Robotics goes mobile

News Story
- 16 Jan 2020 ( #957 ) - Chicago, IL, United States
2 min read
AGV developers like Geek+ are deploying thousands of robots yearlyGeek+ showcased new products
AGV developers like Geek+ are deploying thousands of robots yearlyGeek+ showcased new products
The robotics market is set to transform over the next 10 years. That's according to Automation World which cites research indicating enormous growth across all subsectors.

By 2022, the burgeoning mobile robotics space will start to overtake the traditional industrial robotics market. Currently, mobile autonomy is concentrated in materials handling within the supply chain, but mobile robots are set to touch every sector of the global economy for a wide range of use cases.

"Everyone talks about self-driving passenger vehicles, but mobile automation is far more developed in intralogistics for fulfilment and industry," says Rian Whitton, senior analyst at ABI Research. "The automation of materials handling will see huge segments of the global forklift, tow truck and indoor vehicle market consumed by robotics vendors and OEMs that bring indoor autonomy."

The report identifies Amazon Robotics as the leader that has driven growth in mobile robotics for the last seven years since its acquisition of Kiva Systems. With an estimated 256,000 automated guided vehicles (AGVs) deployed to date, Amazon holds close to 50% of materials handling robot marketshare and is broadening its portfolio of robot subtypes with autonomous mobile robots for transport and delivery.

Other major AGV developers, like Quicktron, JD.com, Geek+ and Grey Orange, are deploying thousands of robots yearly, while automated mobile robot (AMR) developers are just beginning to scale up. Brain Corp. has deployed 5,000 systems primarily in retail, while BlueBotics has deployed some 2,000 robots for intralogistics in and around the supply chain. Meanwhile MiR, an AMR company acquired by Teradyne in 2018, is beginning to achieve growth rates in excess of the company's other robotics acquisition of major cobot developer Universal Robots.

Experts estimate that 2.5 million AGVs will be shipped in 2030, while the total shipments of AMRs will reach 2.9 million in the same year. This is due to the declining costs of superior navigation and the desire to build flexibility into robotic fleets.

"As mature sectors of the robotics industry achieve growth more in line with established technology markets, mobile robotics are set to create lasting transformative effects across the supply chain and will become increasingly ubiquitous throughout the global economy," says Whitton.
Capow helps achieve 100% uptime for Hyundai Glovis
Capow helps achieve 100% uptime for Hyundai Glovis 5 Jun 2025 - Be’er Sheva, Israel - 1 min read
Bolzoni acquires specialist equipment manufacturer
Bolzoni acquires specialist equipment manufacturer 29 May 2025 - Piacenza, Italy - 1 min read
Manitou creates robotics division
Manitou creates robotics division 15 May 2025 - Ancenis, France - 1 min read
Previously about:
IFOY Award winners named News Story - 10 Jul 2025 - Dortmund, Germany - 2 min read
MODEX exhibitors focus on labour shortage News Story - 28 Mar 2024 - Atlanta, GA, United States - 7 min read
Winners of Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2023 announced News Story - 16 Nov 2023 - London, United Kingdom - 2 min read
Hangcha names key Thai partner News Story - 10 Jul 2025 - Hangzhou, China - 1 min read
KION and Quicktron in strategic partnership News Story - 13 Aug 2020 - Xiamen, China - 1 min read
Do you have materials handling news? Submit your news here

It’s the year 2000. You’re in front of a boxy beige desktop waiting for the screeching ramblings of your dial-up to reach its finale. You go to Yahoo!, MSN, or maybe AOL, and start the mind-numbing process of finding your very specific needle in the digital haystack. And with web pages loading one image at a time, patience isn’t just a virtue – it’s a requirement!

As clumsy as this early iteration seems now, this technology was the great enabler that allowed Forkliftaction to connect to the industry across the globe.  

To everyone who has connected with Forkliftaction in the past 25 years, thank you for your contribution to our success! We feel deeply touched by your words of encouragement.

What has Forkliftaction meant to you? Drop us a line.

Words of support …

The cooperation with Forkliftaction has been exceptional. It's always a pleasure to work with specialists who know the inside out of the industry

Ane Miren Elorza, Communications Specialist

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

It’s the year 2000. You’re in front of a boxy beige desktop waiting for the screeching ramblings of your dial-up to reach its finale. You go to Yahoo!, MSN, or maybe AOL, and start the mind-numbing process of finding your very specific needle in the digital haystack. And with web pages loading one image at a time, patience isn’t just a virtue – it’s a requirement!

As clumsy as this early iteration seems now, this technology was the great enabler that allowed Forkliftaction to connect to the industry across the globe.  

To everyone who has connected with Forkliftaction in the past 25 years, thank you for your contribution to our success! We feel deeply touched by your words of encouragement.

What has Forkliftaction meant to you? Drop us a line.

PREMIUM business

GemOne
Telematics for industrial fleets. Fleet & safety management solutions: track vehicles, boost efficiency, operate safer, & avoid unexpected downtime.

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

Since July 2000, Forkliftaction News has been your guide to the developments that are shaping your industry.

Starting today we are also looking back on some of the key news stories from our extensive news archive.

In the news email and on the website, you'll see links to stories that were 'leading our news' multiple years ago, with topics spanning world-first products, big acquisitions, and major industry shifts.
We hope you enjoy this unique insight into the materials handling industry!