Service Robotics Group reports positive sales forecasts

Citation

(2003), "Service Robotics Group reports positive sales forecasts", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930eab.011

Service Robotics Group reports positive sales forecasts

Service Robotics Group reports positive sales forecasts

The outlook for the service robotics sector in the next 3 years is very positive, reports Martin Haegele, Chairman of the IFR Service Robotics Group. "We have surveyed the companies in the sector for their forecast of sales in the 2003-2006 timeframe. Although we have not received all the results yet, most companies have responded - and they are very optimistic".

Founded under the auspices of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) in October 2002, the Service Robotics Group has established a list of companies worldwide that make service robots or related components and services. Martin Haegele says that more than 150 companies are currently active in the service robots sector. In Europe the number is about 70, of whom approximately more than one third are start-up companies or companies that have spun off from research groups at universities. The number of service robots estimated to be in use worldwide exceeds 12,500 in addition to some 155,000 robots that have entered homes as autonomous lawnmowers or vacuum cleaners. The category covers robots whose applications are outside the manufacturing field and includes surgical robots, autonomous cleaning machines, autonomous vehicles for courier services in buildings, and robots in surveillance and maintenance roles.

The Service Robotics Group is conducting a worldwide survey of companies active in the sector covering current sales as well as forecast sales. It will lead to the compilation of detailed statistics on the service robot market that will appear within the 2003 World Robotics yearbook. Martin Haegele says that the service robotics statistics could eventually merit their own dedicated book.

The IFR set up the Service Robotics Group in response to a growing commercial activity in the area. It aims to raise the awareness of the topic by governmental bodies, standardisation organisations, the media and industry, and to provide a forum for the exchange and sharing of information. This should, in particular, provide support to the many small and young companies working or entering the industry. As Martin Haegele says, "developing new products for new markets is an ambitious goal. Having access to reliable market data and other information sources strengthens the credibility of such companies and helps bring them to the attention of funding agencies". And, at the next ISR event to be held in Paris in June 2004, a service robotics booth shared by 15-25 companies active in the sector is being planned.

Membership of the IFR Service Robot Group is currently free and remains so till October 2004. It is open to any interested company offering service robot products, components or related services.

For further information, please contact: Martin Hägele. E-mail: mmh@ipa.fhg.de