Robotics

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.