Mapping the Evolution of the Robotics Industry: A cross country comparison

Industry 4.0 may be regarded as an emerging approach to the adoption of next-generation robotics for industrial applications. Our study sheds light on the current state of robotics, with a particular focus on robots for industrial applications. The research combines publicly-available information from company press releases, news articles, peer-reviewed journals and trade and industry reports. The paper is organized in four sections. Section 1 discusses some definitions of robotics and robotics subclasses, and various robotics classifications. Sections 2 and 3 provide a snapshot of demand and supply of robotics, and offers some insights into select regional markets and global technological trends. Section 4 describes the challenges and opportunities surrounding robotics and Industry 4.0, and the future impact of these technologies.