Will Robots Inject New Vitality into Manufacturing?

Advancements in AI and other technologies are changing how and why robots are adopted in manufacturing, injecting new vitality. Robots have been used in manufacturing for decades, primarily as industrial robots in the automotive and electronics sectors, and as AGVs and automated warehouse systems in logistics. Even when new technologies like collaborative robots emerged, there were difficulties in applying them on-site or explaining their investment returns.

While the global installation of new industrial robots remains above 500,000 units annually, the objectives for adoption have become more complex, shifting from primarily expanding production volume and reducing labor costs to addressing aging populations, labor shortages, multi-product, low-volume production, and ensuring production flexibility. In some industrial complexes, the inability to find production workers is a recurring issue, and the avoidance of night shifts and hazardous processes is increasing. Consequently, automation is no longer seen as a mere investment but as a strategy for operational sustainability, with a focus on flexibility rather than speed.

One of the most significant changes in manufacturing automation recently is that individual equipment is beginning to be connected within a unified structure. In the past, collaborative robots handled assembly, logistics robots transported materials, and vision systems performed inspections, each with distinct roles. Now, these boundaries are blurring. The autonomous manufacturing strategy in the industry is moving towards integrating production, inspection, logistics, and equipment data into a single operational structure, rather than managing them individually.

Choi Kyeong-sik, a team leader at OMRON Korea Control, stated that manufacturing is moving beyond traditional inline automation towards autonomous operational structures. He added that as collaborative robots, AMRs, IoT technology, and data platforms become interconnected, the operation of production, assembly, and logistics within a single workflow will expand. This signifies a change in the operational system itself, beyond simple logistics automation. AMRs are also evolving beyond just moving goods, incorporating advanced features like swarm control, traffic management, real-time situational awareness, and path optimization. An industry insider commented that while in the past, the focus was on adding automation equipment, now designing the interconnection structure between equipment is becoming more crucial.

The early collaborative robot market was characterized by fierce competition focused on hardware aspects such as repetitive precision, speed, payload capacity, and ease of use. However, with the general improvement of hardware capabilities and the low-price competition from Chinese robot companies, differentiation solely based on equipment performance has become difficult. Recently, robot companies have been strengthening their approach by focusing on specific processes rather than selling individual robot units. Doosan Robotics is expanding its AI and software ecosystem centered on collaborative robots, while Rainbow Robotics is exploring next-generation manufacturing automation directions based on its humanoid robot platform and dual-arm robot technology. Neuromeka is attempting a different approach beyond conventional robot structures, expanding into physical AI, humanoid platforms, and AI-driven work intelligence. The focus is on what tasks can be performed and what processes can be solved in actual manufacturing environments. Industry insiders explain that for manufacturing companies, purchasing robots is akin to finding ways to solve production problems.

The most 주목받는 (noteworthy/talked-about) area in the recent robot market is humanoid robots. Global companies like Tesla, Figure AI, and Boston Dynamics are competitively unveiling human-shaped robots, accelerating technological advancement. While demonstrations of robots dancing or jumping at exhibitions once garnered attention, discussions now extend to their practical application potential in actual manufacturing and logistics environments. The future competition among humanoid robots will hinge not on creating robots that 'look like humans' but on how quickly they can demonstrate usability and economic feasibility in industrial settings.