Autonomous Mobile Robots Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Goods-to-person Picking, Self-driving Forklifts, Autonomous Inventory Robots and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), By Application (Sorting, Pick & Place, Tugging, Warehouse Fleet Management and Others), By End-User (Warehouse & Distribution Centers and Manufacturing) and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028

The global autonomous mobile robots market size was valued at USD 1.67 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow from USD 1.97 billion in 2021 to USD 8.70 billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 23.7% during forecast period. Europe dominated the autonomous mobile robots market with a share of 35.32% in 2020.

Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a higher growth of 23.7% in 2020 as compared to the average year-on-year growth during 2017-2019. The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with autonomous mobile robots witnessing a positive impact on demand across all regions amid the pandemic. The rise in CAGR is attributable to this market’s increasing demand and growth, returning to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over.

The introduction of sophisticated technologies in robotics systems, increasing dependency on automation solutions to manage the supply chain ecosystem, new safety protocols, and rising E-commerce industry are the major factors responsible for driving the global market. For instance, In October 2020, Fetch Robotics and VARGO conducted a definitive agreement to combine their respective technologies and develop robotic solutions to meet higher standards of E-commerce and deliver higher production levels in a more scalable and flexible way. This solution optimizes fleet and other issues, mainly automated navigation to achieve the shortest paths and avoid congestion, further impacting the global autonomous mobile robots market growth.

COVID-19 Pandemic to Create Business Opportunities for Autonomous Robot Suppliers

The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the manufacturing industries. Factors including, social distancing, quarantines, and lockdown have prompted robotics, particularly in performing ground operation. Several players are also focusing on promoting their robotic systems by providing them as rental services. This would further enable the warehouses and distribution owners to smoothen the workflow in the pandemic situation. Additionally, robot vendors are continuously focusing on training their customers and building robot center's training to educate the user. These initiatives would further drive the global market.

Moreover, in this pandemic situation, technological providers are adopting various marketing strategies, mainly mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures and collaboration to gain technological competitiveness and deliver advanced robotic solutions. For instance, in February 2021, Verizon acquired software platform maker incubed IT to manage and optimize mixed fleets of robots in industrial settings. This strategy would further enable them to gain new efficiencies in their autonomous mobile robot fleets.

Considering the above mentioned factors, the market is anticipated to grow exponentially post COVID-19 pandemic situation.

LATEST TRENDS

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Introduction of Sophisticated Technologies Embedded in Robots is a Prominent Trend

The evolution of smart logistics and warehouse automation drastically changes the state of the supply chain ecosystem and synchronizes all warehouse resources optimally. It also creates growth opportunities for market participants by conceiving intuitive technologies to meet the changing landscapes of the warehouses and distribution centers' day-to-day operations.

For instance, in April 2020, UPS Supply Chain Solutions designed Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) to pick up and transport goods for order consolidation, track end-to-end supply chain activity and performance to meet the customers' unique supply chain needs. These robots are integrated with features such as, new high-sensitivity video sensors, mapping and localization, built-in system of stereo cameras that are capable of programming its route in the warehouses at higher speed and others.

As a result, the AMR market is likely to grow in the future ahead.

DRIVING FACTORS

Rising E-commerce Industry to Work in Favor of Market Growth

The exponential rise in the E-commerce industry enables warehouses and distribution center owners to focus on improvising their operational workflow from manual to automation to meet the consumers' changing buying patterns.

In February 2020, The U.S. Department of Commerce reported spending on the online platform, representing 16.0% of total retail sales in 2019. It is eventually facilitating the leading E-commerce players to implement autonomous technologies across their fulfillment centers. For instance, in January 2021, Walmart Inc. started to add automated bots-staffed warehouses to dozens of its store locations for pickup and delivery. It is offering greater efficiency, faster fulfillment and more availability for customers. Additionally, in December 2020, a Southern California Fulfillment Center, Sam's Club integrated GreyOrange autonomous mobile robots for E-commerce orders. As per Sam's Club estimation, Its E-commerce sales hit USD 363 million at the end of the third quarter of 2020, compared to USD 277 million the previous year.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Setup Costs to Hinder Market Growth

The limiting factor observed is massive investment required at the initial stage to rebuild automated distribution stores and centers in obtaining maximum productivity and efficiency. This creates a challenging situation for small and medium enterprises to park funds owing to low production output and long-delayed return on investments ratios.

High costs associated with procurement, integration, programming, accessories, and others are restraining the global market growth. Besides, the providers need to deploy the robots parallel with their current operations, sometimes resulting in a concern while inventory management and controls. These factors, therefore, limit the market.

SEGMENTATION

By Type Analysis

Increasing Concerns Regarding Efficient Transport of Bulk Materials to Drive Self-Driving Forklifts Segment

Based on the type, the market is segmented into goods-to-person picking, autonomous inventory robots, self-driving forklifts, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

The self-driving forklifts segment is expected to grow at a higher rate, backed by the rising E-commerce industry. Rapid technological advancement primarily real-time data connection, demand for real-time delivery, and smart mapping is further responsible for increasing penetration of self-driving forklifts

Goods-to-person picking robots, autonomous inventory robots, and unmanned aerial vehicles are likely to grow steadily owing to accelerated movements of goods inside warehouses and distribution centers, rising warehouse fleet management concerns, and major manufacturers' focus to develop advanced inventory management robots, and others.

By Application Analysis

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Pick & Place Segment to Witness Maximum Share Highest CAGR Backed by Rising Labor Costs

Based on application, the market is segmented into sorting, pick & place, tugging, warehouse fleet management and others.

Pick & place segment is in the best position to lead the market owing to rising labor costs across developed and developing economies. Also, growing concerns for handling goods and materials efficiently and in real-time is further creating a potential impact on robotic solution providers to introduce pick & place robots

Following pick & place, sorting, tugging and warehouse fleet management applications are expected to drive the growth owing to rising construction of smart industrial facilities, automated warehouses, and others. Also, major manufacturers emphasize integrating software and solutions that can perform inventory control, sorting, and distributing goods efficiently to earn an early return on investments (ROI) and faster movement of goods to meet the consumer needs.

By End-User Analysis

Warehouses & Distribution Centers Segment to Capture Highest Market Share Backed by Rising E-commerce Industry

Based on the end-user, the market is segregated into warehouses & distribution centers and manufacturing.

Warehouses and distribution centers segment is probable to capture highest market share attributed to rising E-commerce sales, further compelling facilities owners to expand their storing capacities to meet the customer demand. Rising inventory levels and labor costs are also compelling warehouse owners to automate their operational workflow, further raising the construction of warehouses and distribution centers.

Following warehouses & distribution centers, manufacturing is expected to grow steadily owing to the rising penetration of robots in manufacturing facilities to perform repetitive tasks efficiently with precision.    

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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Europe to Lead Market Share Backed by Rising Government Investments

Geographically, the market is segmented across five major regions: North America, South America, Europe, The Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. They are further categorized into countries.

Europe holds the highest share and is dominant in this market. This is because key players are focused on increasing sales, service and support, deployment, and training services by expanding their distribution channels in this region. For instance, in December 2020, AutoGuide Mobile Robots announced the expansion of its European operations by setting up a new office in Munich, Germany to deliver the highest level of support for its distributors and customers. In addition to that, massive investments by governmental bodies to boost setting up smart factories and Industry 4.0 are other factors responsible for driving the global market.

Following Europe, Asia Pacific is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. This is mainly due to the presence of authorized and unauthorized regional players executing various marketing strategies to expand its geographical reach further creating a potential impact on the global market. Also, the presence of giant countries namely China, Japan, South Korea, India, and other nations, are focusing on integrating advanced technologies mainly 5G networks, AI-based route mapping, and localization, and others are creating a potential impact on the market growth.

North America is likely to grow at a steady rate owing to rising E-commerce sales observed in this region. Also, rapid technological adoption, presence of major manufacturers operating in this region, and massive funding from regulatory bodies to build automated warehouses and distribution centers further enhancing the market growth.

The Middle East and Africa are anticipated to grow at a moderate rate with the rising infrastructure development observed in this region. Also, the manufacturing industries operating in countries mainly GCC, Turkey, Israel, and other nations emphasize building smart factories and Industry 4.0, creating a potential impact on the market growth.

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South America is forecasted to exhibit a slow growth rate owing to major vendors expanding their production capacities, sales, and distribution channels in the emerging economies to cater to the unattended market, further driving the growth of the market  

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Key Players Prioritize Advanced Robotic Component DEvelopment to Meet Changing Demand

Prominent autonomous mobile robots market players are designing various robotic components and controllers for diverse applications, mainly automotive manufacturing, luggage sensing at airports, environmental compliance in chemical production, and many others. For instance, in December 2020, SICK Sensors launched a line of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors explicitly for anti-collision applications in robotics and AMRs. These sensors are capable of sensing large sweep areas with low power consumption. Similarly, in June 2020, Qualcomm introduced the world’s first 5G and AI-based platform for industrial and professional service applications. The processor enables heterogeneous computing, enhanced computer vision, and others, ideal for low-power robots and drones.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Material Handling Systems. (U.S.)


• Fetch Robotics, Inc. (U. S.)


• IAM Robotics (U. S.)


• NextShift Robotics (U.S.)


• Stanley Robotics (U.S.)


• Robotnik. (Spain)


• SESTO Robotics. (Singapore)


• HAHN Robotics GmbH (Germany)


• Vecna Robotics (U.K.)


• AutoGuide Mobile Robots (England)


• SoftBank Robotics (France)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• January, 2021: ForwardX Robotics introduced a wide range of AMRs under its Max robotics range to provide automated material handling solutions within production and warehousing facilities.


• August, 2020 – Sesto Robotics unveiled a new autonomous mobile robot specifically designed to automate material handling processes for manufacturing, commercial, and healthcare industries.

REPORT COVERAGE

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