Robotics trends 2025 🤖, LLMs as robot brains 🧠, $20M for warehouse robots in India
Machina Digest 2025-01-23
IFR predicts top 5 global robotics trends for 2025 (3 minute read)
The International Federation of Robotics has revealed its forecast for robotics in 2025, with AI taking center stage. The trends include robots getting smarter with AI, humanoids finding their market niche, sustainability becoming crucial, new business models emerging, and robots helping with labor shortages. The global market for industrial robots has hit a record $16.5 billion, with professional service robot sales jumping 30% worldwide.
Can LLMs Make Robots Smarter? (7 minute read)
Could ChatGPT-style AI be the key to making robots less rigid and more adaptable? Researchers are exploring how large language models could give robots the ability to understand complex commands and adapt on the fly. While early experiments show promise, with some tests achieving 75% success rates, challenges remain around safety and the AI's lack of real-world understanding. Think of it as giving robots a "brain" that can process natural language - but one that still needs training wheels.
Ati Motors raises $20M for warehouse robots (2 minute read)
Bangalore-based Ati Motors has secured $20M for their tough-as-nails autonomous warehouse robots. These bots can handle challenging conditions like rain, oil spills, and uneven floors - a step up from typical warehouse automation. The company's already working with big names like Airbus and Hyundai, with plans to expand their presence in Detroit. The startup offers both direct purchase and robots-as-a-service options for their seven different robot models.
Intuitive Surgical to expand to new European countries (2 minute read)
Intuitive Surgical, the company behind the da Vinci surgical robot, is expanding its direct presence in Southern Europe. The surgical robotics giant is acquiring distributors in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and other territories, aiming to close the deal by 2026. Meanwhile, analysts are raising eyebrows about potential 25% tariffs on their Mexican manufacturing operations under a possible Trump administration.
DB Robotics partners with KOSPO, SK Shieldus to develop industrial safety robots (1 minute read)
South Korean robotics firm DB Robotics is teaming up with power company KOSPO and SK Shieldus to build robots for hazardous power plant operations. These specialized bots will handle risky tasks like cleaning cooling water intakes and managing high-voltage circuit breakers. The partnership aims to keep human workers safe by letting robots handle the dangerous stuff.