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International Federation of Robotics Report
Frankfurt, February 16, 2023 - The global stock of manipulative robots hit a new record of around 3.5 million units - with an installed value estimated at $15.7 billion. The International Federation of Robotics analyzes five trends that will affect robotics and automation in 2023.
Top 5 Robotics Trends for 2023 © International Federation of Robotics
"Robots play an important role in meeting the changing needs of manufacturers around the world," said Marina Beer, president of the International Federation of Robotics. "New trends in robotics are attracting users from small businesses to global OEMs."
01
energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is key to increasing the competitiveness of businesses amid rising energy costs.
The adoption of robotics contributes to reducing energy consumption in manufacturing in many ways. Significant energy savings can be achieved by reducing heat compared to conventional assembly lines. At the same time, robots work at high speeds, which increases productivity, making manufacturing more time- and energy-efficient.
Today's robots are designed to consume less energy, reducing operating costs. In order to achieve sustainability goals in production, the company uses industrial robots equipped with energy-saving technologies: for example, the robot control converts kinetic energy into electrical energy and feeds it back into the grid. The technology significantly reduces the energy required to run the robot. Another feature is the Smart Power Saving Mode, which controls the robot's energy supply on demand throughout the working day. Since even today industrial facilities need to monitor their energy consumption, this connected power sensor is likely to become the industry standard for robotic solutions.
02
reflow
Resilience has become an important driver of reshoring in various industries: automakers, for example, are investing heavily in short supply lines to bring processes closer to customers.
These manufacturers use robotic automation to cost-effectively produce high volumes of powerful batteries to support their electric vehicle projects. These investments make the transportation of heavy batteries redundant. This is important because more and more logistics companies refuse to ship batteries for safety reasons.
The relocation of microchip production to the US and Europe is another reshoring trend. Since most industrial products today require semiconductor chips to function, supply close to customers is critical. Robots play a vital role in chip manufacturing because of their ability to meet extreme precision requirements. Specially designed robots automate silicon wafer fabrication, taking over cleaning and cleaning tasks or testing integrated circuits. Recent examples of reshoring are Intel's new chip factory in Ohio, or the recently announced chip factory operated by chipmaker Wolfspeed and auto supplier ZF in the Saarland region of Germany.
03
Bots are easier to use
Robot programming has become easier and more accessible to non-experts.
Providers of software-driven automation platforms empower companies to let users manage industrial robots without programming experience. OEMs are working with low-code or even no-code technology partners to make programming robots accessible to users of all skill levels.
Easy-to-use software combined with an intuitive user experience replaces extensive robot programming and opens up new robotic automation opportunities: software startups are entering this market with specialized solutions that meet the needs of SMEs. For example: traditionally heavy industrial robots could be equipped with sensors and new software that allows collaborative setup operations. This allows workers to easily adjust heavy machinery for different tasks. As a result, companies get the best of both worlds: powerful and precise industrial robot hardware and state-of-the-art cobot software.
An easy-to-use programming interface that allows customers to set up robots themselves is also driving the nascent field of low-cost robotics. Many new customers responded to the 2020 pandemic by experimenting with robotic solutions. Robot suppliers acknowledge this need: ease of setup and installation, for example, with pre-configured software to handle grippers, sensors or controllers, enabling low-cost robot deployment. Such robots are usually sold through online stores, and program routines for various applications can be downloaded from the application store.
04
AI and Digital Automation
Driven by advances in digital technology, robotics suppliers and system integrators are delivering new applications and improving the speed and quality of existing ones.
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 technical basis for optimized performance. The 5G standard will fully digitize production and make cables on the shop floor obsolete.
Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great potential in robotics to bring a range of benefits to manufacturing. The main purpose of using AI in robotics is to better manage variability and unpredictability in the external environment in real-time or offline. This is enabling machine learning-enabled artificial intelligence to play an increasing role in software products, benefiting the running system, for example by optimizing processes, predictive maintenance or vision-based grasping.
The technology helps manufacturers, logistics providers and retailers handle frequently changing products, orders and inventories. The greater the variability and unpredictability of the environment, the more likely an AI algorithm will be able to provide cost-effective and fast solutions – for example, for a manufacturer or wholesaler dealing with millions of different products that change on a regular basis. AI is also useful in environments where mobile robots need to distinguish and respond differently to objects or people they encounter.
05
A second life for industrial robots
As industrial robots have a lifespan of up to three decades, new technology equipment is an excellent opportunity to give old robots a "second life".
Manufacturers of industrial robots such as ABB, Fanuc, KUKA, Stäubli or Yaskawa have dedicated repair centers close to their customers to refurbish or upgrade used equipment in a resource-efficient manner. This strategy of preparing repairs for robot manufacturers and their customers also saves costs and resources. Providing customers with long-term maintenance is an important contribution to the circular economy.
Article reference: "Top 5 Robot Trends 2023"
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