Robotics in the European Region is now moving beyond testing labs or production lines to permeate sectors such as energy generation or healthcare, which were previously unaccustomed to leveraging the technology.

FREMONT, CA:  According to a report by Financial Times, the European robotics sector is all set to be worth around $135 billion by the end of 2019. The industry is on the verge of a transformative phase thriving on two key indicators, such as a huge increase in the patents filed internationally with respect to robotics. The patents have tripled during the last decade. Secondly, investments as venture capital have also increased significantly.

The most prominent aspect of the European robotics sector is the technology finding applicability in a multitude of sectors such as automotive or manufacturing. The reference, here, is to industries such as agriculture, healthcare, energy, etc.

The New Applications for Robotics

These sectors would be offering short to immediate term opportunities for robotics. The long-term effect of robotics would be in all industries, including our day-to-day lives. From what is presently a comparatively low base, the service robots part of these is sure to progress as the most significant area of worldwide robot sales. They would have a transformational influence on a multitude of industries and sectors, which include both short-term and long-term.

Some of the other sectors in the European region, which present immense opportunities for robotics include autonomous transportation, livestock management, automated farming, and environmental monitoring and food security.

Robotics can also be heavily leveraged by the emergency service sector such as those, part of mineral extraction and mining. Robotics is certain to be an integral part of border protection, civil security, and patrolling of facilities and other plants.

As far as the healthcare sector is concerned, robots are all set to permeate fields such as high-accuracy surgical operations, carrying out repetitive procedures and improving outcomes in rehabilitation sectors and enhanced logistics support for hospitals.

Towards the future, robots are sure to transform the transport industry by increasing driver safety besides road efficiency. Furthermore, embryonic legalized infrastructures and systems are already being experimented with. Warehouses have been a hub for robotics for some time now. The incorporation of robotics technology has enabled the warehouse sector to be more capable and flexible. The other most evident impacts of warehouse robotics have been reduced delivery times and arriving at cost savings and driving considerable investment.

The After effects

On the one hand, increased permeability for robots has created exciting opportunities. On the other hand, it creates pressure in the robotics sector concerning filling the gap between supply and demand. The blurring of conventional sector limitations, coupled with the emergence of innovative technologies, will change the way the robotics industry functions. Therefore, it is critical for the European region to embrace these opportunities and face the challenges simultaneously.

Europe enjoys a stable position, and requires to capitalize and invest more both financially and intellectually to reap long-term advantages. There has to be an increased focus on the research aspect as well with respect to robotics and their potential impacts. The research strategies should be decided upon by taking into consideration the current requirements of the European region and targeting the areas where the maximum impact would be felt. The key areas to be focused from a current robotics industry point of view include human-robot association, systems development, and mechatronics. Europe has a robust research base besides an industrial infrastructure through which the region can innovate through this fast-changing landscape.

The research should be affiliated to developing progressive technology; way ahead of the requirement, exploiting emergent robotics space, incorporating disruptive robotics technologies, which redefine the economics of applications and create awareness with respect to what robotics is capable of.

Also, Europe would find it mandatory to face the impending challenge of developing an innovation-powered community wherein global enterprises and SMEs could work together to produce robotic technology that is of international grade.

Non-technical barriers to robotics deployment and expansion will assume significance during this phase. Consequently, there should be equal focus on both non-technical and technical hurdle. Further, for the current European robotics industry to be ideal, it should be in sync with the critical societal obstacles and should target the economic improvement demanded by the European community.