Intelligent Robotics: a growing sector

The union between robotics and artificial intelligence represents today one of the most disruptive innovations in the global technological landscape. Advanced robotics now represents a concrete reality that is redefining many sectors: from surgery in hospitals to collaborative robots (cobots) in factories, from industrial automation to the smart cities of the future. The global intelligent robotics market currently amounts to approximately 73 billion dollars and is expected to reach 185 billion dollars by 2030 and, according to other data, will reach 834 billion in 2035.

Right now, at Italian Tech Week, robotics and automation will be at the center of attention. Particular focus will be placed on the “physical economy,” that is, on the changes in the world of work and mobility, in the face of vehicles that move autonomously and intelligent robots.

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Robotics and Artificial Intelligence: what intersection?

Intelligent robotics emerges from the integration between advanced hardware components and artificial cognitive systems. Robotic hardware includes sophisticated sensors for environmental perception, millimeter-precision actuators, multi-articulated mechanical arms and autonomous locomotion systems. In parallel, artificial intelligence provides cognitive capabilities through Machine Learning algorithms for automatic learning, computer vision systems for visual recognition, NLP technologies for voice interaction and Deep Learning networks for complex autonomous decisions.

This technological convergence creates machines capable of adapting, learning and collaborating with human beings in real time. The fundamental difference compared to traditional robotics lies in these systems’ ability to interpret complex contexts, make autonomous decisions and continuously improve their performance through experience.

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Applications of robotics integrated with AI

• Medical robotics and surgery

The healthcare robotics sector is experiencing a transformation that is redefining the standards of medical excellence. The precision and steadiness of robotic machines surpasses that of the human hand, translating into a 50% reduction in hospital stay times and superior clinical results.

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 10 million surgical procedures have been performed with robotic components. In Italy, over 2,200 surgeons have been gradually trained over the past 25 years on these technologies: in 2024, a 50% growth in robotic procedures was recorded. Medical robotics extends well beyond the operating room. Rehabilitation robots are accelerating post-operative recovery through personalized therapies based on artificial intelligence algorithms, while autonomous systems manage the transport of drugs and hospital instruments.

• Collaborative Robots or Cobots

Cobots are intelligent systems that possess the intrinsic ability to detect the presence and movements of operators, ensuring absolute safety in human-machine collaboration.

In particular, three types of collaborative robots can be distinguished. There are those that support humans in exploring particularly hostile environments, such as drones and robotic mine identification systems. The second category is that of “cobots for people,” designed to perform care activities. Finally, “productive cobots,” which assist human operators in industrial sectors. In this case, applications range from precision assembly to automated quality control, from welding and painting to material handling.

• Robots for logistics and transport: AMRs

Mobile robotics is revolutionizing supply chain and logistics through systems capable of optimizing routes in real time and reducing operational costs by 25-30%. These intelligent robots, in addition to transporting goods, continuously analyze logistic flows to identify inefficiencies and propose optimal solutions. Completely automated warehouse management already represents a reality in numerous leading companies, while last-mile deliveries with intelligent drones are redefining speed and precision standards in urban delivery.

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Humanoid robots: a central evolution

Unlike other types of robots, humanoids are autonomous machines with human appearance, capable of interacting with the surrounding environment.

The Chinese and American markets have long been investing in this sector; Europe also increasingly aims to keep pace. Giants like Tesla, NVIDIA and Amazon are developing advanced technologies to develop increasingly refined machines capable of achieving high levels of productivity and efficiency. In China and Japan, the use of humanoids in educational and social contexts is high.

In particular, humanoid robots are finding real applications in logistics, manufacturing, assistance and retail. Their “human-like” form is an advantage because our world is designed for human bodies: stairs, shelves, narrow corridors. The decisive push comes from generative and multimodal artificial intelligence, capable of combining language, vision and action. This allows robots not only to move and manipulate objects, but also to understand complex instructions, dialogue and explain their actions. These capabilities derive from integration with large language models and advanced artificial vision systems.

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Advantages and challenges of intelligent robotics

Companies that implement intelligent robotics experience a 40% increase in productivity, thanks to sophisticated automation systems.

Beyond direct economic benefits, intelligent robotics offers fundamental strategic advantages: flexible production scalability that dynamically adapts to demand, automatic compliance with safety regulations and a decisive competitive advantage in the increasingly digitized global market.

For citizens, robotic integration can translate into more accessible and precise healthcare services, optimized and punctual public transport, personalized assistance for the elderly and disabled, and greater security. The democratization of access to advanced technologies through innovative service models is creating opportunities for quality of life improvement that were previously unthinkable.

Beyond the potential, there are many challenges: the responsible management of big data collected by intelligent robots represents a central one and requires rigorous GDPR compliance and transparency in decision-making algorithms. The impact of automation requires a proactive approach, through professional retraining programs and the creation of new specialized technological roles.

Human-machine collaboration must emerge as the winning paradigm, so that technology amplifies human capabilities and becomes a tool for them. It is also essential to establish clear legal frameworks for robotic responsibility, defining who is responsible for decisions made by intelligent machines.

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Trends and pillars of future robotics

• Sustainable and eco-friendly robotics emerges as an absolute priority, with robots designed for low energy consumption and made with recyclable and biodegradable materials. This evolution not only responds to environmental imperatives, but actively contributes to achieving corporate ESG objectives.

• Generative AI for autonomous robots is introducing advanced problem-solving capabilities, allowing robotic systems to continuously learn from every interaction and automatically adapt to unexpected scenarios. This evolution transforms robots from programmed executors to collaborators capable of solving complex problems.

• Edge computing will democratize decentralized robotics, enabling local processing for instant response times and reducing dependence on cloud connectivity. This approach will ensure greater data security and privacy, crucial elements for large-scale adoption.

• The Robot as a Service (RaaS) model will revolutionize economic accessibility through subscription-based formulas that include maintenance and updates. This paradigm will allow even SMEs to access advanced robotics without prohibitive initial investments.

At the economic level, AI robotics will grow by 280% by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 7% until 2026. Companies that invest today in intelligent robotic solutions will be those that participate in the innovation that is already underway in the sector, and will be able to best navigate human-machine collaboration.

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