Research and innovation in robotics in the automotive manufacturing and supply sector has declined in the last year.
The most recent figures show that the number of robotics related patent applications in the industry stood at 294 in the three months ending June – down from 482 over the same period in 2021.
Figures for patent grants related to robotics followed a different pattern to filings – growing from 272 in the three months ending June 2021 to 313 in the same period in 2022.
The figures are compiled by GlobalData, who track patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Using textual analysis, as well as official patent classifications, these patents are grouped into key thematic areas, and linked to key companies across various industries.
Robotics is one of the key areas tracked by GlobalData. It has been identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years, and is one of the areas that companies investing resources in now are expected to reap rewards from.
The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.
Toyota Motor Corp was the top robotics innovator in the automotive manufacturing and supply sector in the latest quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in Japan, filed 90 robotics related patents in the three months ending June. That was down from 118 over the same period in 2021.
It was followed by the United States based Ford Motor Co with 39 robotics patent applications, South Korea based Kia Corp (38 applications), and the United States based General Motors Co (29 applications).
