FOCUS ON AUTOMATION
“ The collaborative robot market is driven by several factors including rising demand for automation in various industries, advancements in robotic technologies, shortage of skilled labour and growing concern for safety in risky workplaces,” concluded Precedence Research.
Autonomous mobile robots developed a proposal with experts from different robot manufacturers and research institutes, which led to the creation of a technical specification for global adoption. This is due to be completed by August 2026.
Cobots gather interest
“ Known as cobots, collaborative robots are a kind of robotic system designed to work alongside humans in a shared workspace or collaborate with them on tasks. The key characteristic of collaborative robots is their ability to interact and cooperate with humans without causing harm or posing danger. The cobots are equipped with advanced sensors, safety features and intelligent programming to ensure safe and efficient collaboration. These robots are often designed to be lightweight, compact and mobile, allowing them to be easily repositioned and integrated into existing work environments,” commented analyst, Precedence Research.
It estimates the global collaborative robots market size as US $ 5.58 billion in 2025 and predicts it to increase from US $ 7.41 billion in 2026 to approximately US $ 85.93 billion by 2035( a CAGR of 31.45 % from 2026 to 2035).“ Europe led the global market with the highest market share of 30.11 % in 2025. Asia- Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. By payload capacity, the up to 5kg segment held the largest revenue share in 2025 and is expected to continue the same pattern over the forecast period. By application, the handling segment is expected to capture the largest market share during the forecast period. By industry vertical, the automotive segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period,” said the analyst.
Collaborative robots can be used in a wide range of industries and applications. They can perform repetitive or physically demanding tasks alongside human workers( such as assembly; pick-and-place operations; packaging; quality control and machine
tending). Cobots are also used in research and development settings, healthcare, logistics and various other domains where humanrobot collaboration can enhance productivity, efficiency and safety.
AMRs( autonomous mobile robots) at charging station.
Image: Shutterstock. com.
A rising focus on flexible manufacturing is strongly driving demand for autonomous mobile robots( AMRs) that can adapt to dynamic production workflows.
“ Manufacturers are increasingly deploying autonomous mobile robots( AMRs) to support just-in-time material delivery and efficient line-side replenishment, improving production continuity. Unlike fixed automation, AMRs enable rapid layout reconfiguration without significant infrastructure investment, supporting evolving manufacturing requirements. This flexibility helps reduce production cycle times and improves responsiveness to product customisation and shorter batch runs. As factories prioritise agility and efficiency, autonomous mobile robots are becoming a core enabler of smart manufacturing strategies,” said analyst, Grand View Research.
“ The increasing emphasis on workplace safety is accelerating the deployment of AMRs equipped with advanced collision avoidance and safety technologies. By automating material transport, AMRs significantly reduce accidents linked to manual handling and forklift operations. Improved safety performance supports regulatory compliance while lowering insurance, downtime and operational risk costs. In parallel, autonomous mobile robots enhance operational resilience by maintaining consistent performance during labour shortages or demand fluctuations. These combined safety and reliability benefits are reinforcing long-term investment in AMRs across industrial and logistics environments,” it concluded. n
Image: Shutterstock. com.
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