Robotics for Smarter Material Handling in the Era of Industry 5.0: Insights from the Intralogistics Robotics Survey

Robotics and Automation topped distributive technologies that would provide companies with competitive advantages in the next ten years since MHI started publishing its Industry Annual Reports, and the year 2024 was no different. We are on the verge of a significant increase in robotics adoption due to the increasing sophistication of robotic systems that can autonomously perform tasks such as picking, packing, and data-driven decision-making. Key technologies like sensors, vision systems, machine learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and edge/cloud computing are converging to enable more autonomous robotics. While such technological advances accelerate the adaptation of robotics in manufacturing and material handling systems, the recent social trends shape how and where robotics are used. By examining these dimensions, we aim to provide actionable insights into the transformative potential of robotics in the era of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0.