Autonomous Mobile Robots Market Size and Share Analysis By Offering (Hardware, Software, Service), End User (Logistics, Agriculture, Retail, Mining & Mineral, Manufacturing, Aerospace & Defense, Healthcare, Residential, Hospitality), Application (Sorting, Pick & Place, Tugging, Warehouse Fleet Management)- Global Industry Demand Forecast to 2030

Market Overview

The global autonomous mobile robots market was valued at USD 3,148 million in 2022, and the market size is predicted to reach USD 10,979 million by 2030, advancing at a CAGR of 16.90% during 2022–2030. The market is driven by the rising demand for the automation of factory operations and growing e-commerce industry.

AMRs have witnessed rapid development in terms of capabilities, primarily driven by the advancements in technologies such as machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). The need for the process automation of warehouses, hospitals, and hypermarkets has spurred the demand for AMRs, predominantly in China, Japan, and South Korea. Further, technological developments, such as the adoption of Industry 4.0, 5G wireless technology, and internet of things (IoT), are projected to proliferate the adoption of these machines globally.

The development of mobile collaborative robots is a key trend being observed in the market. A mobile collaborative robot refers to a collaborative robot manipulator mounted on an AMR, allowing the robot to travel around the work floor autonomously. A mobile collaborative robot reduces the downtime between tasks, uses less space than traditional industrial robots, and offers improved performance for the picking of items from shelves and in material handling applications. Additionally, a mobile collaborative robot reduces the hands-on time required for changeovers, thereby allowing employees to focus on more-value-added tasks. Due to the various advantages of mobile collaborative robots stated above, the players are increasingly launching these systems.

Service Garnered Significant Market Share

Service held the significant market share in 2022. The category incorporates the revenue generated from the integration/deployment of AMRs, the sale of aftermarket components, and consulting services. Companies such as KUKA AG, Fetch Robotics Inc., and OMRON Corporation offer the robot-as-a-service (RaaS) ownership model, which has spurred the adoption of AMRs, primarily by the logistics and manufacturing sectors, as this subscription model reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO) substantially. Further, the technology used in these robots is mature enough in terms of safety, which has enabled their deployment among the human workforce in a way that adds value to the operation.

Moreover, robotic systems held the second-largest share in 2022, with UGV the most-prominent type of the systems. This can be majorly attributed to the deployment of these robots for logistics and field expedition applications. In the logistics sector, AMRs are deployed to automate the process of placement and storage of products in warehouses and storage facilities. These ground-based robots are easy to control and can work for longer periods compared to humans, thus resulting in increased productivity, time saving, and profitability.

The UMV category is projected to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the growing adoption of UMVs for defense and commercial applications. Additionally, the advancements in acoustic sensor technology have led to an increase in the efficiency of UMVs for underwater mapping and navigation. Companies such as General Dynamics Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and L3 ASV are developing military-grade UMVs. These robots come with advanced features, such as mine countermeasure, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and others.

Countries with vast coastal areas, such as the U.S., India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia, are expected to be the major buyers of these robots during the forecast period. Additionally, these robots are expected to register a rise in adoption for the purpose of oil & gas exploration, oceanographic data collection, and other environmental surveys.

Wide AMR Adoption in Logistics

The logistics end user category held the largest revenue share, of around 29%, in the global market in 2022. These robots are primarily deployed for transporting goods within a warehouse or storage facility, thus enabling real-time inventory management. This results in a reduction in the overall cost of logistics and streamlining of the supply chain. Hence, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), over 5 million AMRs are expected to be functioning in around 60,000 warehouses across the globe by 2025.

Moreover, a new breed of autonomous mobile robots is assisting logistics companies with a variety of warehouse duties. AMRs can liberate the human workforce from routine duties, allowing them to focus on more-rewarding value-added activities. In the following years, a more-widespread adoption of AMRs across a broader variety of use cases is predicted, along with advancements in their technical maturity and reliability.

Moreover, Cambridge-based Vecna Robotics creates many autonomous mobile robots based on a new autonomy stack. Such robots can gather input from a variety of sensors and combine it to comprehend where they are in the world and how they can carry out their tasks. These systems are used at ground distribution hubs to transport and classify oversized packages. This application is particularly demanding since it involves operations in mixed traffic of humans, pedestrians, and robots.

Rising Demand for Factory Automation Solutions

The rising demand for factory automation solutions is a key factor driving the market. Due to the rising complexities in manufacturing operations, lack of laborers, higher labor costs, and increasing focus on augmented productivity, the demand for factory automation solutions is increasing globally.

Similarly, logistical hubs and warehouses require AMRs for loading and transportation work. Further, in developing countries, including China and India, companies are increasingly focusing on automated solutions to compensate for labor shortages and improve the quality of the products, to allow themselves to compete in international markets.

Major Opportunities Areas

The growing demand for AMRs in agricultural applications is a key opportunity for the market. With the increasing implementation of advanced technologies in agriculture, farming practices are increasingly becoming modernized and sophisticated. Further, with the rising population, lack of availability of farm workers, and growing automation rate in the agriculture industry, the demand for AMRs is increasing Y-o-Y. Moreover, with the rising focus on improving efficiency and producing greater yields with fewer inputs, the demand for these systems is creating opportunities for the market players.

An AMR in an agricultural field can capture crop data, which could help in predicting the yield of crops and their health. For instance, companies are launching robots that use sensors for mapping and navigating their surrounding. These robots can easily travel across orchards, fields, and vineyards, capturing detailed crop data at the plant level, which could enable accurate predictions of crop health.

Explore more about this report - Request free sample pages

APAC Witness Significant Growth

APAC to witness significant growth of around 18.2% CAGR over the forecast period. The region is further projected to continue its dominance throughout the forecast period. China, Japan, and South Korea are the major buyers of these robots, which, in turn, is driving the global demand.

Additionally, due to the various government initiatives, such as Made in China 2025 and Make in India, which aim at accelerating automation in the manufacturing sector, the demand for AMRs is increasing across the region, primarily in China, India, Thailand, and Indonesia. For instance, under the Made In China 2025 plan, the Chinese government is implementing automation and robotics technologies in the manufacturing industry. Similarly, the Government of India is focusing on creating an ecosystem for the propagation of Industry 4.0 in every manufacturing-related sector of the country by the year 2025.

Moreover, India, which faced structural reforms, such as demonetization and implementation of the Goods and Service Tax (GST), in the recent past, saw a slight negative impact on the retail industry for a short period; yet, the long-term outlook looks positive. In fiscal 2022, India's retail sector was valued at more than $800 billion. This can be attributed to a vast middle-income populace of 600 million, increasing urbanization rate, and rising household income. Moreover, the standardization of taxes has enabled the free flow of goods across the country. Therefore, retail organizations have started adopting AMRs in order to enhance client–supplier relationships and obtain uninterrupted supply chains.

Moreover, in the North American region, the U.S. is the larger market for AMRs, primarily driven by the presence of giant e-commerce companies, such as Amazon.com Inc., Shopify Inc., and Walmart Inc. The competitive schemes offered by these companies, such as same-day delivery, have put pressure on warehouses and fulfillment centers. In order to streamline the ordering and delivery process, such companies are building smart warehouses, which would require robots to assist humans in streamlining operations. Additionally, companies across industries are investing in new manufacturing plants to cater to the growing demand for a variety of products. For instance, Amazon.com Inc. has invested $40 million for building a smart innovation hub for Amazon Robotics.

Top Autonomous Mobile Robot Provider Are:

• AAI Corporation
• BAE Systems Plc
• Cobham plc
• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
• 6 River Systems Inc.
• Fetch Robotics Inc.
• OMRON Corporation
• inVia Robotics Inc.
• Geekplus Technology Co. Ltd.
• Grey Orange Pte. Ltd.

Market Size Breakdown by Segment

This fully customizable report gives a detailed analysis of the market from 2017 to 2030, based on all the relevant segments and geographies.

Based on Offering

• Hardware
• Software
• Service

Based on End User

• Logistics
• Agriculture
• Retail
• Mining & Mineral
• Manufacturing
• Aerospace & Defense
• Healthcare
• Residential
• Hospitality

Based on Application

• Sorting
• Pick & Place
• Tugging
• Warehouse Fleet Management

Geographical Analysis

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • U.K.
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • India
  • South Korea
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
• Middle East & Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa