Robotics and automation technologies are being adopted at record rates, with no signs of slowdown. The primary demand driver is e-commerce.

Business, technological, and social drivers, as well as the Covid pandemic, have had an accelerative effect on the mobile robotics sector, particularly for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Deployments are up and increasing rapidly, and you can expect more of the same in the future.

The Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMR) market continues to churn with investments, acquisitions and partnerships. Mike Oitzman, Editor of the Mobile Robot Guide, provides his take on Locus Robotics’ recent acquisition of Waypoint Robotics.

Retailers and 3PLs are rapidly adopting a wide range of automation technologies – including robotics – to improve the operational efficacy and efficiency in warehouses and distribution centers. The primary demand driver is e-commerce.

With the announcement of eight new robotics technology projects, all involving collaboration between government, industry, and academia, the ARM Institute’s total for completed or ‘in process’ advanced robotics for manufacturing programs increases to fifty-nine.

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) deployments are up substantially, with more to come. As the technology has proven to deliver business value, many new adopters are skipping long term pilot projects and moving directly to partial or full roll-outs.

The FAA’s approval for Prime Air drone delivery is a promising step forward, but the FAA needs to streamline the process and update its rules to better reflect current technology.

Market research and consultancy firm Interact Analysis estimates that worldwide revenues for mobile robots will reach US $2.4B in 2020, representing a 45% increase for AMRs and 11% for AGVs over 2019. But that is only the beginning.

As retailers continue to adopt and roll out omni-channel distribution models, new logistical challenges arise, along with industrial automation technologies and techniques, including autonomous mobile robots, that can overcome them.

Even before the advent of the Covid-19, autonomous mobile robot companies, notably those producing robots for use in e-commerce fulfillment centers, factories and warehousing, were experiencing a boom in investment. The pandemic is only accelerating investments in the AMR market.

Company services Global 100 retailers and logistics fulfillment with robotics and AI systems to improve efficiency.

Speeding up the supply chain for first-and-last-mile deliveries will be major focus, report suggests.

Mobile robot companies report increased demand for robots to handle peaks caused by record online orders.

Hundreds of millions of items ordered between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday.

Customers that are filling orders via robots are expecting anywhere from 2x to 10x the volume compared to 2018.

How Kindred addresses e-commerce fulfillment sorting operations through smarter robotics.

German startup aims to reduce upfront investment for customers looking at warehouse picking tasks.

Expands smart robotics portfolio to help warehousing operations fulfill growing e-commerce orders more efficiently.