...says Bir Singh, Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Addverb Technologies (an Indian robotics and automation company), in this interview with Rakesh Rao.

Robots are central to achieving India’s ambition of becoming a global manufacturing hub, as they enhance efficiency, consistency, and scalability in operations. By adopting robotics, India can streamline its manufacturing processes, improve quality standards, and reduce costs. With the rapid adoption of automation technologies like collaborative robots (cobots) and mobile robots, industries can increase their production capacity and meet global demand while maintaining competitiveness. At Addverb, we believe in the potential of Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC), where robots complement human workers, leading to smarter, more sustainable manufacturing environments. 

The robotics market in India is experiencing significant growth, particularly with the rise of cobots and mobile robots, as industries look for innovative automation solutions to enhance efficiency. Addverb is contributing to this shift with products like Trakr, India’s first assistive dog robot, designed for autonomous operations in tasks such as facility inspections, patrols, and surveillance, especially in sectors like construction, manufacturing, and defense. Heal, a medical cobot, specialises in rehabilitation therapy for stroke patients and aids in remote imaging procedures such as ultrasound and MRI scans. Synchro, another collaborative robot, is designed to work safely and effectively alongside humans in warehouses and factories, handling diverse tasks from manufacturing to logistics. These innovations are helping industries such as e-commerce, automotive, and logistics optimize their operations and improve safety.

AI assists robots in their ability to perform in an incredibly dynamic manner, and employ the use of sensors, machine learning, and computer vision to achieve high levels of environment understanding and decision making. Robots that are powered by artificial intelligence work well in sectors including manufacturing, medicine, and automotive. AI endows robots with vision to move and sense, and then decide an appropriate response based on the calculation it has made. 

With the help of AI integrated robotics makes such machines more efficient with self-learning ability to recognise the new objects. However, at this time robots are employed in industrial applications and in other fields to perform the aforementioned actions and where the accuracy and efficiency of robots exceed that of human beings. Some application areas include self-organising and self-optimising systems for managing stocks in a warehouse, accurate management of cargo in an airport, and robotic surgery for medical applications. These innovations increase productivity, improve safety and also decrease expenditure, possibilities that AI can revolutionize industries.

The growth of the robot market in India faces challenges such as high initial investment costs, limited awareness about automation benefits, and the need for skilled labour to manage robotic systems. However, SMEs can certainly take advantage of robots and cobots. Affordable and scalable automation solutions tailored for SMEs are becoming more accessible. At Addverb, we provide solutions that allow businesses of all sizes to implement robots without extensive capital outlay. Cobots, in particular, offer a low-barrier entry for SMEs, as they are designed to work alongside human operators, enhancing productivity without requiring significant changes to existing workflows.

The rise of robots and automation will inevitably transform job roles in India. While some routine and repetitive jobs may be replaced by robots, new jobs will be created in areas like robot maintenance, programming, and system integration. Companies can prepare their workforce for this transition by investing in training programs focused on upskilling employees in robotics and AI technologies. Addverb promotes a collaborative approach, where robots complement human skills, allowing employees to focus on more strategic, creative, and complex tasks. Our vision is to foster a balanced transition through continuous learning and integration of robotics in various industries.

Several trends will shape the future of the robotics market, including advancements in AI and machine learning, increased integration of robots with IoT, and the growing adoption of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Additionally, the shift towards sustainable and energy-efficient technologies will drive innovation in robotics. At Addverb, we are preparing for these trends by continuing to innovate in AI-driven robotics and exploring new applications for AMRs in industries like e-commerce and logistics. We are also focusing on creating robots that are energy-efficient and designed to contribute to sustainable practices in manufacturing and supply chains. Our R&D efforts are focused on staying ahead of these trends and developing solutions that anticipate the needs of the future.