Various mobile robotics technologies for supply chains will mature in the next two to five years, creating an accelerating market for increasingly capable mobile robots and drones, according to theGartner, Inc.
THEHype Cycle for Mobile Robots and Dronesthe Gartner is a graphical representation of a common pattern that emerges with each new technology or other innovation, through five phases of maturity and adoption. Supply chain directors can use this research to find robotic solutions that meet their needs
Technologies that have already gone through the phase ofValley of Disillusionmentand are progressing in theInformation Slopeinclude: autonomous mobile robots for transportation, collaborative robots for product sorting in aisles and mobile robotic systems for goods to people. Progress indicates that the benefits of these technologies are becoming more widely understood
"As companies seek to further improve logistics operations", support automation and enhance human capabilities in various functions, supply chain leaders have turned to mobile robots to support their strategies, saysDwight Klappich, Vice President and Analyst at Gartner. Mobile robots continue to evolve, becoming more powerful and practical, paving, thus, the path to continuous technological innovation.”
Expansion of the use of automation and systems with Artificial Intelligence
This year, the automation solutions and Artificial Intelligence (AI), as autonomous technologies for data collection and inspection, are growing and approaching the phase ofPeak of Inflated Expectations, being expected to deliver benefits in the next five to ten years
Leveraging flying drones for indoor environments and mobile robots to autonomously capture data, the solutions use technologies such as AI-enabled vision or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to complement time-consuming inventory management tasks, inspection and surveillance. Technology can also alleviate security concerns in warehouses, how workers are counting inventory in hard-to-reach places
"The automation of labor-intensive tasks can provide remarkable benefits", adds Klappich. "With increasingly integrated AI resources in mobile robots and drones", the potential to operate independently and adapt to environments will make it possible to support an increasing number of use cases.”
Humanoid robots demonstrate potential for greater automation
This year, thehumanoid robotsentered the phase of Innovation Triggerof the Hype Cycle and it is expected to have a transformational impact on the supply chain. However, mass adoption can take 10 years or more
Exploring the human format and driven byIA, this generation of humanoid robots is seeking to achieve the adaptability of the human workforce, flexibly supporting business needs by dynamically moving between processes and taking on new activities without the need for special programming
For supply chains with high-volume and predictable processes, humanoid robots have the potential to enhance or complement the workforce of the supply chain, observe Klappich. "However, although the pace of innovation is encouraging, the industry is years away from the widespread use of humanoid robots in more complex retail and industrial environments.”
