Robotic Sensors Market

Market Overview

The global robotic sensors market size was valued at USD 570.06 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 1,166.41 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.28% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The surging demand for industrial robots owing to increased demand for automation in several industries is the primary driver of the global robotic sensors market. The flourishing adoption of robots in logistics and transportation applications due to robust developments is also estimated to boost market expansion.

Robots, especially autonomous ones, need to be able to sense their surroundings. Robotic sensors are electronic devices designed to detect and measure environmental changes and provide feedback to the control system of a robot. Numerous types of robots, including industrial, service, and autonomous vehicles, rely heavily on robotic sensors. There are numerous varieties of robotic sensors, each with its capabilities and applications.

Common robotic sensors include proximity sensors, which can detect the presence of objects in the robot's environment, and force/torque sensors, which can measure the forces and torques the robot applies to interact with objects. Temperature, humidity, and gas sensors are additional types of robotic sensors. Robotic sensors enable robots to interact with the world around them and can be used to control robot movements, monitor environmental conditions, and detect anomalies or hazards.

Market Dynamics

Global Robotic Sensors Market Drivers

Surge in Demand for Industrial Robotics

As per the global robotics industry statistics, the number of industrial robots installed across industries globally is expected to significantly increase during the forecast period, driving the demand for robotic sensors. Further, IFR (International Federation of Robotics) points to the surging need for automation in manufacturing processes and major technological advancements as the primary driving forces within the forecast period of increased robotics unit sales.

Moreover, the market might see a rebound in the two largest markets for traditional industrial robots, which are automotive and electronics, meaning there will be a significant improvement in the industrial robot market. The noticeable trend is toward smaller payload, entry-level, and easy-to-use variants. All this is driven by new technologies and increasing labor costs shaping the demand for robotic sensors.

Increased Adoption of Robots in Logistics and Transportation Applications 

Rapid advances in AI, machine learning (ML), and automation are certain to improve the current state of logistics and transportation robotics. The robotics sector will be hindered by 5G and breakthroughs in big data and cloud computing, but it will also become more precise, customer-focused, and efficient than ever. Several collaborations are propelling the deployment of robots in the logistics and transportation sector.

For example, In March 2021, XPO Logistics announced a cooperation with Balyo to test Balyo's robotic reach truck to optimize intelligent reach trucks for the logistics industry, which might increase customer productivity and support staff at XPO's warehouse. The robot is autonomous and designed specifically for use in distribution centers. The e-commerce boom has increased the importance of robot innovation. The growing need for sophisticated sensors drives the market as robotic system technology progresses.

Global Robotic Sensors Market Restraints

Slow Adoption Rate in Underdeveloped Regions

The possibility that digital technologies will automate routine tasks and replace human labor can occasionally appear to be an existential threat to manufacturing in developing nations. These forecasts are typically based on technical feasibility. Although the industry and government have adopted some subsidy policies for automation and robotics, this may not be a long-term plan.

The economic justification for major investments in automation in developing countries is poor due to lower labor costs, younger populations, inadequate infrastructure, and skills shortages. For example, the World Bank estimates that, after accounting for lower pay and slower technological adoption, the share of employment in danger of automation and robotics in Cambodia and Ethiopia has decreased by half and by one-third in Bolivia, Nigeria, and Thailand. These factors are expected to restrain the market growth.

Global Robotic Sensors Market Opportunities

Technological Advancements in Collaborative Robots (Cobots)

Digitalization has led to the blending of industrial and service robots' functions into a new kind of robot, namely collaborative robots. According to IFR, these cobots, intended to work alongside humans, are projected to reach a value of almost USD 1.5 billion by 2026. The technological advancement in cobots encourages the vendors to innovate on the robotic sensors, creating opportunities for the market players.

Companies are increasingly working toward enhancing the capabilities of collaborative robots to optimize their performance. This gives rise to the need for sophisticated sensors to aid them in creating opportunities for market growth. For instance, in May 2021, Universal Robots announced the introduction of an improved version of its UR10e robot. The enhanced cobot will provide an increased payload of 12.5 kg, enabling it to serve a more significant number of applications that include palletizing, packaging, and machine tending. The company did not change the price of the cobot, thereby providing new customers with improved capabilities without incurring additional costs.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global robotic sensors market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World.

Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market

Asia-Pacific is the most significant global robotic sensors market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 8.93% during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is expected to register the greatest growth rate during the forecast period, owing to the significant installation of industrial robots in several countries, including China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Taiwan. In addition, China dominates the regional adoption rate of sensors for robotic applications due to its massive deployment in its dominant automotive and semiconductor manufacturing industries. China is a leader in manufacturing and has a large consumer base for electronics and related components, which is a significant factor driving the robotic sensors market.

Similarly, consumer electronics is amongst the fastest-growing segments in the robotic sensors market in the Asia-Pacific region. For instance, as per the Retailers Association of India (RAI), the third quarter of FY21 had a 23.5% increase in consumer electronics and appliances sales in India compared to the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. Robots are widely used in the manufacturing process of various electronic hardware. Hence, the growing production capacity in the country is expected to boost the demand for robotic sensors during the forecast period.

Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 8.20% over the forecast period. Europe is home to some of the most well-known tech hubs globally and a significant driver and adopter of modern and advanced technology. The soaring penetration of advanced technologies and the rising adoption of robots in several regional industries propel the market's growth. In addition, governmental bodies undertake several initiatives to accelerate the robotic sensors further. For instance, the European Union (EU) Industrial policy is aimed at stimulating competitiveness and growth of the manufacturing sector in the region. This covers a wide range of trade, energy, and innovation activities the government undertakes. This is further expected to support robotic sensor manufacturing companies in the region.

The region also witnesses several start-ups expanding their foothold in the robotics industry. For instance, Smart Robotics, a Dutch start-up, developed modular collaborative robots backed by robot-independent, AI-based software for deployment across logistics, packaging, e-commerce, and pharma industries.

North America is estimated to hold a sizable share of the market because of its robust innovation ecosystem, which has been propelled by strategic federal investments in advanced technology and is complemented by the presence of visionary scientists and entrepreneurs from around the world, as well as renowned research institutions, which have accelerated the development of robotics sensors for various end-user applications. The growing robotics sector in which proximity, touch, pressure, and other sensors are integrated is set to boost the market growth rate. As stated by IFR, the USA is among North America's largest industrial robot users, with a share of 84% of the region's (North America) total installations. Installations in the electronics and electrical industry grew by 7% to 3,700 units in 2020, while the automotive sector demanded substantially fewer robots with 10,500 units.

In addition, the government is investing in robots to keep up-to-date with the latest trends. The U.S. Air Force reportedly tested the possibility of robot dogs on the battlefield in 2020. Such developments further demand different types of sensors. Hence, the robotic sensors market in North America is expected to expand at a substantial growth rate during the forecast period.

Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are covered under the scope of the Rest of the World. Latin American nations, like Mexico and Brazil, are witnessing significant digital transformation and augmenting growth in Industry 4.0, pushing players in the industrial sector to adopt robots in manufacturing. In addition, reshoring and the further development of local manufacturing are associated with the Middle East transformation agendas, as it would see manufacturing propelling diversified economic growth and facilitating job creation. This is particularly true for the Kingdom's Saudi Vision 2030, Egypt's Vision 2030, and the UAE's Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

With the Middle East's smart factory automation market recording a high growth rate in the last few years, the region's manufacturers are focusing on adopting advanced robotics to drive innovation and support business continuity, which, in turn, is anticipated to boost the demand for robotics sensors shortly.

Segmental Analysis

The global robotic sensors market is segmented by type and end-user.

Based on type, the global robotic sensors market is bifurcated into force and torque sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, position sensors, proximity sensors, vision sensors, and other types. 

The vision sensor segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.46% over the forecast period. Robots require visual feedback in industrial applications. It is used to navigate, identify parts, communicate with humans, and fuse visual data with other sensors to improve location data. As a result, machine vision is utilized in several industrial applications. Machine vision systems have offered the technology that allows robots to see for years. Traditional robots have been guided by these vision-guided robot (VGR) applications for pick-and-place, machine tending, assembly, and even sophisticated bin-picking activities.

For instance, FANUC America prefers to provide customers with a fully integrated vision solution derived from the robot supplier, such as FANUC's iRVision, which works with cobots and traditional robots. In addition, Veo Robotics focuses on machine vision technology that will change any robot into a cobot to help with decision-making. Veo Robotics created a sophisticated vision system to monitor individuals and objects in a defined space. As a result, the robot slows or stops as necessary, creating a safe zone for human workers.

Temperature sensors are used to detect transitions in the ambient temperature. It is founded on the idea that a change in voltage will yield the equivalent temperature value of the environment for a temperature change. Temperature sensors are essential for keeping industrial robotic automation and control systems in good working order. Apart from external usage, robots also use temperature sensors from the internal temperatures of circuits and rotatory components like bearings and motors. In addition, temperature sensors are essential for keeping industrial robotic automation and control systems in good working order. Compact discrete NTC thermistor sensors provide highly exact measurements and long-term stability, making them ideal for monitoring the temperature of industrial equipment's surface. The highly precise design of digital temperature sensors in constrained spaces makes robotic control and temperature management possible.

Based on end-users, the global robotic sensors market is segmented into manufacturing, automotive, process and packaging, logistics, and other end-users. 

The manufacturing segment owns the highest market share and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 8.19% during the forecast period. The uses and requirements of robots in manufacturing are getting increasingly sophisticated and demanding as the complexity and precision of industrial goods continue to rise. Robotic sensors have progressed from simple photoelectric and touch switches to high-level tactile, acoustic, and visual sensors. Moreover, several factory automation and smart manufacturing initiatives devised by numerous countries are expected to offer tremendous opportunities for the growth of the robotic sensors market. For instance, China unveiled a five-year plan for smart manufacturing in December 2021, promising that large manufacturers will achieve digitalization by 2025 to enhance the sector's technological and market competitiveness in a new round of a fierce global race in advanced manufacturing.

In today's fast-paced production environments, picking and packing operations require many human operators with speed, dependability, inspection, precision, dexterity, and sorting without interruption. Whether robots pick and pack primary or secondary products, they can do so consistently and quickly without requiring breaks. The pick-and-pack robots have sophisticated robotic vision systems and one or more 2D cameras or 3D sensors. These sensors allow the robots to recognize, classify, and randomly choose items from a conveyor line according to size, color, or location. Robotic visual line tracking technology equips multiple pick-and-place robots with human-like eye-hand coordination, allowing them to measure, sort, and pick loose parts from a moving conveyor using an integrated robot vision system.

Recent Developments

• August 2023- Sony announced that its artificially intelligent Aibo robotic dogs would be available for purchase in the U.S. by the end of the year. According to the Japanese consumer electronics giant, the sixth-generation mechanical puppy combines robotics with image sensors and artificial intelligence, allowing it to learn behaviors and recognize faces.
• June 2023- Bota Systems, an innovator in multi-axis force-torque sensors, announced the release of the MiniONE Pro. This sophisticated six-axis force-torque sensor offers great sensitivity and compactness, enhancing the feedback capabilities of small robotic systems.