MIC ENGLISH

Robots in Industries: Patent Analysis and Business Opportunities

December 14, 2015 / MIC Research Team

133 Page, BOOK

US$4,000 (Single User License)

Abstract

Robots have been applied in a broad range of areas, including assembly lines and factories, warehouse logistics, military defense, and medical care, to name a few. Their great business potential has lured investors and technology companies. This book provides an overview of robot technologies, including service robots, industrial robots, and medical robots, as well as the related AI (Artificial Intelligence) and sensor technologies. Using patent mining techniques, comprising of text and data mining, this book reveals major vendors' patent deployment and technology trends. Also included are the business outlook and opportunities for perspective entrants.

Table of Contents
1. Artificial Intelligence 9
1.1 Technology Overview 9
1.1.1 Neural Network 9
1.1.2 Expert System 10
1.1.3 Fuzzy Logic 10
1.1.4 Genetic Algorithm 10
1.2 Data Mining of AI-related Patents 12
1.2.1 Patent Search Procedure 12
1.2.2 Analysis of Technology Trends 14
1.3 Outlook for the AI Application Market 22
1.4 Tracking and Observing Highlights 25
1.4.1 US Companies Should be Watched Closely as They Enjoy Absolute Advantage in AI 25
1.4.2 Autonomous Robots & Intelligent Virtual Assistants to Have Great Growth Potential 29
2. Sensor Technology 31
2.1 Technology Overview 31
2.1.1 Image Sensors 31
2.1.2 Pressure Sensors 32
2.1.3 Temperature Sensors 32
2.1.4 Gas Sensors 32
2.1.5 Taste Sensors 32
2.2 Data Mining of Sensor-related Patents 34
2.2.1 Patent Search Procedure 34
2.2.2 Analysis of Technology Trends 36
2.3 Outlook for the Sensor Application Market 47
2.4 Tracking and Observing Highlights 52
2.4.1 US, European, Japanese Vendors Focus on Different Application Areas 52
2.4.2 Asia-Pacific Market Has a Bright Outlook for Growth 52
3. Service Robots 54
3.1 Technology Overview 54
3.1.1 Categories of Service Robots 54
3.1.2 Component Systems 56
3.2 Patent Data Mining of Service Robot Technologies 58
3.2.1 Patent Search Procedure 58
3.2.2 Analysis of Technology Trends 62
3.3 Outlook for the Service Robot Market 70
3.4 Tracking and Observing Highlights 78
3.4.1 Technology Aspect 78
3.4.2 Patent Aspect 78
3.4.3 Market Aspect 79
4. Industrial Robots 82
4.1 Technology Development 82
4.1.1 Type of Technology 82
4.1.2 Component Systems 84
4.2 Patent Mining 85
4.2.1 Patent Search 85
4.2.2 Trend Analysis 89
4.3 Market Outlook 98
4.4 Tracking and Observing Highlights 109
4.4.1 Patents Focused on Control, Handling, Machinery, and Computing Technologies with Key Applications in Transport, Semiconductor, Food, and Chemistry 109
4.4.2 Deteriorating Labor Market Conditions to Drive Demand for Industrial Robots 110
5. Medical Robots 112
5.1 Overview of Medical Robots 112
5.1.1 Diagnostic Systems 112
5.1.2 Robot-assisted Surgery and Therapy Robots 113
5.1.3 Rehabilitation Systems 113
5.1.4 Other Medical Robots 113
5.2 Data Mining of Medical Robot Patents 114
5.2.1 Patent Search Procedure 114
5.2.2 Analysis of Technology Trends 116
5.3 Vendors' Patent Deployment Strategies 125
5.4 Outlook for the Medical Robot Market 127
5.5 Tracking and Observing Highlights 130
5.5.1 US, European Vendors Focus on Different Application Areas 130
5.5.2 Asia-Pacific Market Remains Small; Huge Potential Expected 132
Appendix 134
Glossary of Terms 134
List of Companies 135

List of Figures

Figure 1: Various AI-enabled Products 12
Figure 2: Search Flow for AI-related Patents 14
Figure 3: AI Patent Distribution Share by Sector 16
Figure 4: AI Patent Distribution Share by Field 17
Figure 5: Scale of Worldwide AI Application Market, 2013 - 2024 23
Figure 6: Market Value Share of AI Applications by Field, 2013 - 2024 24
Figure 7: Growth Potential of Major AI Application Fields 25
Figure 8: Various Examples of Sensors 34
Figure 9: Search Flow for Sensor-related Patents 36
Figure 10: Sensor Patent Distribution Share by Sector 38
Figure 11: Sensor Patent Distribution Share by Field 39
Figure 12: Worldwide Sensor Market Value, 2011 - 2016 48
Figure 13: Sensor Sales Share by Application, 2006 vs. 2016 49
Figure 14: Sensor Sales Value by Regional Market, 2006 - 2016 50
Figure 15: Sensor Sales Value by Regional Markets, 2011 vs. 2016 51
Figure 16: Different Types of Service Robots 56
Figure 17: Major Components of a Service Robot 57
Figure 18: Patent Search Flow for Service Robot Technologies 59
Figure 19: Service Robot Patents by Sector Share 63
Figure 20: Service Robot Patents by Field Share 64
Figure 21: Simulation of the Life Cycle of Service Robot Patents 65
Figure 22: Worldwide Sales Volume of Professional Service Robots, 2010 - 2016 71
Figure 23: Worldwide Sales Value of Professional Service Robots, 2010 - 2016 71
Figure 24: Sales Volume Share of Professional Service Robots by Application, 2010 - 2012 72
Figure 25: Worldwide Sales Volume of Personal Service Robots, 2010 - 2016 73
Figure 26: Worldwide Sales Value of Personal Service Robots, 2010 - 2016 73
Figure 27: Examples of Service Robots: Intuitive Surgical 75
Figure 28: Examples of Service Robots: iRobot Corporation 76
Figure 29: Examples of Service Robots: Honda 76
Figure 30: Examples of Service Robots: Kiva Systems 77
Figure 31: Examples of Service Robots: HOBOT 80
Figure 32: Example of Medical Robot: Aethon's MedEx 81
Figure 33: Example of Warehouse Logistics Robot: Kiva Systems 81
Figure 34: Illustration of Industrial Robots 83
Figure 35: Industrial Robot Systems and Their Component Coverage 85
Figure 36: Search Flow for Industrial Robot Patents 87
Figure 37: Industrial Robot Distribution Share by Sector 92
Figure 38: Worldwide Industrial Robot Patent Share by Field Type 93
Figure 39: Worldwide Industrial Robot Market Volume, 2010 - 2016 99
Figure 40: Worldwide Industrial Robot Market Volume Share by Application 100
Figure 41: Worldwide Industrial Robot Market Volume Share by Sector 101
Figure 42: Worldwide Industrial Robot Market Volume Share by Robot Type 101
Figure 43: Industrial Robot Market Adoption Intensity by Country 102
Figure 44: Chinese Industrial Robot Market Volume by Sector and Application 103
Figure 45: Taiwanese Industrial Robot Market Volume by Application and Robot Type 104
Figure 46: Worldwide Industrial Robot Market Value 105
Figure 47: Industrial Robot Market Value Share by Regional Market 106
Figure 48: Illustration of Industrial Robots by Fanuc 107
Figure 49: Illustration of Industrial Robots by ABB 108
Figure 50: Illustration of Industrial Robot by KUKA 108
Figure 51: Illustration of Industrial Robots by Yaskawa 109
Figure 52: Various Examples of Medical Robots 114
Figure 53: Search Flow for Medical Robot Patents 116
Figure 54: Medical Robot Patent Distribution Share by Sector 118
Figure 55: Medical Robot Patent Distribution Share by Field 119
Figure 56: Worldwide Medical Robot Market Sales Volume, 2011 - 2017 127
Figure 57: Medical Robot Sales Volume by Application Areas, 2011- 2017 128
Figure 58: Medical Robot Sales Volume by Regional Market, 2011 - 2013 129
Figure 59: Medical Robot Sales Value, 2011 - 2017 129
Figure 60: Medical Robot ASP, 2011 - 2017 130
Figure 61: Intuitive Surgical's Robots 132

List of Tables

Table 1: Global TSPs' Deployment in China 11
Table 2: Key Technology Fields Identified By Text Mining 15
Table 3: R&D Intensity of the Top 30 AI Patent Assignees 18
Table 4: Top 10 AI-Related Patents 20
Table 5: Matrix Analysis of 10 Most Important AI-Related Patents 21
Table 6: Major Vendors' Deployment of AI Patents 27
Table 7: Analysis of Major Vendors' AI-enabled Application Products 28
Table 8: Human Senses vs. Sensors 33
Table 9: Key Technology Fields Identified By Text Mining 37
Table 10: R&D Intensity of the Top 30 Sensor Patent Assignees 40
Table 11: Important Assignees' Deployment in Sensor Technological Fields 43
Table 12: Top 10 Sensor-Related Patents 45
Table 13: Matrix Analysis of 10 Most Important Sensor-Related Patents 46
Table 14: Categories & Functions of Service Robots 55
Table 15: Search Criteria and Results of the Data Mining Procedure for Service Robot Patents 59
Table 16: Key Technology Fields Identified By Text Mining 62
Table 17: R&D Strength of the Top 30 Assignees in the Field of Service Robots 66
Table 18: Top 10 Patents Related to Service Robots 68
Table 19: Matrix Analysis of 10 Most Important Patents Related to Service Robot Technology 69
Table 20: Major Vendors' Deployment of Personal Service Robots 74
Table 21: Industrial Robot Category and Types 83
Table 22: Key Technology Fields Identified By Text Mining 87
Table 23: Technology Keyword Ranking by Number of Patents 90
Table 24: Top 30 Assignees in the Field of Industrial Robot with Detailed Profile 94
Table 25: Top 10 Industrial Robot Patents 96
Table 26: Matrix Analysis of 10 Most Important Industrial Robot Patents 97
Table 27: Leading Industrial Robot Companies' Product Portfolios by Mechanical Structure 107
Table 28: Medical Robot Product Categories 112
Table 29: Key Technology Fields Identified By Text Mining 117
Table 30: R&D Intensity of the Top 30 Patent Assignees 120
Table 31: Top 10 Medical Robot Patents 123
Table 32: Matrix Analysis of 10 Most Important Medical Robot Patents 124
Table 33: Key Assignees' Deployment in Medical Robot Technological Fields 126

Companies covered
3M, ABB, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Accenture Global Service, Accuray, Aethon, Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research, Amazon, Animas Corp., Aptina Imaging Corporation, ASEA, AT&T, Baxter Corporation, Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska, Bonutti Skeletal Innovations, Bosch, Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., California Institute of Technology, Canon, Comau, Construction Robotics, Continental AG, Covidien LP, Credit Suisse AG, Curexo Technology Corporation, Delphi Technologies, Inc., Denso Corporation, DexCom. Inc., Dongbu, Dynalog, Electrolux, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Fanuc, Ltd., Ford, Foxconn, Fujitsu, General Electric Company, Given Imaging, Google Inc., Hansen Medical, Inc., HealthSouth, Hewlett-Packard, HGST Netherlands B.V., Hitachi, Hiwin, HOBOT , Honda, Honeywell, Hongfujin Precision, IBM, IFR, Infineon Technologies AG, Intel Corporation, Intouch Health, Intuitive Surgical, iRobot, Johns Hopkins University, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Kiva Systems, Kobe Steel, Komatsu Forest, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, KUKA, LG, Lucent Technologies, Matsushita Electric, Mazor Robotics Ltd., Medtronic MiniMed, Inc., Medtronic, Inc., Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Nachi-Fujikoshi, NASA, National Institutes of Health, Neato Robotics, NEC, NGK, OmniVision, Oracle International, Orametrix, Inc., Panasonic, Philips Electronics, Restoration Robotics, Inc., Ricoh Corporation, Robmaria, Robotics Research, Rockwell Automation, Samsung, SAP AG, Seegrid, Seiko Epson, Sick Ag, Siemens, Sony, SRI International, Inc., St. Jude, Medical, Inc., Stäubli, STMicroelectronics, Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc., Symbiosis Corporation, Texas Instruments, Therasense, Inc., Tokico, Toshiba, Toyota, Unimation, USPTO, VGo Communications, Virtual Incision Corporation, Yahoo, Yamaguchi, Yamaha, Yaskawa

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