Robots on the horizon

Citation

(2004), "Robots on the horizon", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 53 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm.2004.07953fab.007

Robots on the horizon

Future Horizons, Europe’s leading semiconductor analyst predicts that robots will become mainstream consumer products within the next decade, providing a significant growth opportunity for the electronics sector.

In its 2004 Key Market Driver Report, Future Horizon predicts that the total revenue for the robotics market will rise from $4.4 billion in 2003 to $59.3 billion in 2010. It forecasts that the corresponding electronic component of the market will increase from $398 million in 2003 to nearly $24 billion in 2010 as a result of growth in the market and the increase requirement for computer power.

The report contends that the electronics industry is on the cusp of a robotics wave, a period in which applications are aimed at human labour saving and extending human skills. It states that the market need, technology and economical justification have coincided to create a new electro-mechanical robot system, with the prospect of a corresponding new electronics market to follow.

Future Horizons claims that the heavy industrial and professional intelligent service robots currently dominate the robotics market by unit volume, each accounting for 100,000 units annually, with domestic appliance and domestic intelligent service robots yet to make significant inroads.

But the report states that the emphasis will reverse by 2005 as domestic robotics start to dominate the market. The delivery in 2003 of the Sony AIBO robot and several robot lawn mowers and robot vacuum cleaners provides an early indication of likely growth.

The Key Market Driver Report 2004, an annual analysis and forecast of the worldwide semiconductor key application markets is available from Future Horizons priced £1,150.

For more information see www.futurehorizons.com