Service robots

2024

Moscow launched a robot factory

Dronshab Group has launched the Robot Factory in the capital - the production of full-cycle robotic solutions to the customer's needs. Solutions at the factory can be made both in single copies and mass-produced. This was announced on October 25, 2024 by the general director of the company Maxim Tomskikh. Read more here.

Introduced a robot assistant to the house, which is very similar to a person. Video

In early September 2024, the Norwegian firm 1X, supported by OpenAI (the developer of ChatGPT), introduced a bipedal butler robot called Neo Beta. This housemate looks a lot like a person, and the clothing in the form of a sports cloth jumpsuit completely hides the mechanical structure. Read more here

In Perm, main water pipelines began to inspect robots

In Perm, they began to use robots to inspect and diagnose main water pipelines. This became known in August 2024. This became part of a program to improve the reliability of water supply and sanitation, implemented in the city. The use of modern technologies makes it possible to ensure the quality control of pipelines, significantly extending their service life. Read more here

2023

Sales of logistics robots in the world for the year increased by 35%, to 113 thousand robots

In 2023, approximately 113 thousand robots for the transport and logistics sector were sold globally. This is 35% more compared to 2022, when sales were estimated at 84 thousand units. Such data are given in the material of the Union of Machine Builders of Germany (VDMA), published on October 31, 2023.

It is noted that in the total volume of delivered devices, almost 80.3 thousand pieces belong to the segment of mobile robots that transport materials and goods inside and outside the premises. Such robots are used in production sites and warehouses, and also serve to load and unload trucks and pallets. In this segment, sales rose by 24% compared to 2022. Most mobile devices came from the Asia-Pacific region (about 83%), followed by Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (approximately 10%), and North and South America (about 7%).

Robot delivery man

According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the key driver of the global market for logistics robots is the lack of traditional labor: in this situation, machines take on part of the labor-intensive work. A shortage of skilled professionals is also driving demand for automated systems designed for use in open spaces. Robots for commercial and private use show impressive sales growth rates thanks to their expanding capabilities, it said.

Almost one in two professional service robots, released in 2023, were designed for transport and logistics applications. Automation in the relevant area is steadily growing, "says Wolfgang Hillinger, chairman of VDMA's mobile robots division.[1]

Growth in sales of security robots in the world by 13% to $5.26 billion

In 2023, the global market for security robots reached $5.26 billion. This is 13% more compared to 2022, when sales of such equipment were estimated at $4.65 billion. This industry is developing dynamically, as stated in the Market Research Future review, published at the end of October 2024.

With rapid urbanization and growing security concerns in various areas, businesses and organizations around the world are increasingly investing in advanced protections. Traditional methods often do not provide the necessary effectiveness in detecting unwanted activity and criminal activity. Therefore, companies are implementing robotic systems that can monitor, monitor premises and provide real-time data. Such robots are equipped with complex sensor systems, cameras and artificial intelligence, thanks to which they are able to detect intrusions and violations with high accuracy and efficiency.

Another driver of the industry is technological advances. Advanced AI capabilities allow robots to process huge amounts of data and learn over time: this makes it possible to work efficiently in different conditions and make informed decisions in difficult situations. The advent of next-generation sensors and improved imaging tools is helping to expand the functions of security robots. Machines can operate autonomously without the need for constant human control. The economic component plays an important role in the development of the market. Organizations acknowledge that while initial investment in robotic systems may be higher compared to traditional methods, the long-term benefits outweigh the costs. Robots are able to function around the clock without the need for interruptions, which significantly reduces labor costs and minimizes human error.

In terms of tasks performed, the industry is segmented into surveillance, patrolling, incident response, access control and fire prevention. In 2023, the first of these areas provided revenue in the amount of $1.57 billion. Costs in the patrol segment amounted to $1.05 billion, while incident response brought in $0.79 billion. The access control segment is estimated at $1.23 billion, fire prevention - at $0.62 billion. From a geographical point of view, the leader is North America with sales of about $2.23 billion at the end of 2023. This is followed by Europe with $1.45 billion, while the Asia-Pacific region showed a result of $1.3 billion. The contribution of South America amounted to $0.17 billion, the Middle East and Africa - $0.11 billion. Among the major players in the world market are:

• Cobalt Robotics;
• iRobot;
• Clemmys;
• Grove;
• Savioke;
• Amazon;
• Cyberdyne;
• Northrop Grumman;
• KnightScope;
• Adept Mobile Robots;
• Roboteam;
• H Robotics;
• M robotics;
• Google;
• Boston Dynamics.

In general, the industry is developing steadily. Among the restraining factors, analysts cite high initial costs for the introduction of robots and data privacy problems. At the end of 2024, revenue on a global scale is estimated at $5.95 billion. Market Research Future experts believe that in the future, the CAGR (average annual growth rate in complex percentages) will be 13.23%. As a result, by 2032, costs are expected to reach $16.1 billion.^[2]

The volume of the Russian market for service robots for the year grew to ₽29,3 billion

The total revenue of service robotics companies in Russia reached ₽29,3 billion at the end of 2023, showing steady growth in the context of active import substitution. By the end of 2023, 463 companies of various scales were operating on the Russian market, which is 60% higher than in 2021. This is evidenced by the data of the RoboJobs study, the results of which were released in October 2024.

According to researchers' forecasts, by the end of 2023, the market for service robots is expected to grow by 9.5% to ₽32,1 billion. 70.6% of the companies surveyed had a significant increase in the number of regular customers over the last calendar year.

The Russian market for service robots grew to ₽29,3 billion

Vladimir Chernov, a leading analyst at Freedom Finance Global, presented more optimistic forecast indicators - up to ₽37 billion by the end of 2024, taking into account the current inflation rate, active expansion of production capacity and stable growth in domestic consumer demand.

In the current structure of the Russian robotics market, 224 high-tech companies specialize exclusively in the development and production of robots, which is 48.6% of the total number of active market participants. In addition, 114 innovative organizations successfully combine the development of robotic systems with other promising areas of activity.

Anton Pyrkin, Dean of the Faculty of Control and Robotics Systems at ITMO, emphasizes the strategic importance of the economic validity of robotization processes and the urgent need to clearly identify the most promising market segments for long-term investment.

Alisa Sotnikova, Deputy General Director of Degree of Freedom, Board Member of the National Association of Robotics Market Participants, connects the steady growth of the market with effective state support for innovative developments and the active development of advanced Russian industries.^[3]

The volume of the global market for service robots for the year increased by 30% to 205 thousand units

At the end of 2023, sales of professional service robots on a global scale exceeded 205 thousand units. This is 30% more than in the previous year, when about 158 thousand devices were sold. Such data are reflected in the review of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), published on October 8, 2024.

It is estimated that in 2023 almost 80% of service robots came from the Asia-Pacific region - 162,284 units sold. This is followed by Europe with 33,918 pieces, and America closes the top three with 8,927 units sold.

The service robotics industry is on the rise: more and more of these machines are being used in factories, shopping centers and delivery, says Marina Bill, president of IFR.

In 2023, sales of robots for the transport and logistics sector rose by 35%, reaching 113 thousand units. The driver in this sector is the lack of traditional labor: robots help perform time-consuming tasks, such as loading and unloading goods. A shortage of skilled professionals is also driving demand for automated systems designed for use in open spaces. The types of robots in this class range from machines such as forklifts and tractors to specialized installations.

In addition, robots for the hospitality sector are becoming more and more popular: in 2023, more than 54 thousand such devices were sold, which corresponds to an increase of 31% compared to 2022. Most of these machines are robots to provide certain information and telepresence. As the sector develops rapidly, there are new classes of automated assistants - for example, for cooking food and drinks.

Sales of agricultural robots show steady growth: in 2023, almost 20 thousand such devices were sold - plus 21% on an annualized basis. In this segment, the demand for precision farming technologies is increasing, which help to increase the efficiency of work and reduce costs. The market for professional cleaning robots increased by 4% over the year - to 12 thousand units sold. The main application is floor cleaning, which accounts for about 70% of the sector. Sales of medical robots in 2023 rose by 36% and amounted to approximately 6,100 units. The volume of implementation of robots for rehabilitation and non-invasive therapy rose by 128%. Demand for surgical robots rose 14% and sales of diagnostic robots increased 25%.

The largest number of manufacturers of service and medical robots are concentrated in the United States: 199 companies operating in the relevant field are based here. Of these, 66% of manufacturers produce professional service robots, 27% - robots for consumer services and 12% - robots for the medical field. China ranks second in the ranking, with 107 suppliers in this country. The share of companies offering professional service robots is even higher than in the United States, at 80%. At the same time, 34% of manufacturers in the PRC offer consumer robots and only 5% - medical robots. Germany is third with 83 companies. As in China, in this country there is a very high share of manufacturers of professional service robots - 79%. About 17% of companies offer consumer machines, and 12% are engaged in the production of medical robots. From a regional point of view, most manufacturers of service and medical robots are based in Europe: the share of this region is approximately 44%. Asia accounts for 29%, America - 25%.^[4]

Global sales of window cleaning robots for the year increased by 7%, to $1.29 billion

In 2023, sales of windows cleaning robots in the global market amounted to $1.29 billion. This is 7% more compared to 2022, when the volume of the industry was estimated at $1.21 billion. Such data are given in the Market Research Future review, published at the end of August 2024.

It is noted that robots for washing windows have a number of advantages over traditional manual cleaning methods: this is an increase in safety, a decrease in labor costs and an improvement in the quality of cleaning. As a result, such devices are becoming more and more popular at various sites, including high-rise buildings, offices, hotels and residential buildings. In addition, technological advances, including the introduction of artificial intelligence, which increases efficiency, contribute to demand growth. Robots offer an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional window-washing methods as they use less water. In addition, biodegradable cleaning solutions are used in these devices, which reduces the negative impact on the environment.

Among the significant players in the global market are named, Medion, Amazon Alfawise, Cecotec, Onson, Winbot, Hobotre,, and Ecovacs Robotics. Xiaomi From iRobot a geographical point of view North America , it occupies a significant share due to the growing demand for intelligent household appliances and advanced cleaning technologies. Demand is To Europe stimulated by urbanization and attention to energy efficiency. The Asia-Pacific region has seen an active expansion of the industry due to rapid economic development and an increase in disposable income.

According to Market Research Future analysts, in the future, the CAGR (compound percentage CAGR) in the global window cleaning robot market will be 6.67%. As a result, by 2032 the volume of the industry will reach $2.3 billion..^[5]

Russian company launches production of robot cleaners for shops, factories and hospitals

In November 2023, the Russian company Waybot Robotics announced the production of a new Cleanbotics cleaning robot for stores, factories, hospitals and other institutions. The device was named Cleanbotics 600. Read more here.

In Russia, presented robots that clean power lines from snow and find problems

Specialists of the St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation (GUAP) have developed a system for protecting and maintaining power lines (power lines) using small robots capable of moving on wires. The university spoke about the new technology in August 2023. Read more here.

The first robot cleaner in Russia appeared on the streets of Moscow

On April 30, 2023, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced the launch of Russia's first cleaning robot in the city. We are talking about a device called "Pixel," which was developed by the capital's company "Autonomica" together with Belarusian partners. Read more here.

2022: Sales growth of service robots in the world by 48% to 158,000 units

At the end of 2022, global sales of service robots of various types on a global scale soared by 48% compared to 2021, reaching approximately 158 thousand units. This is stated in a study by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the results of which were published on October 12, 2023.

"The service robot industry is evolving at a rapid pace. A shortage of qualified professionals and staff applying for work in the service sector is increasing demand. We counted nearly 1,000 service robot suppliers around the world. Such machines are capable of performing certain operations on their own, "says Marina Bill, president of IFR.

The report notes that service robots are especially in demand in the field of transport and logistics. More professional machines have been created to transport goods or goods than for any other area. At the end of 2022, sales of such solutions increased by 44% compared to 2021, amounting to approximately 86 thousand units. Shipments of robots for public premises rose by 78% on an annualized basis and reached almost 37.3 thousand units. Many of these automated assistants are designed to transport food and drink to restaurants.

Robots in the hospitality sector are also enjoying growing popularity: in 2022, more than 24.5 thousand units were sold, which is 125% more compared to 2021. The main part of these machines are devices for providing information and telepresence. At the same time, sales of medical robots fell by 4% on an annualized basis and amounted to about 9,300 units. Almost 4,900 surgical robots were sold (+ 5% year-on-year), but the supply of robots for rehabilitation and non-invasive therapy decreased by 16%, amounting to less than 3,200.

Supplies of robotics in agriculture increased by 18%: in 2022, almost 8,000 units were shipped. More than 5,800 devices (+ 9% compared to 2021) are designed to carry out agricultural tasks, such as milking and cleaning cow houses. The lack of labor in the agricultural industry and the need for more sustainable operational processes stimulate the demand for service robots in this area.

The professional robot cleaners segment grew 8% to reach nearly 6,900 units in 2022. The main application is floor washing: 4900 units were sold, which is 10% more in relation to 2021. This represents more than 70% of deliveries in the corresponding category.

In the consumer market, sales of service robots in 2022 reached approximately 5.1 million units. Analysts talk about high demand in the segment of home household robots: in 2022, almost 4.9 million such automated assistants were sold. The most popular are robots of various types for cleaning floors indoors: about 2.8 million such devices were sold per year. IFR predicts that this segment will continue to show a double-digit growth rate of interest on an annualized basis. Like cleaning robots, garden robots have already firmly entered the daily life of people: in 2022, sales of automatic lawn mowers reached 1.1 million units.

The report says that robots for social interaction and training are the second largest category of consumer robots: in 2022, 157 thousand such devices were sold. While sales of educational robots reached almost 104 thousand units, the supply of robots for social interaction and companion robots amounted to about 53 thousand units.

World Robotics 2023

2020

Russia has developed a universal platform for service robots

On December 14, 2020, the Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNIPU) announced the creation of a universal platform for service robots. It is a device 50 x 50 x 24 cm and weighing 39 kg with sensors that allow the mechanism to independently move along a given trajectory. Read more here.

Panasonic tests unmanned robots for contactless delivery of goods

On December 8, 2020, the Japanese corporation Panasonic announced to TAdviser that it had begun using self-propelled unmanned robots to deliver various goods and essentials. The robot is capable of accelerating to 4 km/h, and resembles an externally small protected capsule, inside which you can safely place orders. Read more here.

In the US, robotic delivery workers were officially allowed to ride on sidewalks

In mid-2020, a large number of trade and logistics companies in the United States, such as Amazon and FedEx and others, are testing automated delivery robots in several US states. Companies have to negotiate the possibility of using such robots individually with the authorities of a particular state, which makes it difficult to implement automated delivery technologies. To resolve this situation and simplify the admission of robots to the sidewalks, a bill was submitted to the US Senate, which found support from both parties.

Starting in 2022, small robots will be able to deliver packages, custom goods and even medical supplies thanks to a bipartisan bill from North Carolina that is expected to become federal law.

Since 2017, startup Kiwi Campus has operated food delivery robots at the University of California, Berkeley, delivering tens of thousands of orders, and in 2019 Amazon and FedEx launched their own robot routes, eventually automating delivery services.

Sen. Jim Perry, a Republican from Kinston, said he first learned about the robots from a FedEx representative at a business conference last year. He called this legislation and others like it a "pilot program" and said that thanks to the "technology center" of the research cluster, it became possible to extend this phenomenon throughout North Carolina.

Perry added that the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened the importance of these robots, as they have allowed contactless deliveries and can be easily disinfected.

It has taken on a whole new meaning. There are currently hospitals that use drug delivery devices Senator Jim Perry

The bill imposes certain restrictions on delivery robots, such as requiring them to weigh less than 500 pounds, travel at less than 10 miles per hour, yield to humans and not carry dangerous materials and other regulations. Perry said those restrictions were intended to make robots safer and help people feel comfortable.

For the first two years after the bill comes into force, local authorities will only be allowed to regulate the time and place of work of small delivery robots, but not prohibit their use. After two years, the bill allows local authorities to ban their use if they deem it necessary.

Amid a quietly growing national nervousness over workplace automation, Perry said he had heard some concerns that the bill could affect delivery workers. But he said he believed it would eventually create more employment opportunities, create new jobs to help develop and implement technology.

He added that if robots prove to be more effective, then changes will be inevitable.

Polaroid could not prevent film from becoming a number. A robot can't do everything a person can do. It's impossible. But we think it can help fill the gap and people want things to happen faster every day. Sen. Jim Perry

2019

Russia No. 2 in the world for the production of service robots

According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), in 2019 Russia took second place in the production of service robots, ahead of Japan and China. In the Russian Federation, there are 73 companies engaged in the production of such products. This is only less than in the United States, where 223 manufacturers of service robots work.

Following Russia are Germany (69 companies), China (64 companies), France (52 companies) and Japan (50 companies). Alisa Konyukhovskaya, executive director of the National Association of Robotics Market Participants, attributed the high position of the Russian Federation in this rating to two factors:

• there are many more small startups in Russia, and in Japan, for example, large corporations;
• language and cultural barrier: IFR is an international organization headquartered in Europe, so it focuses mainly on European and American companies, and companies from Asia and Russia may simply not submit data to the federation.

They may not be aware of such an opportunity due to a language barrier or focus more on the local market and not consider it necessary to participate in international research. Many companies also do not submit data on their sales and production: firstly, it is quite labor-intensive, and secondly, some simply do not want to disclose numbers. Therefore, real data may differ, - said Konyukhovskaya.

According to estimates by the International Federation of Robotics, by the end of 2019 there were 889 manufacturers of service robots in the world, including 183 novice developers (startups). 728 vendors are engaged in the supply of professional equipment, including 155 startups. And in the segment of service robots for home and personal tasks there are 237 companies, including 39 beginners.

The most famous Russian companies in these areas are, for example, Promobot (service humanoid robots), Yandex (courier robots), Motorica (cybernetic prostheses).^[6]

According to IFR for 2019, Europe is the leader among the regions, in which 330 formed manufacturers of service robots, 94 startups and 14 companies are registered, the year of foundation of which is unknown. In the Americas, the ratio of such producers is 204 to 51 to 2. In Asia, there are 144 manufacturers of commercial service robots, 36 corresponding startups and 5 companies without a certain year of foundation. In Australia and Africa, experts counted 7 formed manufacturers and 3 startups.

The study says that 23.2 million service robots for home and personal purposes were sold worldwide in 2019, 34% higher than a year ago. In money, the market volume grew by 20% and reached $5.7 billion.

Robot vacuum cleaners and other devices designed for home purposes are in greatest demand. In 2019, sales of such solutions amounted to 18.6 million units against 13.2 million a year earlier. In the segment of entertainment robots, sales in 2019 did not change and amounted to 4.6 million units.

In terms of revenue, the home service robot segment also dominates. In 2019, such equipment was sold in the amount of $4.3 billion, while in 2018 - by $3.5 billion. Sales of robots for entertainment purposes during this time rose from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion.

Global deliveries of professional service robots in 2019 reached 173 million units in the amount of $11.2 billion, which is about a third more than the previous year. Robots for logistics (75 million devices sold), use in public places (20 million units) and defense needs (19 million units) are leading here. The supply of service robots for professional cleaning of premises and streets in 2019 reached 13 million units, having decreased by 15 million compared to the previous year.

Market volume exceeded $17 billion - ResearchAndMarkets

The volume of the global market for service robots in 2019 exceeded $17 billion, researchers at ResearchAndMarkets calculated. According to them, the demand for such equipment is growing for a number of reasons, such as:

• the high cost of labor;
• lack of highly qualified specialists;
• increased investment in R&D;
• growing awareness of the benefits of service robots;
• increased demand for means of automation of industrial and personal tasks.

Most service robots in 2019 are sold for logistics purposes, which is largely facilitated by the development of the e-commerce market. The second largest segment in the market under consideration in terms of revenue was medical robots, which are used mainly in surgery, diagnosis, physiotherapy and psychotherapy.

The three largest segments included service robots for defense purposes. Next are agricultural robots or agricultural robots.

If we talk about quantitative sales, then in 2019 professional logistics robots were in the lead. Robot inspectors and repairmen are in second position. Medical systems accounted for only 2% of the market in physical terms, which is associated with the high cost of such equipment.

In the category of consumer service robots, home devices lead unconditionally, which, among other things, wash the floors, cut the lawn and clean the pools. Entertainment robots also belong to this segment, they are aimed at a young audience and are designed to increase the interest of such users in robots and other technical inventions, the study says.^[7]

The following companies were named the largest manufacturers of service robots by analysts:

• Kuka AG;
• Adept Technology (purchased by Omron);
• iRobot;
• Intuitive Surgical;
• Nachi-Fujikoshi;
• Yaskawa (Yaskava Europa holding AB);

2018: Professional Service Robots Market Size - $8.7 Billion

According to experts from the International robotics Federation of Robotics (IFR), 50% more professional service robots were sold in 2018 than in 2017. As a result, the market volume by 2018 reached $8.7 billion.

2017: Professional service robotics sales up 85%

The growth rate of professional service, robotics according to the International robotics Federation of Robotics (IFR), in 2017 amounted to 85%, which is a multiple of the growth rate of industrial (robotics 31%) and global (GDP 3.7%). As a result, 109,500 professional service robots were sold worldwide in 2017. According to experts, from 2019 to 2021, sales of professional service robots will increase annually by an average of 21%. More. here

The market for personal service robots is also growing actively. So, in 2017, about 2.4 million educational and entertainment (edutainment) robots were sold (12% more than in 2016) and 6.1 million household robots (31% more than in 2016).

North America dominates the service robot market. It is followed by Europe - thanks to the growing demand for service robots in the defense, medical, and construction sectors. The main player in the service robotics market is the United States - 45% of service robots are produced in America. However, Asian manufacturers are actively catching up with the leader: in recent years, they have increased their share from 30% to 43%. At the same time, Europe accounts for only 12% of all robots produced. According to IFR, there are 719 key manufacturers of service robotics in the world, of which 155 are startups. Despite the leadership in the number of service robots sold, America is still inferior to Europe in the number of manufacturers.

2016: Sales of professional service robots up 24%

On April 25, 2018, Sberbank published an analytical review of the global robotics market prepared by the Sberbank Robotics Laboratory. The service robotics market is growing faster than the industrial robots segment, according to the review. So, in 2015, 48 thousand professional service robots were sold, and in 2016 this number increased by 24% (against 12% growth in sales of industrial robots) to 59 thousand. The total market volume of professional service robots reached $4.7 billion.

The total number of personal service robots sold in 2016 increased by 24%, reaching about 6.7 million units, and the total market volume increased to $2.6 billion. For example, there are already more than 20 million robotic vacuum cleaners in the world, which are rapidly becoming cheaper due to increased competition, Sberbank noted.

Most service robots are sold in absolute terms for logistics (~ 25 thousand units), military use (~ 11 thousand), for commercial spaces (~ 7 thousand), field work and exoskeletons (~ 6 thousand each). Read more here.