Gartner has revealed its 10 technology trends to watch closely in 2025. Among these are multifunctional robots, capable of performing multiple tasks and learning new ones without reprogramming.
Multifunctional robots are among the trends highlighted by Gartner in its “Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2025”. Under this name, the firm designates robots equipped with a versatile structure and advanced software, allowing them to perform multiple tasks and learn new ones, without the need to reprogram them.
According to Gartner, these robots will become omnipresent: by 2030, 80% of humans will interact daily with these machines, compared to less than 10% today.
Benefits and Challenges
The rapid return on investment and lack of major infrastructure changes make these robots particularly attractive to businesses. Their rapid deployment and ability to collaborate with humans in the workplace are driving adoption, particularly in warehouses, healthcare settings, and demanding environments. Although having advantages, multifunctional robots suffer from a lack of standardization in terms of price and minimum functionality.
Potential applications
In warehouses, multifunctional robots can handle sorting, packaging and transportation. In hospitals, they assist staff, ensure patient mobility or disinfect premises. In risk areas, they inspect, maintain and repair equipment and infrastructure. “Robots that work with humans must be able to work in an environment designed for humans. But this does not require a human form: the most efficient multifunctional robots will not reproduce the human form, they will improve it, specifies Bill Ray, analyst at Gartner.
On the subject, also read our file: Robotics
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