In the 1970s and 1980s, Industrial robots witnessed the rise of microprocessors and RAM and ROM memories to speed up production with the latest technologies. Fast-forward to today’s robots using Wi-Fi, GNSS (1-4 satellites), and private cellular technology.
Robots operating in tight spaces in factories may work alongside humans and other robots. This calls for precise movement, especially when using autonomous robots and self-driving vehicles. All too often, the factory’s Wi-Fi becomes overloaded with Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) as it vacuums up all ambient electronic signals—cell phones, sensors, two-way radios, computers and frequencies from electrical machinery.
The latency caused by the Wi-Fi’s overload triggers a failsafe—the robot is shut down. Not only is this robot affected, but the timing of other robots and humans are also affected. This is referred to as the robot losing its “heartbeat,” that constant series of communication signals between the Wi-Fi and robot that have paused too long and shut down. This also occurs when robots near the extreme range of the Wi-Fi and enter a “handoff” point to a second Wi-Fi connection. The system is taxed even further when using VPNs.
While robots working outside may use Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to provide robot locations as close as one meter by using multiple satellites, indoor robot work requires greater precision.
One way to ensure robots keep their heartbeats is by using a private cellular network. Cellular networks maintain connections in environments where EMI runs rampant; they offer robots better mobility by using beamforming (focused radio signals into a directional beam versus broadcasting in all directions), which offers superior signal strength while reducing interference. Think of Wi-Fi as connecting an entire café including its outside tables, whereas cellular focuses its beam on just one table inside.
Like you and your phone, robots are mobile within a cellular network and can travel throughout a large facility without missing a handoff between cells. Even if you have a private cellular network and a fleet of robots in place, how do you keep them on paths that don’t’ allow them to run into each other? How do you keep humans safe that work near them? Using the latest technologies, robots exchange location data, updates, and assignments—the total work environment can be mapped.
Acronyms Robots Want You to Know
Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)
The IMU contains three main components in freeing up robots to move about:
Accelerometers: Measures linear acceleration along three axes (x, y, z). Tracks velocity and position and forces such as gravity (changes in speed and direction).
Gyroscopes: Measures angular velocity around three axes, i.e., the speed of rotation, tracking pitch, roll, and yaw.
Magnetometers:a robot’s digital compass measuring the magnetic field to help determine absolute & heading.
While IMUs provide data on robot movement, they also stabilize them correcting for uneven movements, which are especially helpful in tight spaces. As a comparison with its human counterpart, IMU is like the way balance is connected to the inner ear.
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)
LiDAR uses laser light to measure distances to create detailed maps of workspace environments for robots. It measures the time it takes for light to reflect off surfaces to calculate very precise distances. LiDAR can generate hundreds of thousands of points per second as it creates accurate geometries for robots to navigate. As the inner ear is to IMU, LiDAR is like having great vision while measuring the world in 3D.
Using IMU and LiDAR is a common theme for autonomous mobile robots, warehouse robots, and self-driving vehicles. The main benefit is better handling of fast motions, better accuracy for path planning, and avoiding obstacles.
Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM)
SLAM is the process where a robot builds a map of an unknown environment while tracking its own location within it.
Emerging Robot Technologies
In 2024, the global industrial robotics market was valued at $25 billion. By 2030 the estimate is $60 billion. Annual robot installations are projected to exceed 700,000 by 2028. By 2024, more than 3.9 million industrial robots were in operations globally, with Asia accounting for nearly 70%.
Sources: Robotics Business Review; International Federation of Robotics
U.S. Robot Industry Returns to Double Digit Growth
An International Federation of Robotics study published in June of 2026, shows the number of industrial robot installations in the U.S. rose by 11% year-on-year, adding 38,000 units in 2025.
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