Robotic arms have been used in factories for decades, but mobile robots have rolled out in force lately. In 2021, global sales of mobile robots jumped by more than 70%, according to a recent report by Interact Analysis.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about social distancing and rising e-commerce demand drove supply chains to move from trials to rapid adoption of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
This year, widespread labor shortages, especially in North America and Europe, continued to drive demand for mobile robots. In China, revenue growth was highest, led by Geek+, noted Interact Analysis. Even if companies such as Seegrid had to lay off workers during the recent downturn, the Pittsburgh-based AMR maker still raised money.
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