With the continued advancement of supporting technologies, mobile robots (AMR, automated mobile robots) are ushering in a whole new phase of technological development, gradually moving towards multi-sector applications, and are expected to revolutionize industries such as manufacturing, last-mile delivery, agriculture and healthcare. According to the latest forecast from market research firm ABI Research, mobile robots will continue to sustain high growth in the coming years, with shipments growing from 547,000 units in 2023 to 2.79 million units in 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.1%.
Mobile robots: a high-demand market for the future
Mobile robots have become an important part of the warehousing and logistics industry over the past few years, transforming organizations’ business processes by increasing efficiency and reducing operational costs. However, as the technology continues to evolve, the application scenarios for mobile robots are expanding from traditional warehousing and logistics to a number of other industry segments, including manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and retail, with more and more vertical markets accelerating their adoption of this emerging technology.
Mobile robots are a valuable technology that has helped companies achieve significant efficiency gains in material handling and logistics and transportation,” said George Chowdhury, robotics industry analyst at ABI Research. As technologies such as synchronized localization and map building (SLAM) continue to advance, mobile robots are able to be deployed in more complex, dynamic environments, which allows them to enter less automated industries such as agriculture and healthcare in addition to traditional warehouse logistics, and bring about compelling efficiency gains.”
Multi-industry applications accelerating
According to ABI Research, mobile robots will show strong growth in several emerging markets through 2030. In agriculture, shipments of mobile robots will surge from 7,000 units in 2023 to 129,000 units, a CAGR of 45%. This indicates that the demand for agricultural automation is increasing rapidly and the application of robotics in farming, plant protection, and irrigation is very promising.
In addition, the demand in the last-mile delivery segment will continue to increase, with shipments of mobile robots expected to grow from 14,000 units in 2023 to 147,000 units, at a CAGR of 37%. As the e-commerce and logistics industries continue to increase the demand for fast and efficient delivery, automated delivery systems are becoming critical for companies to enhance their competitiveness.
In the healthcare industry, especially in areas such as hospitals and nursing homes, mobile robots have begun to provide more efficient services to patients, and the healthcare industry is expected to become one of the key application markets for mobile robots by 2030. Similarly, the retail sector is not far behind, with automated service robots within the food and beverage industry set to explode over the next few years, growing from 6,000 units in 2023 to 78,000 units, a CAGR of 43%.
Technological development to help the industry progress
The wide application of mobile robots cannot be separated from the continuous development of supporting technologies, especially the breakthroughs in sensor technology, computer vision, SLAM (simultaneous localization and map construction) and other technologies, which enable mobile robots to operate accurately in more complex and dynamic environments. Especially in logistics and warehousing environments, mobile robots can efficiently collaborate with human employees to perform tasks such as material handling, sorting, inventory, etc., which greatly improves operational efficiency and accuracy.
At the same time, the versatility and programmability of mobile robots also provide more flexible solutions for the needs of various industries. From simple cleaning robots to more complex security, distribution and cargo handling robots, enterprises are able to customize solutions according to specific needs and flexibly adjust their work content and work mode through programming, further enhancing the applicability and application value of robots.
Market players and future prospects
With the increasing demand in the market, many companies have stepped up their investments in the mobile robotics sector. Companies like MiR, Omron, Otto Motors, and ABB have started launching various mobile robot solutions in manufacturing intralogistics to drive smart transformation within the organization. Companies like Zebra, Locus and Safelog, on the other hand, have set their sights on the retail and marketing sector, launching robotic products adapted to the needs of different business districts and shopping malls.
In addition, companies like Simbe and Brain Corp are focused on the retail sector, offering intelligent service robots based on AI and automation technology to enhance the shopping experience and in-store operational efficiency. And companies such as Starship focus on last-mile delivery applications and are committed to providing more efficient and environmentally friendly delivery services through mobile robots.
George Chowdhury concludes, “As policy makers’ trust in mobile robotics grows, we will see mobile robots in more public places in the future, and hospitals, agriculture, retail stores, and last-mile delivery are all poised to embrace the widespread adoption of this innovative technology. Mobile robots will undoubtedly be the most popular and fastest growing market in the robotics industry going forward.”
Conclusion
Mobile robots, a highly promising technology, will gradually enter the core application scenarios of various industries in the coming years and change the traditional methods of production, service and logistics. With the advancement of technology and increasing market demand, mobile robots will undoubtedly set off an automation revolution globally. It is expected that by 2030, mobile robots will become the main force in the global robotics market, and the rapid growth of its shipments and market size will drive the rapid development of the entire industrial chain and promote the transformation of more industries to intelligence and automation.
