Quick recap on global market forecast
The global mobile robot market is undoubtedly a major growth market now and in the future, with an anticipated CAGR of 15% in the next five years.
In the mean time, solar markets in China saw an explosion of mobile robots (AGV/AMR) involvement in 2023, with AGV/AMV sales expanding nearly threefold.
Last year, Chinese mobile robotics firms raked in over USD 500 million from domestic solar markets. That accounts for 16.7% of total sales realized by the entire industry, making solar applications the largest segment of the AGV/AMR market in China.
Mobile robots (AGV/AMR) designed for solar applications spans the entire solar industry, from steps throughout the PV cells and modules manufacturing, to solar panel deployment. Efforts seem to be directed at a full automation of the whole industry.
Currently, creating better AMRs is the chief focus of AGV/AMR enterprises serving the photovoltaic industry. Photovoltaic manufacturers regard natural navigation as a vital feature of ideal robots for their plants, and AMRs with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) outperform AGVs in both upfront costs and long term operational flexibility.
Now there are over 15 types of AMRs roaming around in photovoltaic scenarios in China, including stealth AMRs, heavy-duty AMRs, heavy-duty explosion-proof AMRs, crystal pulling AMRs, slicing AMRs, integrated AMRs, and fork AMRs.
