Artificial intelligence having a physical body and fields being tended to from the sky are two phenomena that could be enabled by developments within the robotics sector. IDTechEx's portfolio of Robotics & Autonomy Research Reports and Subscriptions covers a diverse range of robotics technologies and their place within major sectors including automotive production, delivery, and crop management.
Humanoids in industry
Humanoid robots have a role to play within some of the world's largest sectors, as they have the potential to bring a physical function to artificial intelligence and allow it to be brought into human environments. IDTechEx's report, "Humanoid Robots 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, and Opportunities", outlines badge labelling and inspection, material handling, and quality inspection as being three tasks within the automotive industry where humanoids can be of use and are expected to continue to be. Within the logistics industry, tasks like intricate packing are also generating a demand for humanoids, while security and domestic industries will see emerging applications, including patrolling, surveillance, household chores, and elderly care. However, due to current challenges around data quality, tactile sensing, and a lack of general-purpose operation amongst humanoids, they are currently best-suited to specific, specialized tasks.
Developments within the humanoids sector are currently revolving around the optimization of the robots. Modular designs for easily replaceable components are one trend that could allow for part upgrading and swapping without needing to dismantle an entire system. Actuators, motors, and sensor modules are some examples of the parts that could be interchangeable mentioned in IDTechEx's report. Another trend emerging within the sector is the push for lightweight materials for the robots, which could improve energy efficiency and power consumption, as well as agility and flexibility for within workspaces. The prioritization of energy efficiency is also seen in the discussion of using AI-driven power management systems, high-capacity batteries, regenerative braking mechanisms, and low-power actuators, so that battery life can be extended and the robots can work for longer periods of time.
Crop management with drones
Overhead, drones are a longstanding robotics technology that are now seeing broader application opportunities arising, including last-mile deliveries, inspection and maintenance, security and safety, precision agriculture, and beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations.
IDTechEx's report, "Drones Market 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, and Opportunities", explores different drone types. Rotary-wing drones are described as a favored option for consumer and commercial markets as a result of their vertical take-off and landing and hovering abilities, and are best suited to urban areas, completing tasks such as short-range logistics and inspections. Alternatively, fixed-wing drones can fly for longer periods, and have more aerodynamic efficiency, according to IDTechEx, making them ideal for mapping and surveillance, as well as long-distance deliveries. Another drone design called the Hybrid VTOL, however, is an emerging system that can perform the vertical lift of a rotary drone while having the characteristics of a fixed-wing aircraft and being able to move to a more efficient horizontal flight. For applications such as infrastructure inspections and survey missions, this aircraft can provide flexibility and longer range for an enhanced performance.
Fitted with sensors such as RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral, and LiDAR, drone technologies can capture details far beyond what humans could see. RGB sensors are used for mapping, visual inspections, and basic damage assessment, making them best suited to more general purposes. Sensors such as multispectral and hyperspectral, however, can be used for crop management. Multispectral sensors are used to monitor the health of plants, detect weeds, and help with nutrient management, while hyperspectral sensors can take crop management a step further, carrying out precision phenotyping and crop variety identification. Drones with LiDAR can also perform terrain mapping and biomass estimation, presenting these aircraft as extremely multifaceted robots that are able to perform a great deal of tasks all from one design unit.
For more information on the development of robotic technologies, visit IDTechEx's portfolio of Robotics & Autonomy Research Reports and Subscriptions for the latest research, players, forecasts, and updates spanning the sector.
