Educational Robot Market

Educational Robots Introduction

The emergence of technology has brought about a new era in the education sector, where educational robots are increasingly becoming popular among educators and learners alike. Educational robots are programmable machines that have been designed to enhance the learning process in different educational settings. These robots are increasingly being integrated into classrooms to help students learn different subjects, such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This essay discusses the benefits of educational robots in the classroom and how they can enhance the learning experience for students.

Benefits of Educational Robots in the Classroom

Educational robots have several benefits in the classroom. Firstly, they enhance student engagement and motivation. Students are often more excited to learn when they are working with robots compared to when they are using traditional learning methods. This is because robots are interactive and provide immediate feedback, making the learning experience more enjoyable and rewarding. Additionally, robots can be programmed to adapt to individual student learning styles, which makes learning more personalized and effective.

Secondly, educational robots provide a safe and controlled environment for experimentation and learning. Robots can be programmed to perform different tasks, and students can experiment with them to understand concepts better. For instance, a robot can be programmed to demonstrate the principles of physics by moving objects around, allowing students to observe and understand how these principles work in real-time. The controlled environment also means that students can experiment with the robot without fear of damaging it, which can be costly.

Thirdly, educational robots can enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills. As robots are programmed to perform tasks, students must think critically and creatively to program the robots to perform these tasks. This enhances their problem-solving skills as they must identify the steps required to program the robot to perform a particular task. Additionally, the immediate feedback provided by the robot allows students to refine their problem-solving skills as they can see the results of their programming in real-time.

Fourthly, educational robots can enhance teamwork and collaboration skills. In a classroom setting, robots can be programmed to perform tasks that require teamwork, such as building structures or solving puzzles. This allows students to work together and collaborate, which enhances their teamwork and collaboration skills. Additionally, robots can be programmed to provide immediate feedback, which means that students can work together to identify and correct errors in their programming.

In conclusion, educational robots are a valuable addition to classrooms as they provide several benefits to students. These benefits include enhanced student engagement and motivation, a safe and controlled environment for experimentation and learning, enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and enhanced teamwork and collaboration skills. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that educational robots will become even more prevalent in classrooms, providing students with a more personalized and effective learning experience.

Educational Robot Market Dynamics

DRIVERS in Educational Robot Market

The educational robot market is being driven by the increasing demand for collaborative robots in both the industrial and education sectors. Collaborative robots are becoming more affordable and easier to program, particularly for those who are new to using them. They are being used in two distinct ways in research and education.

In the education sector, universities and community colleges are utilizing robots to teach students the skills and technologies required to enter the workforce. For example, in the United States, institutions such as Johns Hopkins, The University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, and Marshall University have established collaborative robot education centers that provide students with exposure to collaborative robots and opportunities to conduct robotics research.

In the industrial sector, universities are exploring the potential of collaborative robots across different industries by identifying new applications and improving existing ones, as well as enhancing robot efficiency and studying the effects of robots on health and occupational safety in the workplace. Collaborative robots are also being studied for their potential to assist doctors and surgeons with various medical procedures.

As a result, the educational robot market is expected to continue to grow as more institutions and industries recognize the benefits of utilizing collaborative robots.

Restraints in Educational Robot Market

Educational Robots Face High Costs

The majority of robots used for educational and training purposes have a payload capacity of 10 kg or less. In some cases, robots with higher payload capacities of up to 60 kg are also utilized. However, the cost associated with industrial robots, including integration costs and the price of peripherals such as end effectors and vision systems, make them a costly investment for educational institutions. Humanoid robots, for example, can range in price from USD 7,000 to USD 50,000. For instance, the TIAGo humanoid robot from PAL Robotics in Spain costs approximately USD 50,000. The high cost of educational robots, particularly humanoid robots, has restrained the growth of the educational robots market.

Opportunities in Educational Robot Market

Industrial Robots in High Schools

Secondary schools worldwide are increasingly offering robotics classes and related disciplines to prepare students for industries being transformed by robotic automation. These schools are adapting educational materials from industrial robot manufacturers and building specialized labs to provide students with a foundation in industrial technology and, in some cases, expose them to careers in the automated manufacturing industry. ABB, for example, has six affiliate colleges in the United States that offer industrial robotics education: Motlow State Community College, Jefferson State Community College, Vincennes University, Robotics Technology Park, Fox Valley Technical College, and Piedmont Technical College.

CHALLENGES in Educational Robot Market

Training centers are facing challenges when it comes to providing hands-on training due to the difficulties posed by the pandemic. Human resources are required for the installation, commissioning, and training of industrial robots, but the current pandemic control measures around the world have made it harder to conduct in-person training sessions. To overcome this challenge, many training programs have shifted to an online format and have been using robot simulation software. However, these methods do not fully replicate the benefits of a real-world operating scenario. As a result, institutions and training centers are finding it difficult to provide a truly hands-on training approach during these unprecedented times.

Educational Robot Market Ecosystem

The educational robot market is a growing ecosystem that is witnessing a shift towards service robots. During the forecasted period, service robots are expected to hold the larger share of the market. These robots are commonly used in the special education segment for children with special needs, particularly those with autism. Humanoid robots play a crucial role in bridging the communication gap between students and teachers, and they facilitate an alternative method of learning that enables students to acquire new skills and knowledge. To integrate more interactive and digital educational content, interactive devices are necessary. For instance, SoftBank Robotics Group's Pepper robot has a touchscreen display on its chest that can be programmed to show different educational content, while Sanbot Innovation's Sanbot Elf and Sanbot Max robots have touchscreens mounted to them.

The second largest share of the educational robot market is expected to be held by elementary and high school education in 2021. Humanoid robots in elementary schools can serve as customized instructors for individuals or groups, engage with students to improve their social and emotional skills, and keep detailed data on their interactions to enable teachers to track student development. These social robots are designed to promote interaction between children and robots by positioning themselves as learning assistants that engage kids in educational activities. They can also be programmed to interact in multiple languages to help kids learn a second language. In high school education, programmable robots are used to help students enhance their coding skills, as well as to enable students to customize and build robots for robotics competitions and events.

According to projections, the educational robot market's second-largest share will be held by the Asia Pacific region during the forecast period. This region is expected to embrace educational robots rapidly, fueled by government initiatives aimed at improving education across the region. Furthermore, regional players' technological progress in robotics offers prospects for integrating educational robots into the study curriculum. Japan and South Korea, in particular, are making considerable strides in developing diverse types of robots. As a result, it is anticipated that the Asia Pacific region will outperform North America in the educational robot market during the forecast period.

Key Players in Educational Robot Market

• ABB
• YASKAWA
• FANUC
• KUKA
• UNIVERSAL ROBOTS
• SOFTBANK ROBOTICS GROUP
• ROBOTIS
• PAL ROBOTICS
• UBTECH ROBOTICS
• HANSON ROBOTICS
• SEIKO EPSON
• HYULIM ROBOT
• PROBOTICS AMERICA
• AISOY ROBOTICS
• SANBOT INNOVATION
• TECHMAN ROBOT
• DJI
• WONDER WORKSHOP
• PITSCO
• ROBOLINK
• ROBOTERRA

Recent Developments in Educational Robot Market

The educational robot market has witnessed recent developments that have impacted the industry. FANUC, a popular manufacturer, launched three new collaborative robots in March 2022 - the CRX-5iA, CRX-20iA/L, and CRX-25iA. These robots are additions to the already successful CRX series that includes the CRX-10iA and CRX-10iA/L collaborative robots. This launch will enhance the company's business in the European market and provide a wide range of applications such as inspection, machine load/unload, packing, palletizing, sanding, welding, training, and more.

In November 2021, ABB partnered with Sevensense Robotics AG to provide customers with next-generation autonomous mobile robots. This collaboration will offer high flexibility as mobile robots will navigate autonomously in dynamic indoor and outdoor environments.

Furthermore, in October 2021, SoftBank Robotics signed a Master Distribution agreement with United Robotics Group (URG) - a subsidiary of the RAG-Stiftung in Essen - for sales, services, and maintenance of Pepper & NAO robots in Europe. This agreement will help the company expand its reach and improve the availability of its robots in Europe.

The Educational Robot Market has witnessed significant developments in recent years, with the integration of advanced technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Internet of Things (IoT), among others. These developments have led to the emergence of new types of robots, such as social robots, which are designed to engage with students and facilitate their learning experience.

One of the recent developments in the Educational Robot Market is the growing adoption of service robots, which are expected to hold the largest share of the market during the forecasted period. Service robots are mostly used in special education, particularly for children with special needs, such as autism. These robots play a crucial role in bridging the communication gap between students and teachers, providing an alternative method of learning, and helping students acquire new skills and knowledge.

Another recent development in the Educational Robot Market is the increased use of humanoid robots in elementary schools. These robots serve as customized instructors for individuals or groups and engage with students to improve their social and emotional skills. The data gathered by these robots on their interactions with students also enable teachers to track student development. Moreover, humanoid robots can be programmed to interact in multiple languages to help students learn a second language.

In high school education, there has been a growing use of programmable robots to enhance students' coding skills and enable them to customize and build robots for robotics competitions and events. This development has led to the emergence of new robotics programs and competitions, which provide students with hands-on experience in robotics and encourage them to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Overall, the Educational Robot Market is witnessing rapid growth and development, with the integration of advanced technologies and the emergence of new types of robots. These developments are expected to revolutionize the education sector by providing students with new and innovative ways of learning and acquiring new skills and knowledge.