networks provide the base for optimized performance. The 5G standard will enable fully digitalized production, making cables on the shopfloor a thing of the past. Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds great potential for robotics, enabling a range of benefits in manufacturing. The main aim of using AI in robotics is to better manage variability and unpredictability in an external environment, either in real-time or offline. This makes AI supported machine learning play an increasing role in software offerings where running systems benefit, for example with optimized processes, from predictive maintenance or vision-based gripping. This technology helps manufacturers, logistics providers, and retailers dealing with frequently changing products, orders, and stock. The greater the variability and unpredictability of the environment, the more likely it is that AI algorithms will provide a cost-effective and fast solution—for example, for manufacturers or […]

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