Summary of the Core Content
This news article summarizes the key points from a speech given by Bernstein, a veteran in the American robotics industry, at the 2026 World Robot Conference. The discussion focuses on the past, present, and future of the robotics industry in North America: starting with automobile factories, the region has now developed a complete ecosystem comprising over 500 companies. Non-automotive industries are becoming new growth drivers, with collaborative and mobile robots seeing expanded applications. Humanoid robots are highly sought after by investors but require time to prove their effectiveness, while household robots remain an unfulfilled dream. Finally, it is emphasized that the widespread adoption of robots still faces significant challenges in terms of reliability, safety, and cost.
Detailed Analysis
1. North American Robotics: From Automotive Factories to a Comprehensive Industry Ecosystem
Robots are not a new phenomenon in North America; the first industrial robotic arm, Unimate, was introduced in 1961 for use in automobile factories. Initially, robots were primarily exclusive to the automotive industry, with companies like General Motors being major users. However, the sector faced a downturn in the 1980s and 1990s, leading many to believe it would decline.
Today, North America has more than 500 companies involved in the robotics ecosystem, ranging from providers of AI algorithms and machine vision technologies to robot manufacturers, system integrators, end-users, and educational institutions. Orders increased by 6.6% in the first three quarters of 2025, although not as rapidly as in China. This trend is positive given the aging population and the need for robots to handle tedious and labor-intensive tasks.
2. Non-Automotive Industries Take the Lead: Robots Are No Longer Limited to Automotive Use
In the past, 75%-80% of North American robotics orders came from the automotive industry. However, in the first half of 2026, non-automotive industries accounted for 54.8% of orders, indicating a significant shift. Industries such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, food, and consumer goods are increasingly adopting robots—for example, robots used for chip handling in semiconductor factories and packaging in food processing plants. This shows that robots are moving beyond automotive factories to other sectors.
3. Collaborative and Mobile Robots: Breaking Free from Constraints
Traditional industrial robots were considered dangerous and required enclosures due to their speed and strength; they were also expensive and complex to operate, making them unaffordable for many companies. Collaborative robots (such as those from Universal Robots) have emerged, allowing them to work alongside humans on tasks like assembly and maintenance, with 70% of sales in non-automotive industries in 2025. Mobile robots, such as those acquired by Amazon from Kiva in 2012, are also gaining popularity. The combination of mobility and collaborative capabilities is particularly useful, enabling robots to perform multiple tasks efficiently. However, their growth is not yet explosive and requires market acceptance.
4. Humanoid Robots Are Popular but Still a Long-Term Goal
Humanoid robots are currently favored by investors worldwide, but Bernstein notes that they will take time to become practical. Many demonstration videos show robots in artificially created scenarios rather than real work environments, indicating that their capabilities still fall short of human standards. Despite their potential, humanoid robots could revolutionize various applications and even serve as service robots. Household robots, which many dream of (capable of cooking, cleaning, and caring for the elderly), face challenges in reliability and safety; these issues need to be resolved before they become widely adopted.
5. Overcoming Barriers for Widespread Adoption
For both industrial and household robots to become mainstream, five key issues must be addressed:
- Problem Solving: Even advanced technology is useless if it cannot solve real-world problems (e.g., labor shortages in factories or cleaning needs at home).
- Reliability: Industrial applications require high precision (99.99%), which many robots currently fail to achieve.
- Safety: Robots must be safe in various environments, including homes with children and pets, but there are no international standards for this.
- User Acceptance: Workers may fear that robots will replace their jobs, and ordinary people may resist having robots in their homes.
- Cost and Return on Investment: Companies need to see a financial benefit from buying robots, and household robots must be affordable.
Without overcoming these barriers, robots will remain limited to laboratories or specific use cases.
Conclusion
The North American robotics industry is transitioning from being dominated by the automotive sector to a more diversified ecosystem. New types of robots (collaborative, mobile, humanoid) hold great promise, but widespread adoption requires solving practical issues related to technology, cost, and public acceptance. The future is promising, but there is still a long way to go.