Industrial robots are machines that can automatically or partially complete production tasks in industrial production. Industrial robots have the characteristics of high precision, high efficiency, and high reliability. They can replace human labor to complete dangerous, repetitive, and tedious tasks, improve production efficiency and product quality, and reduce production costs.

The potential for the development of industrial robots is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

• The application range is constantly expanding

Industrial robots were originally mainly used in the manufacturing industries of automobiles and electronics. With the continuous advancement of technology, industrial robots have been widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and logistics industries. In the future, with the continuous development of artificial intelligence and sensor technologies, industrial robots will be used in more fields, including agriculture, construction, and services.

• The intelligent level is constantly improving

Industrial robots are transforming from traditional “executors” to “decision-makers”. The application of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies enables industrial robots to autonomously perceive, decide, and execute, realizing higher levels of intelligence. In the future, industrial robots will be more intelligent and flexible, able to adapt to more complex production environments and task requirements.

• The cost is constantly decreasing

With the continuous maturity of technology, the cost of industrial robots is constantly decreasing, making industrial robots more popular. In the future, industrial robots will become an indispensable production factor in manufacturing.

According to the “14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Robotics Industry” jointly issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments, by 2025, the operating income of China’s industrial robot industry will grow at an average annual rate of more than 20%.

Specifically, the potential for the development of industrial robots is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

• Manufacturing industry intelligent upgrade

Industrial robots are an important support for manufacturing industry intelligentization. With the continuous advancement of manufacturing industry intelligentization, the demand for industrial robots will continue to grow.

• The development of emerging industries

Industrial robots are accelerating their penetration into emerging industries. They have broad application prospects in new energy vehicles, electronic information, and medical fields.

• Global industrial division of labor

China is the world’s largest industrial robot market. With the continuous improvement of China’s manufacturing competitiveness, China’s industrial robot industry will play an increasingly important role in the global industrial division of labor.

In general, industrial robots have great potential for development. In the future, they will play an important role in the intelligent upgrading of manufacturing industries, the development of emerging industries, and the global industrial division of labor.