Smart mobile robot adoption in supply chains is growing rapidly and will far outpace drones over the next three years, according to Gartner. In a special Hype Cycle report, the firm says that firms could be deploying thousands of robots while drone usage will stay confined to fairly specialist uses.
► Adoption of mobile robots to accelerate fast over next three years
► Technology advancements will enable supply chains to execute more complex interactions and activities on robots
Gartner notes that many organisations are already deploying mobile robots and can be expected to expand their fleet, deploying hundreds, if not thousands of devices. Drones will be used in more targeted ways, such as for inspection at a location or delivery of critical goods like medicines to remote areas.
‘By 2027, over 75% of companies will have adopted some form of cyber-physical automation within their warehouse operations’, said Dwight Klappich, vice president and fellow in Gartner’s Supply Chain Practice. ‘Labour shortages and challenges retaining talent, coupled with technology advances such as machine learning and AI, will continue to drive adoption of smart robots.’
This year’s Gartner Hype Cycle includes several technologies that have been described as ‘transformational,’ including machine learning, which is expected to hit mainstream adoption within the next five years. Additionally, many technologies with ‘high’ impact will also mature within the next few years, creating an accelerated market for increasingly capable smart, autonomous and mobile robots and drones.
Smart robots are nearing the ‘Peak of Inflated Expectations’, where early publicity produces success stories, but expectations rise above the current reality of what can be achieved. These AI-powered, often-mobile machines help supply chains automate multiple physical tasks. Smart robots can rely on advanced technologies such as machine learning to incorporate tasks into future activities or support unprecedented conditions.
As companies expand their use of robotics, most will eventually have heterogeneous fleets of robots from different vendors performing various tasks, which will require standardized software that can easily integrate to a variety of agents and robot platforms. As such, multiagent orchestration (MAO) platforms, which help orchestrate work are “on the rise” in this year’s Hype Cycle. MAO platforms will reduce the time, effort and cost to onboard new robots and will lower support costs, ultimately making organizations more efficient.
‘In the past year, we’ve seen increased interest in smart robots and MAO platforms as companies are looking to further improve logistic operations, support automation and augment humans in various jobs,’ Klappich noted. ‘Rapidly emerging and evolving technologies, like MAO, will enable organizations to leverage heterogeneous fleets of mobile robots to assist with more complex activities, delivering cost savings and productivity benefits.’
