No trend has escalated quite like Robots in the Wild As social distancing becomes the new normal, robots are moving from controlled environments to uncontrolled environments in many industries faster than we expected. They are more critical than ever, as businesses and governments search for new, “contact-less” solutions.

In the short-term, robots are taking on new responsibilities during the pandemic. Robots are joining our frontline workers and helping to fight the virus. They’re helping businesses do even more, while simultaneously demonstrating new use cases to regulators, workers, and the public. The pandemic is showing robots in their best light, and the impact won’t be forgotten.

Long-term, the robotics ecosystem will be accelerated. The pandemic is strengthening the case for robotics and automation. The growing need for automation will boost more than just robotics. Consider how 4G networks grew in lockstep with the rising popularity of smartphones. Robots, IoT devices, and 5G will likely have a similar relationship, as many robot use cases will need increased data transfer rates and decreased latency. While today’s robotics leaders are stepping up to the plate to fill pandemic-related roles, the ones truly thinking long-term are also building the foundation of a more automated future.