Why Robotics is the Business of the Future?

Judging by the latest trends, the most successful startups of the coming decade will be projects related to robots: development, manufacturing, integration into enterprises, and everyday life. Investor interest in robotics has especially heightened with the start of mass acquisitions of robotics startups by Google. The corporation also purchased several American companies involved in robot creation and attracted numerous teams of talented specialists. Given Google's specifics, one can confidently say that the company intended to become a monopoly in this field as well. It must be acknowledged that Google has not yet succeeded in this. However, the growing interest and investment in robotics have become a constant trend in Silicon Valley and around the world.

Even today, there is a robotics boom in the USA, despite the fact that there are few robots for sale, and they are far from perfect. In most cases, these are drones, robotic vacuum cleaners, and mechanical toys, which are not true robots. Yet, interest from companies and ordinary citizens is not diminishing. On the contrary, Americans are willing to pay any amount to become proud owners of a technical masterpiece. Interest in this field is no less in other countries.

We are Witnessing the Birth of a New Industry

Several authoritative agencies conducted an interesting study and made a curious prediction: by around 2035, there will be 7-8 robots of various purposes for each American. That’s about two billion units! The number of robot sales will exceed the sales of mobile gadgets, televisions, computers, and cars. Even if we combine all these products, the total turnover will be less than the turnover from robot sales.

I’m afraid I must disappoint conspiracy theorists about robots rising against humanity, as there will be no uprising of machines. Robots will simply significantly ease human life, making it simpler, easier, and more comfortable. All the boring and rather tedious household chores will fall on their shoulders: washing, cleaning, dishwashing, and taking out the trash. Robots will even shop for groceries and prepare simple meals.

You will also encounter them in 24-hour cafes, pouring tea and selling sandwiches. By the way, there are already a few of these in San Francisco. Very soon, robots will work in enterprises alongside humans. Changes are also expected in agriculture, where all main activities will be robotized.

Humans will not need to put themselves in danger, even for the noblest of causes. In case of fire or natural disaster, robotic firefighters, rescuers, and nurses will come to the rescue. The elderly and seriously ill will always be watched over by a robotic caregiver. Patrolling the streets and protecting peaceful citizens will be the responsibility of robotic police and security guards. Soldiers will no longer perish in war; instead, robots will fight under the command of a human commander. When the time comes for colonizing Mars, robots will fly there first and create beautiful cities for the first settlers.

You might ask, what will be left for humans? Will machines displace people from their jobs? No, there will be plenty of work for humans, as even the most advanced robots require oversight, maintenance, periodic repairs, development, upgrades, and manufacturing. Contrary to fears, jobs will increase worldwide thanks to robots. There will be a demand for developers, assemblers, sales managers, and service specialists. New factories will arise where robots will produce robots. However, all setup, adjustment, control, implementation of new models, etc., will be entirely the concern of humans.

By the way, servicing robots at home and in small businesses will not be overly complicated. We are not surprised that computers and smartphones update their software on their own. Robots will be able to do this too, while also ordering worn-out parts for themselves.

Our generation is incredibly lucky. We have the opportunity to witness the birth of a fundamentally new industry. In the near future, it will become the richest area of business, worth trillions of dollars.

What Will the Robotics Business Be Based On?

Do you remember how the computer era began? In the 1970s, people envisioned the future with computers as fantastical stories coming to life from books, and today these devices have become commonplace for us. The same is happening now with robots: future billionaires are currently assembling them from spare parts of household appliances after school. But in 15 years, they will become rich and famous, having created companies to manufacture their improved inventions.

Today, robots are conventionally divided into two types:

Androids, humanoid robots designed to work with technology originally created for humans, resembling humans;

Non-androids - with a construction and movement system that does not resemble human beings.

Modern robots require specialized operating systems, individual programs, motion sensors, vision systems, and control systems. The development of artificial intelligence systems capable of performing basic functions and learning is still in its infancy. Furthermore, technologies for efficient energy distribution across nodes and mechanisms will emerge. Currently, there are not even batteries that can power an android robot for more than 30 minutes.

The list of necessary components and systems required for producing smart and multifunctional robots is vast, and it's difficult to cover them all in one article. It is already clear that the production of parts and components for robots will become another field for successful profitable business. Hundreds of thousands of companies will engage in this sector, and all of them, due to the increased demand for their products, will reap billion-dollar profits. However, to achieve these profits in 10-15 years, one must start now! Today, there is virtually no competition in this field. Anyone who invests their capital and talent into robot development, software, and components will become a giant in the business world. Whoever creates successful mass components for robots first and begins their production will become a legend.

Getting into the Business of the Future Needs to Happen Now

Currently, there are very few specialists in the world who are truly well-trained in robotics. Some of them have a poor understanding of the prospects associated with it, believing that everything necessary for a comfortable life has already been invented. Investors, seeing this situation, are currently hesitant to invest in this field, but everything can change very quickly. A similar situation was observed in the 1970s at the beginning of the computer era.

Today, computers are an integral part of life, with hundreds of millions sold. However, computers are no longer something new, so the interest in them is purely utilitarian. The primary income from them and the various services developed for them has long been gathered. The time has come for novelties, and this novelty is robots. It is likely that a fundamentally new internet, search engines, and many services will have to be created for them, but that will come later, when high-tech assistants are already working for us. In fact, a robot is a large computer that looks different, can move, and make decisions on its own. But at the core of any robot is the good old computer.

Another unresolved issue is training artificial intelligence. A robot operates on complex principles and cannot simply be turned off if it does something wrong. It needs to be programmed in such a way that it precisely performs the required actions. This is becoming increasingly difficult due to the constant complexity of tasks and their diversity. It is impossible to create separate software for each robot and each client. It simply cannot be maintained. Therefore, robots are becoming standardized, and individual programming is giving way to individual robot training.

Each robot has to be "taught" separately, and the methods for copying the knowledge they acquire during the training process and mass transferring it to other instances are still in their very early stages. This creates a need for a new business sector that no one had even thought about before. It also requires investments that will pay off with a thousandfold profit.

Impressive Success Stories

iRobot

The company was registered back in 1990. Its founders were students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They created the well-known robot vacuum cleaner. iRobot today is a globally recognized corporation with an annual turnover of $554 million. This company is one of the leading suppliers to the US Army. It is listed in the Fortune 500, which comprises the five hundred most successful American companies. iRobot's shares are traded on the NASDAQ exchange. The corporation's product lineup includes several dozen types of robots. The robot vacuum cleaner continues to sell successfully.

Aldebaran Robotics

This company was founded in 2005 by French businessman Bruno Maisonnier. The business began with the development and sale of android-type toy robots. Since 2008, after obtaining rights from SONY, the company has been producing Aibo, the cute robot dogs that quickly became popular with consumers. Following them, Nao, small androids with their own operating system, and Pepper, the most advanced robots in the world today, were released. The rights to the latter were transferred to the Japanese company SoftBank. Several thousand units of both types have already been sold despite their high price. In Kazakhstan, Nao can be purchased for 990,000 rubles, and Pepper for 1,850,000 rubles. Today, an even more advanced robot named Romeo is being developed. Its purpose is to assist sick and elderly people who find it difficult to care for themselves. Initially, Romeo will appear in clinics and nursing homes, and later it will be available for anyone who wants to buy it. Its cost will be high, around 250,000 euros, but its range of functions is extraordinarily broad. It serves as a companion, servant, escort, and reliable friend.

DJI Innovations

Another example of success. This company quickly became a world leader in the production of drones for video shooting. Its place of origin is the Chinese city of Shenzhen, often referred to as the Chinese Silicon Valley. This corporation produces the Ronin, Phantom, and Inspire drones. The number of employees exceeds 3,500, with offices in China, the USA, Hong Kong, Japan, the Netherlands, and Germany.

These examples demonstrate that anything is possible in the business world if you catch the right moment. And such moments are becoming more and more frequent.

Robotics at Amazon

This corporation is already robotizing its main business processes. By early 2019, over 100,000 various robotic systems had been implemented. This includes robots purchased from other companies as well as machines developed by their own specialists. By the summer of 2019, the number of robots in the corporation will reach 200,000. It is planned to automate only some processes, not all. There are also no plans to reduce the number of employees. Amazon is currently working with several other companies to create robots for delivering goods to customers, known as "last mile" delivery robots.

Boston Dynamics Robots

This company is widely known for its unique developments. Their collection includes useful and effective assistants.

Handle – a compact robotic loader. It works faster than a forklift, designed for pallet disassembly, shelving goods, moving items on conveyor belts, etc. It is equipped with a reliable vacuum gripper and manipulator. Thanks to an integrated computer vision system, the robot navigates well in space and locates objects. Its load capacity is 15 kg.

Pick – an electronic conveyor worker.

Spot – a walking quadruped with hydraulic drives. It can be controlled via radio at a distance of up to 500 meters. Equipped with a front camera with a 180° view. It is currently used at construction sites.

SpotMini – a smaller version of the Spot robot.

WildCat – the fastest quadruped in the world, capable of easily moving in natural environments.

LS3 BigDog – a heavy-lifting robot with a load capacity of 180 kg, built on four legs. It can travel long distances, climb heights, and descend into lowlands over surfaces with slopes of up to 45°. It was developed for the military.

Atlas – a humanoid robot with an advanced control system. It can assist in loading and unloading tasks, carry items, get up after a fall, open and close doors, traverse rough terrain, jump, and even do backflips. The company is still operating on DARPA funding and has yet to release commercially successful robots, but they are closer than ever.

So, is it worth investing in robotics?

Today in the USA, any robots can be sold. Demand for them is only growing, regardless of their functions, even if they simply bring coffee or accompany a family on a walk.

However, there are several criteria by which robots are allowed onto the broad market.

Professional manufacturing. Only devices made in factories can be sold in mass quantities. If it's a homemade creation from a garage, it can only be purchased by a neighbor or acquaintance in a single copy. This will not generate significant profits.

Reliability. At least six months of testing are required to understand how reliable a robot is in operation. The management must be simple. A warranty of several years is necessary, during which repairs and servicing are provided free of charge. If warranty repairs are too frequent, the enterprise will quickly become unprofitable.

Functionality. A truly useful robot automates routine processes that people dislike or take up too much time. For children's robots, parents should have the option to customize them or purchase and install new programs. This way, they can add or remove various functions.

When asked whether to invest in robotics, the answer is unequivocally yes! In the near future, this will yield billion-dollar profits, respect, and, if desired, fame. If you are interested in this topic, let's discuss it! We offer completely free consultations on how to invest in the most promising direction of robotics or join the best development teams.

Call us at +1 702 204 6388 or send us an email. We will help you bring your robotics project to a commercially profitable level, build a sales system, and attract the necessary investors.