"Robots play a fundamentally important role in safeguarding the changing demands on manufacturing industries worldwide," says Marina Bill, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). "New robotics trends are just as attractive for users in small companies as they are for global OEMs." The IFR identifies five key trends:

1. energy efficiency

In order to improve the competitiveness of companies in times of rising energy costs, energy efficiency is a key to success. The use of robots makes a decisive contribution to reducing energy consumption in manufacturing. Compared to traditional assembly line production, automation can achieve considerable energy savings by reducing the room temperature. At the same time, robots work at high speed, increasing production rates and making manufacturing more time and energy efficient overall.

In addition, robots today are designed to consume less energy and have lower operating costs. To achieve sustainability goals for their production, companies are using industrial robots that are equipped with energy-saving technology: Robot controllers, for example, can convert kinetic energy into electricity and feed it back into the power grid. This technology significantly reduces the energy required to operate a robot. Further savings are possible with an intelligent energy-saving mode that controls the robot's energy supply as required during the working day. As industrial plants already have to monitor their energy consumption, such networked current sensors are likely to become an industry standard for robot solutions.

2. reshoring

Resilience has become an important reason for reshoring in various industries: Automotive manufacturers are investing heavily in short supply chains to bring processes closer to their customers. These manufacturers are using robotic automation to produce high-performance batteries cost-effectively and in large quantities - effectively supporting electric vehicle projects. In addition, such 'reshoring' eliminates the need to transport heavy batteries. This is important because more and more logistics companies are refraining from shipping batteries as freight for safety reasons.

The relocation of microchip production back to the USA and Europe is another reshoring trend. Since most industrial products today require a semiconductor chip in order to function, it is important to provide them close to the customer. Because robots can meet the extreme precision requirements of chip production, they play a crucial role in such projects. Specially developed robots automate the production of silicon wafers, for example, perform cleaning and sanitizing tasks or test integrated circuits. Recent examples of relocation include Intel's new chip factories in Ohio and the recently announced chip plant in Saarland, which is operated by chip manufacturer Wolfspeed and automotive supplier ZF.

3. robots are easier to operate

Programming robots has become simpler and is also possible for non-experts. Providers of software-controlled automation platforms support companies by making industrial robots operable by users without prior programming experience. Original equipment manufacturers work hand-in-hand with low-code or even no-code technology partners: This allows employees of all skill levels to program a robot themselves.

The easy-to-use software is linked to intuitive application logic, replacing time-consuming robot programming. This opens up new possibilities for robot automation: software start-ups are conquering this market with specialized solutions that are tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized companies. One example: traditional, heavy industrial robots can be equipped with sensors and new software that enable collaborative set-up operations. This makes it easier for workers on the shop floor to adapt the heavy machines to different tasks. In this way, companies benefit from the best of both worlds: robust and precise industrial robot hardware and state-of-the-art cobot software.

Easy-to-use programming interfaces that allow customers to set up robots themselves are also driving the emerging segment of low-cost solutions - so-called 'low-cost robotics'. Many new customers responded to the pandemic in 2020 by trying out robotic solutions themselves. Robot suppliers responded to this demand: simple setup and installation support the low-cost use of robots, for example with pre-configured gripper software, sensors or controllers. Such units are often sold via web stores - program routines for various applications can be downloaded from an app store.

4 Artificial intelligence and digital automation

Driven by advanced digital technologies, robot manufacturers and system integrators are offering new or enhanced applications that improve speed and quality. Connected robots are transforming manufacturing and will increasingly operate as part of a connected digital ecosystem: Cloud computing, Big Data analytics or 5G mobile networks form the technological basis for optimized performance. The 5G standard will enable fully digitalized production and eliminate the need for cabling in manufacturing.

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers great potential for robotics and enables a range of benefits in manufacturing: The main goal of using AI is to better manage fluctuations and unpredictability in the external environment - either in real time or offline. As a result, AI that supports machine learning is playing an increasingly important role in software offerings that benefit running systems. These include, for example: Process optimization, predictive maintenance or image processing-based gripping.

This technology helps manufacturers, logistics providers and retailers who have to deal with frequently changing products, orders and inventories. The greater the variety and unpredictability of the environment, the more likely it is that AI algorithms will provide a cost-effective and fast solution. Examples include manufacturers or wholesalers dealing with millions of different products whose composition changes regularly. AI is also useful in environments where mobile robots encounter objects or people. These must be differentiated from each other and the robots must learn to react differently.

5 A second 'life' for industrial robots

Since industrial robots have a lifespan of up to thirty years, new technical equipment is a good opportunity to give old robots a second 'life'. Manufacturers of industrial robots such as ABB, Fanuc, Kuka or Yaskawa operate specialized repair centers near their customers to refurbish or upgrade used equipment in a resource-efficient manner. This 'prepared-to-repair' strategy for robot manufacturers and their customers also saves costs and resources. Offering customers long-term repairs is also an important contribution to the circular economy.