The Top 10 Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Investments to Make in 2019

As technology rapidly advances, so too does the field of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). Here are 10 top investments to make in the robotics and AI industries in 2019.

1. Robotics: Industrial Robots

Industrial robots are a fundamental part of the robotics industry and are used extensively in manufacturing and production. In 2019, industrial robot sales are expected to exceed $37 billion, up from $34 billion in 2018. Major investments in industrial robot manufacturing include FANUC (Japan), ABB (Switzerland), KUKA (Germany), and Yaskawa (Japan).

2. Robotics: Service Robots

Service robots are used in a wide range of applications, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and education. In 2019, service robot sales are expected to exceed $12 billion, up from $11 billion in 2018. Key players in the service robot market include iRobot (US), SoftBank Robotics (Japan), Blue Frog Robotics (France), and Parrot (France).

3. Robotics: Drones

Drones are a type of service robot that are used extensively in military and civilian applications. In 2019, drone sales are expected to exceed $12 billion, up from $10 billion in 2018. Major drone manufacturers include DJI (China), 3D Robotics (US), and Parrot (France).

4. Robotics: Robotics Platforms

Robotics platforms are the backbone of the robotics industry and provide the foundation for developing new robotic applications. Robotics platforms are used to control and coordinate the actions of multiple robots. In 2019, robotics platforms are expected to exceed $5.5 billion, up from $4.5 billion in 2018. Key players in the robotics platforms market include ABB (Switzerland), Fanuc (Japan), KUKA (Germany), and Yaskawa (Japan).

5. Robotics: Service Management

Service management is a critical component of the robotics industry and is used to manage and monitor the performance of industrial and service robots. In 2019, service management is expected to exceed $2 billion, up from $1.8 billion in 2018. Key players in the service management market include ABB (Switzerland), Siemens (Germany), and Yokogawa (Japan).

6. Robotics: Robot Operating Systems

Robot operating systems (ROS) are a critical component of the robotics industry and provide the foundation for developing new robotic applications. ROS is an open source platform that enables developers to create new robotic applications. In 2019, ROS is expected to exceed $1.5 billion, up from $1.3 billion in 2018. Key players in the ROS market include Open Robotics (US), ROBOTIS (South Korea), and 3D Robotics (US).

7. Robotics: Robot Sensors

Robot sensors are a critical component of robots and are used to detect and measure the surrounding environment. In 2019, robot sensors are expected to exceed $10.5 billion, up from $9.5 billion in 2018. Key players in the robot sensors market include Omron (Japan), Sick (Germany), and Teledyne Technologies (US).

8. Robotics: Robot Control

Robot control is used to control the actions of robots and is a critical component of the robotics industry. In 2019, robot control is expected to exceed $4.5 billion, up from $3.9 billion in 2018. Key players in the robot control market include ABB (Switzerland), Fanuc (Japan), KUKA (Germany), and Yaskawa (Japan).

9. Robotics: Machine Vision

Machine vision is a critical component of robotics and is used to detect and interpret objects in the surrounding environment. In 2019, machine vision is expected to exceed $10.5 billion, up from $9.5 billion in 2018. Key players in the machine vision market include Cognex (US), Basler (Germany), and Teledyne Technologies (US).

10. Robotics: Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is a critical component of robotics and is used to enable robots to interact and learn from their environment. In 2019, artificial intelligence is expected to exceed $35 billion, up from $30 billion in 2018. Key players in the artificial intelligence market include Google (US), Amazon (US), Microsoft (US), and IBM (US).