Reports and Studies

Robots in Public: Building the Governance
Framework for Shared Human–Robot Spaces

2026

Robots are no longer confined to factories, laboratories, or tightly controlled pilot environments. They are already operating in public and semi-public spaces: on sidewalks, in airports and hospitals, across university campuses, in hotels, and increasingly at the urban curb. Delivery robots move through pedestrian traffic carrying meals and packages. Cleaning and security robots operate in publicly accessible facilities. Robotaxis pick up and drop off passengers on city streets. Assistive robots help people navigate buildings and public infrastructure.

Key Trends Shaping the Robotics and AI Landscape: Insights from the Latest MassRobotics Survey

2024

The fields of robotics and artificial intelligence are evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by innovation and increasing demands for autonomy, efficiency, and safety. To better understand these shifts, MassRobotics conducted a comprehensive survey of professionals across the robotics and AI ecosystem. This market research was developed and deployed with the support and guidance of Lattice Semiconductor, for whom this report was originally prepared. This report summarizes key insights from 40 respondents from the innovation ecosystem, offering a snapshot of current practices, challenges, and future expectations in sensor fusion, AI integration, motor control, power consumption, and safety and security.

Advancing the State of AV-Vulnerable Road User Interaction: Challenges and Opportunities

2023

While great strides have been taken in advancing the field of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), challenges abound in understanding and improving how Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) will interact with and within society. Through this paper, the authors attempt to paint the picture of challenges unique to the study and advancement of interfaces between AVs and vulnerable road users (VRUs). In turn, these gaps in research highlight the opportunities for academia, industry, and public policy to collaborate and advance the state of the art of AV-VRU interaction, and the need for a dedicated forum for sharing insights across these various sectors.

Deux Ex Machina Part V: Robotics In Agriculture

July, 2023

Part V of its robotics series explores how robotics will likely emerge as a necessary tool to feed and sustain a growing population with increasing wealth (and more discerning tastes) with declining physical and human resources.

TD COWEN | ROBOTICS
State of the Market

April, 2023

TD Cowen’s quarterly robotics market update deck, which reflects activity through CYE 2022.  It includes recent observations from the ProMat 2023 show shares both challenges and opportunities in the current environment.

Deus Ex Machina, Part IV –  Robotics as Tools in Climate Fight

MAY 11, 2022

Robotics will emerge as a critical tool to meet customer ESG / climate goals as plans are formalized and ESG investing expands. Cowen’s joint survey with MassRobotics shows buy in by end users, though most have not yet deployed, suggesting the opportunity is ahead. Through discussions with Locus Robotics, Cowen developed a proprietary framework to model the carbon impact of robotic deployment. Input from 12 analysts across Cowen and WRG; ABB and CGNX are favorites in our coverage; many players are still private.

COWEN – Ahead of the Curve Series

Collaborative Insights: Robotics

Deus Ex Machina, Part III

MARCH 15, 2021

Collaborative robotics removes the physical barriers that have historically separated humans and machines, and is early stage in terms of deployment. Cowen partnered with cobot pioneer Teradyne and exoskeleton leader Sarcos Robotics to help us create independent market models. We see a $20B+ potential opportunity by 2026. Cowen’s joint survey with MassRobotics showed nearly universal Covidrelated demand spikes at robotics firms, with users asking for new, collaborative applications. Private investment dollars continue to ramp, from <$1B to over $9B in the past six years, and 2021 is on pace to exceed 2020.

COWEN – Ahead of the Curve Series

Collaborative Insights: Robotics

Deus Ex Machina, Part II

NOVEMBER 14, 2019

Collaborative Insights: Robotics Warehouse/logistics robotics is a younger, more dynamic market than traditional robotics and expected to grow from ~$4B today to over $22B by 2022. Cowen, along with MassRobotics, conducted a proprietary survey of market participants and developed an industry growth model that supports third-party estimates. Robotics is a fragmented, largely private, and North-American-centric landscape: private investment in 2019 of ~$8B is over 9x 2014 levels. Giants like AMZN historical consolidators. Labor trends within the sector have improved considerably despite rapid acceleration in robotic deployment. Anti-globalization trends likely foster US development and leadership.

COWEN – Ahead of the Curve Series

Collaborative Insights: Robotics

Deus Ex Machina, Part I

DECEMBER 6, 2018

Industrial robotics is a nearly $50B global market growing at a roughly 15% CAGR, dominated by large, non-US suppliers out of Japan and Europe. Increasing global demand for more complex products and rising emerging market wage trends support continued robotic investment – not necessarily at the expense of total jobs. China is the largest demand market, but only just recently claimed the widest installed base. Emerging Asia rapidly expanding as trade fears drive supply chain retooling. Subsequent reports will focus on warehouse and collaborative robotics, two developing markets with exciting early-stage investment opportunities and a fragmented landscape.