AMRs increasingly popular

Analysis of the Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) market reveals a sustained growth trend, fueled by the demand for automation across various industrial sectors. For those who want to invest, some basic advice is necessary…

All studies converge. The Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) market is expected to reach new heights by 2030. For Research and Markets, which published a well-documented study “Autonomous Mobile Robots Market Size”, the global AMR market is expected to reach 9.56 billion dollars and is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 15.5% between 2023 and 2030. According to the study authors, "autonomous mobile robots have triggered a paradigm shift in the way tasks, such as Picking, handling and sorting, which are commonly associated with manufacturing and distribution, are carried out.

More AMRs than AGVs

Another study. In 2022, Interact Analysis recorded that: “sales of mobile robots increased by almost 70% in 2021 compared to the previous year. This market, which recorded growth of 36%, is estimated by Interact Analysis at nearly $3 billion in 2021. Last year, revenues generated by the sale of AMR, estimated at $1.6 billion , ultimately exceeded those of AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) by almost 300 million dollars. Between 2021 and 2025, the number of AGVs placed on the market could increase from 18,000 to 43,000 while sales of AMRs could increase from 82,000 to 640,000 units during the same period. China accounted for nearly 40% of the world's 100,000 mobile robot shipments last year. The United States comes in second place with just over a quarter of deliveries. European countries are not left out. In the United Kingdom, for example, the number of mobile robots sold is expected to increase from 2,300 units in 2021 to more than 18,500 in 2025. Which represents growth of 700%! »

What about France? According to Didier Chaine and Hubert Paoli, authors of an analysis published on Hub One Digital Technologie, argue that “on a global scale, robotics, in general, has been deployed mainly in industry. However, in France, it is a sector which has historically developed less than elsewhere in recent decades, partly due to the relocation of its activities. And to continue, “A contrario, France has managed to maintain a certain attractiveness for logistics activities. And with the explosion of e-commerce, there is no shortage of productivity challenges. But unlike industry, logistics is still culturally perceived as a cost center. Investments exist, but they are relatively less frequent.”

However, many industrial sites are considering equipping themselves, especially in a phenomenon of French reindustrialization.

How to choose and integrate an AMR?

When purchasing your first autonomous mobile robot (AMR), it is essential to clearly define your specific needs. You must consider in your specifications the tasks likely to be automated. This audit makes it possible, on the one hand, to highlight the human and technological needs to gain fluidity and productivity, and on the other hand to become aware of the human, organizational and economic issues to which the organization must respond. Careful consideration should be given to the environment in which the robot will operate, including surface types, space constraints, potential obstacles and safety requirements. The payload must also be carefully studied. It is necessary to determine the necessary load capacity of the robot based on the objects or goods it must transport. Another tip is to assess how long the robot should operate autonomously before requiring a recharge. When it comes to flexibility, it’s best to look for AMRs that are modular and adaptable to meet the changing needs of your business.

From a navigation point of view… You need to look at the robot's navigation capabilities, whether it's lidar, cameras, or other sensors, to ensure accurate navigation in the environment. Immediately comes the question of integration with existing systems, where you will need to check the ease of integration of the robot with your existing software and hardware systems.

Finally, costs and maintenance are paramount and for your budget, consider the initial cost of the robot, maintenance costs and possible training costs. For maintenance, one must ensure that the supplier offers solid technical support and maintenance services that ensure the continued smooth operation of the robot. Many experts advise integrating AMR in stages. In fact, this makes it possible to spread out investments and test 1 or 2 collaborative robots before deploying a larger fleet subsequently.

With continued industrial automation and evolving technologies, the AMR market is expected to continue to grow, with new applications and features emerging.