Current Scenario:

The size of the Indian robotics market is large, and expected to grow substantially in the
years to come. Most of the current market growth is in the automotive industry. At Tata
Motors, India's biggest auto manufacturer, the production force has come down by 20%
while turnover has increased 250%. Tata's Pune plant alone has invested in 100 robots,
and the automaker keeps adding more.
ABB, one of the top three global robot manufacturers, has sold several hundreds of
robots in India in the past decade. The Swiss-based company expects double-digit
growth in India from now on because of the rapid expansion of automobile companies,
and also growth in electronics manufacturing. India already supplies peripherals for
making ABB robots, apart from doing local applications engineering. ABB had doubled
the number of employees in India and has set up demonstration centres in Pune,
Bangalore and Chennai and service centres in many more cities. Growth in Indian
markets has prompted ABB to consider setting up an Indian manufacturing centre.
The bulk of India's robotics business is industrial, and that's growing because end-user
companies keep pushing to reduce costs. India is emerging as a hub for production of
industrial robots many American, Korean and Japanese firms are already expanding
fast in India.
The markets for industrial robots are gathering momentum in India as automobile
companies and electronics assembly manufacturers expand their operations in the
country. Because of rapid market growth in India, smaller established robotics
companies are growing and there are notable new company start-ups.
Grey Orange Robotics
Based in Gurgaon and Singapore, Grey Orange creates robots catering to the
warehousing and automation space. The firm aims to provide disruptive technology to
make innovative products for efficient logistics and distribution.
Its flagship product, the Butler System, is a high-tech material-handling system that
simultaneously improves speed, accuracy, productivity and flexibility. It consists of a grid
of paths across a warehouse floor on which fast-moving mobile robots traverse, fetching
racks of items to a packer. Once the packer removes the item and packs it for shipping,
the racks are replaced back in their place by the robots.
The start-up is backed by Tiger Global and Blume Ventures.
Systemantics
This Bangalore-based start-up aims to enable widespread adoption of flexible
automation in industry, for tedious and mentally-fatiguing or hazardous tasks that human
labour is ill-suited to perform.
Systemantics is focussed on the indigenous development of the core technologies of
robotic arms (servo motion controllers, AC servomotors, speed reducers and joint angle
encoders).
Its products include Scara, a pick-and-place robot intended for use in loading discrete
components in applications such as feeding, stamping machines and stacking in
FMCG/pharma industry.
Gade Autonomous Systems
Mumbai-based Gade aims to introduce state-of-the-art social and service robots that
could communicate with human beings and their surroundings.

Its flagship product is AdverTron, a marketing and advertising robot that can play music
and speak English, interact with smart devices, knows where it is and where it needs to
go and move safely and smoothly around people and objects. The robot can also be
used as a mobile information desk, tour guide, brand mascot, or entertainment robot for
your shops, shopping malls, trade fairs, exhibitions, museums and for marketing events
of any kind.
Sastra Robotics
Based in Kochi (South India), Sastra aims to develop and market novel and high-end
robotics technologies for a wide range of applications aimed at the welfare of humanity,
such as industrial, consumer and academic research purposes.
Its products include Hovis (humanoid robot kits that can be used to form more than 20
different forms) and Genibo (a robot quadruped dog that can walk around on its own,
recognise its owner with its own eyes, respond to spoken words and touch, play tricks
and cuddle up to the owner, as if alive). The start-up also offers robotics services such
as circuit design, simulation and verification.
German multinational company Bosch is a customer of Sastra.
Gridbots
Based in Ahmedabad (West India), Gridbots works in the fields of nuclear space and
industrial robotics. Gridbots develops robots that can be used for inspection and welding
and cutting operations in difficult to reach spaces.
Its advanced combat robots can be used for battlefield and smart reconnaissance
missions suited for homeland agencies and defense forces. It also offers robots that can
remove human dependence by increasing productivity and efficiency in various
industries.
High-Tech Robotics
Hi-Tech Robotics is working in the field of robotics, Artificial Intelligence and control
technologies, spanning the entire value chain starting from requirement analysis,
concept development to system integration and beyond.
With more than 15 patents, the company is engaged in developing solutions to bring in
effective and efficient robotic systems for mass utility. Hi-Tech is a part of the Hi-Tech
Group, a US$150 million multi-dimensional group of companies with over two decades
of experience in the Indian and international markets.
The companys industrial robotics division develops robotic and automation solutions for
increasing the efficiency and productivity on the factory floor, while its defense division is
focussed on developing and delivering unmanned systems for keeping armed/civil
defense personnel safe.
Not satisfied with just local market expansion, the best India-based robotics companies
are looking for good export growth over the next few years. They are expecting that their
India-developed industrial robots will also find expanding international markets based on
price and performance. Industrial Robotics is on the cusp of completely changing global
manufacturing and distribution operations. India is developing a strong position in this
growing market.

Opportunities in Robotics in India

Industry is moving towards automation, increase in production and increase in accuracy
of the products.
India accounts for slightly less than 1.5% of global purchases of Industrial robots. The
vast majority are used in India's automotive industry as JV's match global manufacturing
processes
India is having big potential for the expansion of the robotics Industry due to increasing
labour cost, more and more automation, and increase in production demand and
increasing international competition for producing more accurate products.
Robotics opens up a plethora of opportunities for both entrepreneurs and students.
Industries across a range of sectors such as automotive, atomic energy, defence, space,
metals, textiles and manufacturing use Robotic technologies very extensively. They are
also being used in operation theatres and rehabilitation centres to augment the quality of
life. It is an ever growing field and many avenues have opened up in recent past.

Therefore, students who have the required skill sets will be favoured by such industries.
The automation industry is a big consumer of Robotic technology. Using such
technology, the quality of products and processes improve considerably.

It is a multidisciplinary engineering field. One gets to understand the integration of

mechanical, electrical, electronic as well as computer science disciplines in this field.
Depending on the focus area, they can move on to various engineering domains of their
choice. Robotics is best suited for industrial automation (manufacturing, packaging,
assembly etc.). Most of the tasks in these sectors are dull, dirty and dangerous for
human beings and as such utilizing Robotics and automation in these sectors would
improve productivity, safety as well as the quality of the end product. Human operators
can then take up more value added roles in the industry

An ideal team that can come up with a world class product in the Robotics industry
would be one with deep specialization in server engineering, electrical, embedded
programming and mechanical engineering (with focus on design, manufacturing and
materials). Talking about the sectors that are best suited for the adoption of Robotics
are those with large volumes, frequent demand spikes or are prone to frequent

audits/quality checks. Also industries where the volumes are huge enough to occupy
large real estate are also prime candidates for Robotics. This makes automation ideal for
sectors like retail, pharma, e-commerce, automobile spares and engineering tools.
Having said that, Robotics is applicable in almost all sectors that need to store,
assemble and transport physical products.
The Following Industry have a scope of using Robots

Electrical and Electronic

Motor vehicles

Automotive Industry

Chemical Rubber and Plastic

Rubber Parts

Food

Industrial Machinery

Communication

Consumer Domestic Appliances

Ceramic and Glass

Medical Equipment

Challenges:

Among the many challenges that plague the Robotics field in India, the primary ones
among them have to do with the high cost of adoption, availability of skilled talent and
procurement of hardware components. The cost of adopting Robotic technology is very
high due to the cost of procuring imported hardware components as well as training
personnel. As Robotics is a multidisciplinary field, acquiring and retaining quality talent is
a big issue. Lastly, SME customers need to see visible ROI before they proactively adopt
Robotics. The capital-intensive nature of Robotics adoption when compared to the low
cost of human labour clearly tips the scale in favour of the latter.

In general hardware businesses are challenging because of all the paperwork involved
in importing hardware parts into India. There are not many commercial applications that
are ready to enter the market. Also There is a scarcity of talent that specializes in the
many disciplines such as electrical, embedded, software and mechanical that make up
Robotics. Importing quality components leads to longer lead times and other excise and
licensing woes is also a major concern for them, in addition to finding early adopter
customers of Robotics.
From an academic perspective some of the challenges coming in the way of Robotics in
an Indian scenario

As Robotics is multidisciplinary in nature, barring students in the top schools in

India, the others lack the knowledge required in four to five engineering disciplines
to become an expert in this field. Also most of the students develop projects that

already exist in the public domain.

Scarcity of good faculty to teach the subject
Barring a few regions in India, Robotics as a subject is not taught well to the
engineering students

For businesses, the absence of hardware companies that can cater to them and the
dependence on countries like China, USA and Europe to procure the necessary
components as a major stumbling block.

Future of Robotics in India

There is no denying that Robotic technologies are all set to change the way things are
done in the industries in which they are being implemented. All the entrepreneurs are
clearly optimistic about the use of Robotics in various industrial segments and its future
in India. Robotics will capture industries like manufacturing, pharmaceutical, packaging
and inspection. A bit of Robotics would also be seen in the healthcare sector primarily in
the form of assistive and skill development technologies. The other promising sectors
are defense and education. Robotics has opened the burgeoning opportunities but there
are still many challenges that this field faces in an Indian scenario. In India, need is to
come up with a world class product in the Robotics industry with deep specialization in
server engineering, electrical, embedded programming and mechanical engineering
(with focus on design, manufacturing and materials). Someone wishing to get into the
Robotics industry must have a wide variety of skills and a thorough understanding of

system control along with system integration and those who are passionate about
Robotics from any field of engineering can be a part of a team working on a particular
Robotics project. Talking about the sectors that are best suited for the adoption of
Robotics are those with large volumes, frequent demand spikes or are prone to frequent
audits/quality checks. Also industries where the volumes are huge enough to occupy
large real estate are also prime candidates for Robotics. This makes automation ideal for
sectors like retail, pharma, e-commerce, automobile spares and engineering tools.
Having said that, Robotics is applicable in almost all sectors that need to store,
assemble and transport physical products. DIY robots and UAV research platforms are
the need of the hour to make robotics more popular in India. Forecasting the adoption of
Robotics in India in the future, due to globalization and high industrialization, Robotics in
India is poised for a bright future. Considering that India is already a manufacturing hub
catering to the whole world, the use of robots in every aspect of manufacturing will
provide the necessary edge to companies. In turn this will propel the requirement of
skilled manpower for this technology. Modern robotics engineers are confronted with the
task of developing machines that interact with their creators in modes of increasing
compatibility.

Conclusion
Given that Robotics is fast entering into the industrial space in India, it is but natural that
a lot of employment and entrepreneurship opportunities are opening up for people who
wish to enter this growing and exciting field. From what the many entrepreneurs had to
say, there is no denying the fact that there are many challenges that need to be
overcome before India is seen as a go-to destination for Robotics. One of the biggest
challenges that they face today is the procurement of the hardware and other electronic
components that are required to build a robot. However, this can be seen as a golden
opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to set up businesses that can supply Made In
India components and hardware to the existing and upcoming companies involved in
Robotics. The future of Robotics in India seems certainly bright and promising!