Data shows that at least 48 countries in the world are developing robots, and 25 of them have been involved in the development of service robots. In Japan, North America and Europe, more than 40 service robots of 7 types have entered experimental and semi-commercial applications so far.
In recent years, the global service robot market has maintained a rapid growth rate, according to the data of the International Federation of Robotics, in 2010, the global sales of service robots in the professional field reached 13,741 units, an increase of 4% year-on-year, and sales of 32 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 15%; Personal/home service robot sales were 2.2 million units, up 35% year-over-year, and sales were $538 million, up 39% year-over-year.
On the other hand, the aging of the global population brings a large number of problems, such as the care of the elderly, and medical problems, and the solution of these problems brings a large financial burden. Due to the characteristics of service robots, they can significantly reduce the financial burden. As a result, service robots can be used in a large number of applications.
China's research and development in the field of service robots started late compared with Japan, United States and other countries. With the support of the National 863 Program, China has carried out a lot of work in the research and product development of service robots, and has made certain achievements, such as the tour guide robot, welcome robot, cleaning robot developed by Harbin Institute of Technology, etc.; the robot nursing bed developed by South China University of Technology; Intelligent wheelchairs developed by the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, etc.
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