By 2025, major automotive players such as Tesla and BYD are set to scale humanoid robot deployment over 10x, paving the way for a projected 1.6 million units in use across the industry by 2035, according to IDTechEx. While current unit costs exceed US$100,000, prices are forecast to drop to US$20,000, driving broader adoption in both the automotive and logistics sectors.

Collaborative robots (cobots) are reshaping automotive manufacturing by enabling safe, flexible, and efficient human-robot collaboration across tasks like assembly, screwing, and polishing, thanks to advanced force sensing, AI-driven vision, and intuitive programming. As electric vehicle production grows and factories seek greater agility, cobots offer a scalable solution, with their market projected to expand significantly through 2045.

With the introduction of collaborative robots and AI agents, household chores could also become a display of the latest intelligent robotics technology. From companionship robots that engage in conversation and play board games to cars that drive themselves safely using radar and artificial intelligence, the possibilities for robotics are endless.

Thursday 17 April 2025; Self-Healing Materials: Commercial Success or Academic Novelty? An introduction to self-healing materials and mechanisms; Materials science considerations for self-healing materials; Assessment of the applications driving self-healing materials R&D and the likelihood of commercial success

The automotive industry is often an early adopter of luxury products, where both the increased performance and convenience are selling points to consumers. Self-healing materials can be used in a range of automotive applications, including tires, paints, and coatings. Use cases even extend to asphalt road surfaces, where damage can lead to issues for vehicles and drivers.

A free collection of insights from our industry experts, sharing some of the key technology innovation trends shaping the next decade.

Robotaxis are proving they can offer driverless services in certain cities, as a means of accessible and modern public transport. In 2023, IDTechEx reports that 9 million registered autonomous vehicle miles were logged across the state. Key leaders in this commercial autonomous vehicle and robotaxi space are Waymo, having submitted half of all the miles recorded in California to date, and Cruise, which, although accounted for 30% of these miles, has recently been shut down.

Sensor technology comes in many shapes and sizes, designed to measure a wide range of metrics for a host of different applications. There are sensors to collect data from almost all physical parameters: motion, magnetic field, current, temperature, force-light intensity - the list goes on. These miniaturized components are everywhere, from our smart-phones and home appliances to within cars, factories, and satellites.

Industrial Internet of Things sensor technology (IIoT) seeks to enable greater industrial automation, improved worker safety, and streamlined maintenance planning. From cameras, LiDAR, and radar for machine vision in robotics, to skin patches and miniaturized gas sensors in smart personal protection equipment, emerging IIoT applications present growth opportunities for a variety of sensor technologies.

Monday 9 December 2024 - Commercializing Autonomous Vehicles: Robotaxis, Robobuses and Robotrucks; Case studies of key robotaxi players and their deployments; Analysis of robotaxi testing, performance, and deployments; Outlook of how the robotaxi industry will grow and scale in coming years; Market outlook of key Roboshuttles, Autonomous Buses and Autonomous Truck players and their deployments; Analysis of Autonomous Truck TCO in different regions; Outlook of how the Roboshuttles, Autonomous Buses industry will grow and scale in coming years

The development of autonomous buses and roboshuttles is likely to continue somewhat slowly due to a lack of funding and regulatory challenges. However, IDTechEx highlights the next stages of developments within their report, and with the already commercialized examples of autonomous city buses and minibusses, success in the industry is increasingly likely.

Over the past couple of years, IDTechEx has reported on the emergence of commercial robotaxi services but has always needed to caveat this with the fact that they have been heavily restricted. Well, in 2024, the shackles are coming off, and the industry is getting ready for take-off.

Friday 22 November 2024 - Mobile Robotics: Emerging applications, challenges, innovative solutions, and the latest market developments; Service Robots: Different applications experience different growth rate; Collaborative Robots: Technologies and industrial news; Sensors for Robotics: An analysis of key sensors

As we look towards 2035, the demand for sensors is expected to grow significantly across various sectors, including automotive, industrial, healthcare, consumer electronics, and environmental monitoring. This article explores the key trends and innovations in sensor technology.

Mobile robots in logistics can be seen to work throughout an entire supply chain from manufacturing processes, to reaching consumers and shops. Material handling, including material transportation and mobile picking, are some of the key jobs for mobile robots at the very beginning of the supply chain. Material transportation alone was seen to hold around 90% of market revenue share as of 2024, according to IDTechEx, signifying the large uptake and importance of mobile robots in redesigning intralogistics and transporting applications.

Thursday 7 November 2024 - Which Technology Innovations Will Be Most Disruptive in the Global Sensor Market? An overview of meta-trends shaping the sensor market landscape; A summary of major market verticals, product types and leading technologies; Coverage of near-term trends in sensor technology development, adoption and integration - including the impact of AI on edge sensing; An overview of disruptive emerging sensor technologies recently commercialized, their value proposition, advantages and market challenges. This includes printed sensors, quantum sensors, emerging image sensors, biosensors, gas sensors and nanocarbon sensors; Case studies in fast growing markets for sensors technology, both established and emerging, such as future mobility, wearables and IoT (industrial, consumer and environmental); Initial ten-year forecasting insights and sensor market outlook for the next ten years

While sensors contribute just a fraction of the annual revenue generated by major electronics companies, sensor technology nevertheless represents a multi-billion-dollar global market.

The global commercialization of autonomous trucks in 2024 is being shaped significantly by regional regulations and government policies. To enable the growth of autonomous trucking, the U.S., Europe and China have adopted different approaches, primarily influenced by their respective regulatory environments, infrastructure development, and governmental support.

The commercialization progress of autonomous buses and roboshuttles has been slow, falling short of industry expectations. IDTechEx predicts that over the next decade, autonomous buses and roboshuttles will need to demonstrate their commercial viability to continue attracting investment and garner government backing for market development and policy endorsement.