Accelerating the popularization of industrial robots is urgently needed for the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry
Made in China 2025 cannot do without large-scale industrialization of robots. Industrial robots not only improve production efficiency but also enhance product quality. As early as more than a decade ago, China had already embarked on the path of manufacturing transformation and upgrading. In recent years, with the gradual increase in labor costs and the development of artificial intelligence technology, robots have entered an upgraded stage in industrial production applications. It is urgent for the robotics industry to promote the transformation and upgrading of the entire manufacturing industry.
Japan, Europe, America and other countries have already extensively used robots in industrial manufacturing. From various promotional videos and evaluations from industry insiders, it can be seen that the technology of industrial robots is already very mature. In the past few decades, China has realized that the sudden increase in labor costs and other costs is not conducive to sustainable development and the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry. Therefore, in the past year or two, industrial upgrading and automation, also known as the "two modernizations" proposed by the country - informatization and automation, have risen to the national strategy. The central level attaches great importance to them and has begun to work on top-level design. Since it is top-level design, of course, the country strongly supports and assists, and also provides subsidies to many enterprises that undergo automation transformation and upgrading.
What limits the widespread adoption of domestic industrial robots?
Since the country encourages and subsidizes it, why haven't there been widespread applications and promotions in China, but there are plenty of robot companies? If work and robots are thriving, what is the reason for the illusion of prosperity? Today, let's not talk about specific fields or industry applications. Let's start from the perspective of popularizing applications and take a look at the constraints of domestic industrial robots.
The premise of widespread application is not too high cost and easy to operate attributes, as well as a stable and highly demanded market. However, the scarce independent intellectual property rights and weak core component technology make the structure of key parts dependent only on imports. Although some domestic manufacturers have belatedly focused on developing their own brands, there is still a significant gap. Compared to the mature and developed robotics industry in Japan and Europe, China is just starting out and still has a long way to go.
At the national level, there is also no effort to assist the robotics industry, with policy support and financial assistance. However, in return, there is a rush to defraud funds, and even if there are no difficulties, difficulties must be created to obtain subsidies. There are very few companies that are impulsive and willing to focus on research and development, and the situation is not optimistic. On the other hand, the popularity of core technologies is not high. Strictly speaking, most manufacturers only make semi-automatic machines, not robots.
In 2015, the entire manufacturing industry was in a slump, and this year there has only been a slight easing. The existing equipment is already overcapacity, and it is foolish to put robots into mass use without reasonable reasons and sufficient demand. Industry 4.0 is a reference to Germany's industrialization process. To be honest, our 4.0 is far from achieving it. Germany seized the strong demand of the world decades ago, so they have advantages in terms of system, cost, and technology. China has just completed the transformation of its manufacturing industry, and opportunities and challenges coexist. Under this premise, the popularization of the robot industry, especially industrial robots, is not so easy. Buying robots worth tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands in bulk, and having to wait and stop production during the cold wave of demand, is a problem that any enterprise must consider. Stable industry demand and a thriving supply market are prerequisites for the widespread adoption and application of industrial robots.
Looking at the market share again, it is difficult for domestically produced industrial robots, which started relatively late, to squeeze into the automotive and shipbuilding industries. However, traditional welding and palletizing methods require a large quantity, but still rely heavily on joint ventures. Cutting edge industries cannot be reached, and the development of mid to low end industries is also uneven, lacking the determination and patience to innovate, which puts the level of domestic industrial robots on the edge of the entire industry. The recent comments about China's manufacturing industry returning to the United States have once again caused public panic in the sluggish market. With the expansion of the virtual economy, industrial capital is avoiding the heavy and focusing on the light, and the neglected manufacturing industry is facing the danger of "hollowing out". The robotics industry is the first to bear the brunt, and industrial robots are seeking survival in the cracks. Overall, the market and cost firmly hold the lifeline of the robotics industry, and the construction of core components is crucial. The backwardness of technology has created the current passive situation, which in turn restricts the development of domestic industrial robots. The widespread popularization and application of these robots also seem too distant. Fortunately, the development of the domestic robot industry has already embarked on the right path, although there have been setbacks, it is still exploring and moving forward. One day, the widespread use of domestic industrial robots will be achieved, but time may come slowly. I hope colleagues in the industry can work together and contribute to the construction of domestic robots.
Where are the opportunities for China's manufacturing industry?
If cost and technology are the biggest obstacles to the promotion and popularization of robots in China, then this is also the breakthrough point for the upgrading of China's manufacturing industry.
At the annual conference of Gaogong Robotics, Qu Daokui, Chairman of Xinsong Robotics, told First Financial reporters that the industry is currently in a critical stage of transformation. With the development of machine vision, tactile and force feedback technologies, the application of robots in the industrial field is gradually shifting from low tech jobs such as handling to precision operation programs in production lines. From now on, the competitiveness and market space of traditional robots will weaken. In the next 10 years, robots will enter the production and daily life of enterprises in large quantities, transforming from optional products to necessities in production and manufacturing, "said Qu Daokui.
As high-end intelligent equipment, robots have been widely used in production lines, but they have never been able to escape the functional performance of machine equipment. Most industrial robots are engaged in low tech jobs such as handling and sorting. According to the "2016 First Half Industrial Robot Market Statistics", compared with the previous year, the application fields of domestic industrial robots are broader, and the 3C manufacturing industry and automobile manufacturing industry have the highest proportion in the total sales of domestic industrial robots, accounting for 30% and 12.6% respectively. The 3C manufacturing industry increased by nearly 20 percentage points compared to the same period last year.
The application of robots is facing significant breakthroughs in technology. In the past, robots have not been able to escape from the functional performance of equipment, only playing a role in adding icing on the cake in the workplace, and have not become a necessity. ”Qu Daokui told reporters that in order for industrial robots to solve the real problems in the manufacturing industry, it is necessary to adjust their supporting technologies and adapt their robot structures to high-end precision operations.
Breakthroughs in technologies such as machine vision and deep learning have helped robots complete industrial upgrades while also reducing their costs.
The cost curve of the industry is showing a downward trend, as robot manufacturers have added many components from the electronics industry (such as cameras, processors, and sensors), and technological breakthroughs have led to a decrease in component costs. According to ABB Robotics, the installation program of an industrial robot only accounts for one-third of the total cost of ownership (TCO). ARK Investment estimates that the cost of industrial robots will decrease by half in the next decade, dropping to approximately $100000 per unit. Meanwhile, the price of a new type of robot that collaborates with humans is approximately $30000.
As labor costs continue to rise and machine costs are reduced, the advantages of robots in functional technology are reflected, allowing them to enter the era of mass applications.
(Source: News Center of China Equipment Manufacturing Industry Association)
