Editorial Note

An industrial robot is a robot system used in manufacturing industries. These are automatic, programmable and capable of movement on three or more axis. In simple terms, it is labeled as a programmable, mechanical device used in place of a person to perform dangerous or repetitive tasks with a high degree of accuracy. They are designed specifically for different requests such as welding, painting, assembly, pick and place for printed circuit boards, packaging and labeling, palletizing, product inspection, and testing in manufacturing industries.

By end user, automotive segment is anticipated to grow at the significant rate during the prediction period. The automotive industry continues to use industrial robots in their assembly line. The industry has seen the most extensive use for robots in manufacturing and assembling components such as engines, chassis, axles, and brakes. The motorized industry is one of the largest users of industrial robots; however, the market is expected to be severely affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has hindered production and meaningfully reduced consumer demand. Due to this, vehicle manufacturers are expected to reduce their savings in automation, affecting the market for industrial robots.

On the basis of geography, APAC is predictable to have considerable market growth during the forecast period, owing to decrease in the sales of industrial robots in countries like China due to the falling demand from the motorized sector and the effects of the US-China trade war. The automotive and electrical & electronics industries are the most important drivers for traditional industrial robots in APAC. Although China is expected to witness a decline in growth from 2020 onwards, due to trade restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still likely to remain a significant market in APAC.

The global service robotics market was valued US$ 20.4 Billion in 2020 and is expected to show significant growth during the forecast period. Service robots have witnessed widespread acceptance among various professional and personal applications owing to benefits such as enhanced usability, delivery of accurate and high-quality services, reliability, and reduced operational costs and human errors. Professional service robots are employed in various industries including medical, defense, agriculture, logistics, inspection and maintenance, rescue and security, construction, and professional cleaning among others, whereas personal service robots are used for domestic and entertainment and leisure purpose. The service robotics market is driven by an upsurge in its adoption owing to high labor cost, lack of skilled workforce, increasing research and development investments, growing awareness regarding the benefits of service robots, and increased demand for automation among professional and personal sectors. The high initial investment and concern for human safety restricts the growth of the market.