Industrial robots and service robots are the two primary types of robots. The primary application of the industrial robots is the manufacturing works in big warehouses and factories. On the contrary, service robots are used for providing automated services, which can imitate human behavior. Industrial robots that are used to perform a nonmanufacturing work, can also be considered service robots.

While focusing on industry-specific dynamics, it becomes clear that the industrial robotics industry has gained its highest demand from end-users such as automotive and electronics in recent years.

Pre-Pandemic Scenario of the Industrial Robotics Industry

Since the last few years, the global industrial robotics industry has been performing in a quite interesting way. The foundation of operational industrial robots that were installed across the world has been increasing at a 10 percent average annually. As mentioned by McKinsey, the worldwide annual consignments of robots ascended to around 381,000 only in the year 2017.

It is because of the recent developments in the robotics sphere, industrial robots are now capable of performing the most dangerous, oppressive, and routine chores. Nevertheless, these robots can now take care of more critical operations that need extreme accuracy level. In the past few years, industrial robotics has come a long way in the ladder of success and development.

A Post-Pandemic Glance on the Industry

With the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year (2020), the ascending graph of the industrial robotics industry has dropped down to a lower level. The pandemic has kept its claw on the throat of the global economy, compelling the giant industries to gasp for breath.

Because of the pandemic, the supply chain and the manufacturing processes across industries were disrupted which resulted in loss of demand. Many industries have been shut down. These factors impacted the global market of industrial robotics in a negative way. However, researchers have found that the industry will regain its grip on the market in no time once the pandemic is over.

According to a report published by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), by 2022 almost four million industrial robots are expected to be operational across the globe. This, however, will be possible once the impact of COVID-19 is erased completely. During the outbreak, the robotics industry has displayed its role in various arenas. Some of the application areas of industrial robots during the global pandemic are mentioned below:

1. Collaborative robots or cobots are capable of performing in a secure way in close vicinity to humans. These cobots are being used extensively in hospitals to provide services to the infected patients.
2. The norm of personal hygiene was strictly followed by the healthcare industry with the help of swarms of robotic shuttles when the pandemic was in its peak.
3. Already in an upswing, mobile robots promote social distancing by transporting work-in-process (WIP), delivering parts to assembly lines, and conducting material supervision in warehouses.
4. As the fear of the pandemic has started to evaporate, the manufacturing industries and distribution centers are struggling to meet the supply and demand. The industries that are struggling to accelerate production and diminish the worker congestion on their big warehouse floors and loading docks are influencing the demand for robotic palletizing and depalletizing.
5. Disinfecting robots are on the rise in the post-pandemic world. SmartGuardUV, launched by Fetch Robotics, is a disinfecting autonomous mobile robot which can abolish up to 99.9% viruses.

With innovative strategies and creative product developments, the industrial robotics sector is going to propel with faster speed. The question that remains is that “will the robotics industry be a game changer post the pandemic?”

Upama Goswami is an experienced content creator, editor, and poet. She has expertise in creating authentic content in a wide range of niches such as lifestyle, fashion, health and well-being, philosophy, art, literature, and technology. Upama is quite creative in her craft and can engage her audience with a compelling style of storytelling. She loves to paint, travel, exploring different niches of performing arts, watching movies, and learn new languages in her free time.

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