- Capability group
- Robotics & Autonomous Systems
- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cap/505KDETD26
- Reference
- Robotics Wikipedia
Papers
86.8k
2020–2024
Paper growth
+47%
2020–24 on 2015–19
Patent families
100.6k
2020–2024
Filed abroad
23%
families in more than one office
What it covers
What the capability covers and what it leaves to others, and the indicators it will be measured by.
Bounds
Covers robotic technology and its manufacture; deployment density across the economy is the deploy-layer read, and military robotics registers under National Security's force capabilities.
Lineage
Relocated in v0.1 from the split group at the same level, carrying its identifier under the relocation convention; rewritten from a definition of robotics to the capacity to build and field it.
Indicators
- research publication share in roboticsResearch
- industrial robot productionPending
- robotics patent familiesPatents
Who publishes it
Papers classified to the capability, by year and by the nation of their authors' institutions, 2020–2024. Read from the v0.0 research topic Advanced robotics.
Papers by year
The five leading nations, papers by year
Share of papers, 2020–2024
Of papers with a known author nation; 29% have none and are left out.
- 1China27.6%20,062 papers
- 2United States11.6%8,427 papers
- 3Japan6.7%4,838 papers
- 4India4.5%3,247 papers
- 5Germany4.4%3,199 papers
- 6United Kingdom4.2%3,044 papers
- 7Italy3.6%2,582 papers
- 8South Korea2.7%1,957 papers
- 9France2.0%1,455 papers
- 10Canada2.0%1,442 papers
Leading institutions, 2020–2024
By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.
- 1Harbin Institute of Technology772fractional papers
- 2Shanghai Jiao Tong University572fractional papers
- 3Beijing Institute of Technology489fractional papers
- 4Beihang University460fractional papers
- 5Tsinghua University409fractional papers
- 6Zhejiang University363fractional papers
- 7Huazhong University of Science and Technology330fractional papers
- 8The University of Tokyo314fractional papers
- 9Chinese Academy of Sciences308fractional papers
- 10Northwestern Polytechnical University304fractional papers
Who patents it
Patent families by the nation of origin of their applicants and their earliest priority year, from the CPC and IPC classes the capability is read from. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.
Families by priority year
The five leading origins, families by year
18,259 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 8% of families (HHI 27 of 10,000: unconcentrated).
Share of families by origin, 2020–2024
- 1China63.2%63,516 families
- 2South Korea10.7%10,712 families
- 3Japan9.4%9,456 families
- 4United States7.1%7,125 families
- 5Germany2.8%2,857 families
- 6Switzerland1.0%1,009 families
- 7Taiwan0.8%769 families
- 8France0.7%754 families
- 9Italy0.6%564 families
- 10United Kingdom0.5%474 families
Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024
Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.
- 1FANUC CORP1,688international families
- 2FANUC LTD1,281international families
- 3LG ELECTRONICS INC911international families
- 4SEIKO EPSON CORP807international families
- 5KAWASAKI HEAVY IND LTD802international families
- 6SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD699international families
- 7ABB SCHWEIZ AG623international families
- 8INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS586international families
- 9COVIDIEN LP580international families
- 10CILAG GMBH INT463international families
Classification read
- B25J Robots and manipulators: arms, grippers, joints, program control · 1.3m documents
- B62D57/032 Legged walking machines · 12.3k documents
- A61B34/30 Surgical robots · 198.2k documents
- Y10S901/00 Older US robots collection · 51k documents
- G05B2219/39 Robot control detail: kinematics, calibration, grasping · 57.5k documents
- G05B2219/40 Robot control detail: vision, planning, teleoperation · 77.6k documents
Shares inventions with
Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).
- Autonomous Systems & Trusted Autonomy3,982 families · 0.042
- Additive & Precision Manufacturing3,239 families · 0.039
Who makes it
The companies that research, design, make, supply and operate the technology, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.
50 companies in this capability, from 22 nations across 8 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.
- Very high8 companies
- 1Very highEquipment & machineryOshino, YamanashiJapan1972–6954
World's largest industrial robot maker by installed base (over 1 million robots shipped) and the top international robotics patent applicant, also supplying CNC and servo systems.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Japan, Oshino, Yamanashi · founded 1972
- 2Very highEquipment & machineryZurichSwitzerland1988110kABBN
ABB Robotics is one of the big-four industrial robot makers (IRB arms, GoFa/YuMi cobots); in October 2025 ABB agreed to sell the robotics division to SoftBank Group for about USD 5.4bn.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Switzerland, Zurich · founded 1988 · 110k staff
- 3Very highEquipment & machineryKitakyushuJapan1915–6506
Its Motoman robots make it one of the big-four industrial robot makers, with more than 600,000 units installed, and it is a leading maker of the servo motors and drives used in them.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Japan, Kitakyushu · founded 1915
- 4Very highEquipment & machineryAugsburgGermany1898–Private
A big-four industrial robot maker and leading automotive robot supplier, fully owned by China's Midea Group (SZSE 000333) and delisted in 2022.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Augsburg · founded 1898
- 5Very highHardware & devicesSunnyvale, CaliforniaUnited States199516kISRG
Dominant surgical robotics firm whose da Vinci systems (over 9,000 installed) and Ion platform lead minimally invasive robotic surgery; a top-10 international robotics patent applicant.
Very high relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Sunnyvale, California · founded 1995 · 16k staff
- 6Very highHardware & devicesWaltham, MassachusettsUnited States1992–Private
Pioneer of dynamic legged locomotion, maker of the Spot quadruped, the Stretch warehouse robot and the electric Atlas humanoid; majority-owned by Hyundai Motor Group.
Very high relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Waltham, Massachusetts · founded 1992
- 7Very highEquipment & machineryNorth Reading, MassachusettsUnited States1960–TER
Owns Universal Robots, the global collaborative-robot market leader, and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), which together form Teradyne Robotics.
Very high relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, North Reading, Massachusetts · founded 1960
- 8Very highDesignSanta ClaraUnited States199336kNVDA
Supplies the Jetson/Thor robot computers, the Isaac simulation stack and GR00T humanoid foundation models that many humanoid and AMR developers build on.
Very high relevance · Design · United States, Santa Clara · founded 1993 · 36k staff
- High10 companies
- 9HighHardware & devicesTokyo / KobeJapan1896–7012
Japan's first industrial robot maker (1969) and still a major supplier of welding, painting and medical robots (through Medicaroid); it is developing the Kaleido humanoid.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Tokyo / Kobe · founded 1896
- 10HighHardware & devicesSuwa, NaganoJapan194274k6724
World market leader in SCARA robots for electronics assembly and a top-five international robotics patent applicant.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Suwa, Nagano · founded 1942 · 74k staff
- 11HighHardware & devicesAustin, TexasUnited States2003126kTSLA
Developing the Optimus general-purpose humanoid, with in-house actuators and hands, and plans for volume production at its US factories.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Austin, Texas · founded 2003 · 126k staff
- 12HighComponents & subsystemsTokyoJapan2003–6268
Dominant supplier of the RV precision reduction gears used in the joints of most medium and large industrial robots, with about 60% global share.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Tokyo · founded 2003
- 13HighComponents & subsystemsTokyoJapan1970–6324
Leading maker of the strain-wave (harmonic) gears used in robot wrists, cobots and humanoid joints.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1970
- 14HighHardware & devicesHangzhouChina2016––
The highest-volume maker of quadruped robots worldwide and a leading humanoid maker (G1, H1, R1), with in-house actuators and low-cost legged platforms; it has pursued a STAR Market IPO.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Hangzhou · founded 2016
- 15HighOperations & infrastructureSeattle, WashingtonUnited States19941.6mAMZN
Amazon Robotics (formerly Kiva) designs and runs the world's largest mobile-robot fleet, over 1 million units including Proteus, Sparrow and Vulcan, across its fulfilment network.
High relevance · Operations & infrastructure · United States, Seattle, Washington · founded 1994 · 1.6m staff
- 16HighHardware & devicesSunnyvale, CaliforniaUnited States2022––
Humanoid developer (Figure 02/03, Helix vision-language-action model) valued at about USD 39bn in 2025, with pilot deployments at BMW Spartanburg.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Sunnyvale, California · founded 2022
- 17HighHardware & devicesPortage, MichiganUnited States194153kSYK
Its Mako robotic-arm system is the leading orthopaedic surgical robot for knee and hip replacement.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Portage, Michigan · founded 1941 · 53k staff
- 18HighHardware & devicesWilmington, MassachusettsUnited States2007–SYM
Builds AI-driven robotic warehouse systems (autonomous bots and robotic palletising) for Walmart and other retailers, and acquired Walmart's advanced systems and robotics unit in 2025.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Wilmington, Massachusetts · founded 2007
- Moderate14 companies
- 19ModerateComponents & subsystemsShenzhenChina2003–300124
China's leading servo and motion-control supplier and its top domestic SCARA robot maker, also making six-axis robots.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Shenzhen · founded 2003
- 20ModerateHardware & devicesNanjingChina1993–002747
China's largest domestic industrial robot maker by shipments, vertically integrated from servo drives to six-axis arms, and the owner of Germany's Cloos welding robots.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Nanjing · founded 1993
- 21ModerateComponents & subsystemsKariya, AichiJapan1949158k6902
Through Denso Wave it is a leading maker of small four- and six-axis assembly robots and the COBOTTA cobot.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Kariya, Aichi · founded 1949 · 158k staff
- 22ModerateHardware & devicesPfäffikon, SchwyzSwitzerland1892–Private
Family-owned maker of high-precision industrial and cleanroom robots (TX2/TS2 series) and mobile robots, with robot production in France.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Switzerland, Pfäffikon, Schwyz · founded 1892
- 23ModerateHardware & devicesShenzhenChina2012–9880
Listed humanoid maker whose Walker S industrial humanoids are being trialled in car factories (BYD, Zeekr, Dongfeng); it also sells service and education robots.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Shenzhen · founded 2012
- 24ModerateHardware & devicesSuwonSouth Korea2015–454910
South Korea's largest collaborative-robot maker (M, H, A and E series), exporting to more than 40 countries.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · South Korea, Suwon · founded 2015
- 25ModerateHardware & devicesDublinIreland194995kMDT
Maker of the Hugo soft-tissue surgical robot and the Mazor spine robot; its Covidien unit is a top-10 international robotics patent applicant.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Ireland, Dublin · founded 1949 · 95k staff
- 26ModerateSystems integrationTurinItaly1973–Private
Major European robot maker and automotive body-in-white automation integrator, majority-owned by One Equity Partners, with a Stellantis minority stake.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Italy, Turin · founded 1973
- 27ModerateHardware & devicesSalem, OregonUnited States2015––
Maker of the Digit bipedal humanoid, among the first humanoids in paid commercial deployment (GXO logistics), built at its RoboFab factory.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Salem, Oregon · founded 2015
- 28ModerateComponents & subsystemsTaichungTaiwan1989–2049
Major supplier of the ball screws, linear guides and strain-wave gears robots run on; it also makes its own articulated and SCARA robots.
Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Taiwan, Taichung · founded 1989
- 29ModerateHardware & devicesShanghaiChina2023––
Fast-growing Chinese humanoid maker (Yuanzheng A2, Lingxi X2) and one of the highest-volume humanoid producers; in 2025 it took control of listed Swancor Advanced Materials.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Shanghai · founded 2023
- 30ModerateHardware & devicesShenzhenChina2015–2432
Leading Chinese collaborative-robot maker by shipments, listed in Hong Kong in December 2024 and expanding into humanoids.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Shenzhen · founded 2015
- 31ModerateHardware & devicesMunichGermany2018––
DLR spin-off making force-controlled robot arms and the Agile ONE humanoid; it acquired Franka Robotics, maker of the widely used Franka research arm, in 2023.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Germany, Munich · founded 2018
- 32ModerateHardware & devicesMetzingenGermany2019––
German maker of sensor-rich cognitive cobots (MAiRA, LARA) and the 4NE-1 humanoid, one of Europe's best-funded robotics startups.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Germany, Metzingen · founded 2019
- Low9 companies
- 33LowHardware & devicesShenyangChina2000–300024
Spun out of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang Institute of Automation; makes industrial robots, cleanroom wafer-handling robots and AGVs.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Shenyang · founded 2000
- 34LowHardware & devicesDaejeonSouth Korea2011–277810
KAIST HUBO-lab spin-off making cobots, quadrupeds and the RB-Y1 humanoid; Samsung Electronics became its largest shareholder in 2024–25 to anchor its humanoid push.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · South Korea, Daejeon · founded 2011
- 35LowHardware & devicesWuhu, AnhuiChina2007–688165
One of China's largest domestic six-axis industrial robot makers, state-backed through Wuhu and Chery affiliates.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Wuhu, Anhui · founded 2007
- 36LowHardware & devicesSeoulSouth Korea1958–066570
Third-largest international robotics patent applicant, with service and logistics robots (CLOi); it took a majority stake in Bear Robotics in 2025.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · South Korea, Seoul · founded 1958
- 37LowHardware & devicesBoisbriand, QuebecCanada2006–Private
Canada's leading robot-arm maker, building lightweight Gen3 and Link 6 arms for assistive, research, medical and industrial use.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Canada, Boisbriand, Quebec · founded 2006
- 38LowHardware & devicesNoidaIndia2016–Private
India's leading robotics maker (AMRs, four-way shuttles, cobots) and developer of India's first commercial humanoid; majority-owned by Reliance Industries.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · India, Noida · founded 2016
- 39LowSystems integrationSingaporeSingapore196727kS63
Temasek-controlled engineering group whose robotics arm, including US-based Aethon (TUG hospital robots), builds autonomous mobile and service robots.
Low relevance · Systems integration · Singapore, Singapore · founded 1967 · 27k staff
- 40LowHardware & devicesGurugramIndia2019–SSII
Developer of the SSi Mantra, India's first homegrown multi-arm surgical robot, installed in dozens of Indian hospitals and approved for telesurgery.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · India, Gurugram · founded 2019
- 41LowHardware & devicesAraçatuba, São PauloBrazil2007–Private
Brazilian agtech firm whose solar-powered Solix autonomous field robot does weed detection and spraying in Brazil and the US.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Brazil, Araçatuba, São Paulo · founded 2007
- Very low9 companies
- 42Very lowHardware & devicesPermRussia2015–Private
Russia's largest service-robot maker, building Promobot service robots and the Robo-C android, exported to more than 40 countries before sanctions.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Russia, Perm · founded 2015
- 43Very lowHardware & devicesWarsawPoland2017––
Central Europe's leading robotics startup, providing AI-driven robotic picking arms for e-commerce fulfilment; it raised a USD 44m Series B in 2025.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Poland, Warsaw · founded 2017
- 44Very lowHardware & devicesPerthAustralia2015–FBR
Developer of the Hadrian X truck-mounted bricklaying robot with Dynamic Stabilisation Technology, deployed on homes in Australia and the US.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Australia, Perth · founded 2015
- 45Very lowHardware & devicesTaurangaNew Zealand2008–Private
New Zealand maker of agricultural and packhouse robots (fruit packing and autonomous orchard vehicles), backed by Yamaha Motor.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · New Zealand, Tauranga · founded 2008
- 46Very lowHardware & devicesDubaiUnited Arab Emirates2014–Private
The Gulf's main domestic robot maker, building autonomous ground robots (M01/M02 patrol and delivery units) produced locally for Dubai Police and other civil customers.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · United Arab Emirates, Dubai · founded 2014
- 47Very lowHardware & devicesHanoiVietnam2025––
Vingroup's 51%-owned robotics arm, which built Vietnam's first homegrown bipedal humanoids (Motion 1 in 2025, Motion 2 at CES 2026) for factory work.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Vietnam, Hanoi · founded 2025
- 48Very lowHardware & devicesSousseTunisia2014–Private
One of Africa's few robot manufacturers, designing and building autonomous mobile robots for security patrol (PGuard) and healthcare telepresence, exported to Europe and the Gulf.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Tunisia, Sousse · founded 2014
- 49Very lowHardware & devicesJohannesburgSouth Africa2014–Private
South African designer and maker of inspection crawlers and custom robotic systems for mining and infrastructure; 74.9% owned by JSE-listed Reunert (RLO).
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · South Africa, Johannesburg · founded 2014
- 50Very lowHardware & devicesKonyaTürkiye2017–Private
AkınSoft's robotics company, which opened Turkey's first humanoid-robot factory in Konya in 2017 and builds the ADA humanoid and agricultural robots.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Türkiye, Konya · founded 2017
