November 2019 Table of Contents

CFE Media and Technology Robotics Research Report November 2019 Table of contents Section Page Introduction and methodology 3 Key findings 4 Respondent profile 5-10 Robots, components, software, use 11-24 Robotic safety, training 25-30 Robotic purchase, specification 31-37 Robotic spending, timing, 38-45 manufacturers Additional resources 46 Introduction and methodology Objective The study was conducted by Control Engineering and Plant Engineering to identify trending information as it relates to the buying and specifying habits of engineering professionals involving robotics. Sample The sample was selected from qualified subscribers of Control Engineering and Plant Engineering with valid email addresses who purchase, specify or use robotics. Method Subscribers were sent an email asking them to participate in this study. The email included a URL linked to the questionnaire. ▪ Data collected: August 23, 2019, through September 21, 2019 ▪ Number of respondents: 22 from Plant Engineering and 96 from Control Engineering o Margin of error: +/- 9.0% at a 95% confidence level ▪ Incentive: Survey participants were offered the opportunity to enter a drawing for a chance to receive a $100 VISA gift card. Summary of findings Key findings follow about respondents’ involvement with robotics. Also see a separate article with write-in advice from survey respondents, in the December 2019 Robotics Special Report from Control Engineering and Plant Engineering. Robots, components, software, use About 70% of respondents buy or specify robots; many other products and services go with that, including robot or vision sensors; robot grippers; robot software; robots as part of a larger machine system or workcell, robot control panels and enclosures and more than another dozen related products or services. Software and controllers: For open-source robot programming software, 27% said they use or would use; 31% said a controller from a third-party manufacturer guides robot movement. Forty-seven percent of respondents have material handling/conveying applications; 34% said they have pick-and-place applications. Robotic safety, training Just 9% find unaccepted safety risk associated with robots; 4% isn’t being addressed. Of respondents 56% don’t think those involved with robots get enough safety training. Of that 14% could use a lot more. Consultants provide the most training (54%), compared to other robotic trainers (24%), RIA-certified integrators (21%), RIA online (17%), and other robotic system integrators (13%). Depending on position, 53% to 70% receive a sufficient or above average amount of robot training. Robotic purchase, specification Just 12% have one or more predetermined vendors. Extremely and fairly important decisions for purchase or specification include safety devices (88%), throughput (87%), avoiding downtime (86%), and quality (86%). Throughput (64%) and quality (52%) are the largest purchasing reasons. Financing and justification are top obstacles to purchasing (42% each); Robotic spending, timing More than half expect their next robot purchase within a year. One-third of respondents said their next robot purchase is within the next six months; 4% within a year; 75% would or might change vendors. Respondent profile: Robotics Research Report Primary job function Process, Production or Manufacturing Engineering 26% System or Product Design, Control or Instrument Engineering 20% System Integration or Consulting 15% General or Corporate Management 14% Operations or Maintenance 11% Other 8% Other Engineering* 7% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% Q: What is your primary job function? (n=74) *Other Engineering includes: Evaluation, QC, Standards, Reliability, Test, Project, Software, Plant, Electrical, Mechanical or Electronic Primary business (continued on next page) Automotive and Other Transportation Equipment Mfg 12% Machinery Mfg 11% System Integration, Consulting, Business or Technical Services 9% Miscellaneous or Other Mfg 7% Instrumentation, Control Systems, Test, Measurement or Medical Equipment Mfg 7% Computers, Communications, Consumer Electronics and Electronic Product Mfg 7% Fabricated Metal Mfg 6% Food, Beverage, Tobacco Mfg 5% Other 4% Utilities including Electric, Gas, Water & Waste and Telecommunications 4% Plastics & Rubber Mfg 4% Pharmaceutical Mfg 4% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% Q::What is the primary business at your location? (n=118) Primary business (continued; note: scale changed from prior page) Aircraft, Aerospace or Defense Mfg 3% Primary Metal Mfg 3% Plant/Facilities Engineering or Maintenance Services 2% Oil, Gas and Petroleum, including Refining 2% Mining & Mineral Product Mfg 2% Distribution Centers, Warehousing 2% Chemical Mfg 2% Wood, Paper Mfg and Related Printing Activities 1% Textiles, Apparel and Leather Products Mfg 1% Information, Data Processing or Software and Services 1% Government or Military 1% Electrical Equipment, Appliance and Component Mfg 1% Agriculture or Construction 1% 0% 1% 1% 2% 2% 3% 3% 4% Q: What is the primary business at your location? (n=118) Facility size 40% 38% 35% 30% 25% 20% 18% 16% 15% 15% 12% 10% 5% 1% 0% Fewer than 100 100 to 249 250 to 499 500 to 999 1,000 or more Don't know Q: How many people work at your location? (n=74) Location East North New Central England 28% 3% West North Central Middle 4% Atlantic Mountain 9% 6% East Pacific South South 16% Atlantic Central 21% West South 5% Central 8% Robots, components, software, use: Robotics Research Report Types of robots or related components purchased or specified Articulated robots 72% *Collaborative robots that are industrial robots applied or modified for use in a collaborative way 32% Gantry robots 28% Mobile robots, used for material transport, warehousing, fulfillment, and services, including machine tending 28% Collaborative robots (by design speed or force limiting in such a way as to minimize risk to humans) 28% Cartesian robots 28% Selective compliant articulated robot arm (SCARA) robots 15% Drones with autonomous capabilities (a type of mobile robot). Remotely controlled drones are not robots and are not covered here. 9% Parallelogram robots [including Delta**] 5% Other robot types 3% Robotic exoskeletons for assembly, logistics, or to decrease risk from repetitive movement or lifting 3% Hybrid of above robot types 3% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Q: What types of robots or related components, devices and/or services do you buy or specify? Check all that apply (N=116) *Modified with appropriate speed/force limiting software applied, padding, safety sensors. ** “including Delta" was not included in the survey, but is included here for explanation. Number of robots 40% 35% 35% 30% 25% 20% 20% 15% 11% 11% 10% 8% 5% 5% 4% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 1 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 25 Don't know 26 to 50 More than 1,000 101 to 250 51 to 75 76 to 100 251 to 500 501 to 750 751 to 1,000 Q: About how many robots (units) do you have operating on site—or sites for which you’re responsible (N=75)? (N=75) Robots, software, components, training purchased or specified Robots 71% Robot tending or conveyor devices 39% Robot sensors or vision 64% Robot maintenance 39% Robot sensors 64% Robot linear guides and motors 37% Robot grippers 59% Robotic training 36% Robot software 52% Robotic integration (hire others) 34% Robotics as part of a larger machine, system, or Robot wiring or harnesses 33% workcell 50% Robot control panels and enclosures 49% Robot pendants 30% Robotic integration (self) 45% Robot mounting pads and devices 25% Robot power supply 45% Other robotic components 3% Robot effectors (end-of-arm tooling or EOAT) 45% Other robot services 2% Robot safety cages, devices and systems 41% Robot leasing 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% Q: Which robotic devices, systems or services do you buy or specify? Check all that apply. (N=118)) Robot-related software Robot communications 67% 25% 14% Robot programming based on moving robot arm (move to teach) 62% 14% 29% Robot safety software 56% 24% 28% Robot setup and programming wizards 55% 17% 30% Robot simulation and training 53% 19% 34% Robot analytics 50% 15% 41% Robot programming and simulation and training, integrated 46% 24% 34% Robot programming G code 44% 21% 40% Robot programming based on function-block or flow-charts 42% 22% 42% Robot kinematic libraries 40% 12% 51% Universal robot programming software that can program robot and surrounding axes of motion 35% 25% 47% Robot remote asset management/diagnostics services software (cloud) 30% 15% 58% Robot artificial intelligence (AI/machine learning) 29% 20% 54% Integrated cybersecurity 20% 26% 58% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Robot manufacturer Third-party distributor or other organization Not in use/Not applicable Q: For the robots that you buy/specify, what robot-related software is in use and who is the software provider? Check all that apply for each row and column. (N=113) *Modified with appropriate speed/force limiting software applied, padding, safety sensors Open-source robot programming software; controllers 60% Open-source robot programming software 47% 40% 17% 17% 20% 10% 10% 0% We know of it and haven't used We know of it and have used We would like more We don't know of it and would We don't know of it and information use wouldn't use Robot controller 80% 79% 60% 40% 31% 20% 3% 3% 0% From robot manufacturer From third-party factory controller Other Don’t know manufacturer* Q Top: Regarding open source robot programming software… (N=114) Q Bottom: What robot controller do you use? Check

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