It’s happening: Robot orders rise 41 percent in 2011

August 2, 2011 By Jeffrey Van Camp

Let the age of robotics begin...again. Robot orders are up 41 percent in the first six months of 2011 thanks to a growing automotive industry and economy.

The next iPhone isn’t the only thing that may be made by robots. According to Robotic Industries Association (via Modern Material Handling), North American orders for robots have jumped 41 percent in the first six months of 2011. 8879 new robots valued at $577.8 million were ordered by North American companies so far this year. Add in orders placed from outside the U.S. and that number rises to 10,476 robots at $667.9 million. Robots are a hot ticket item.

The automotive industry accounted for the majority of growth. Now that cars and trucks are finally beginning to sell again, manufacturers have increased robotic orders by 60 percent to help build enough cars to meet demand. Non-automotive orders also rose by 23 percent through the end of June. Most of these orders were from the metalworking industries (70 percent).

“Food and Consumer goods customers placed orders for 60% more robots in the second quarter of 2011 than in the first, hopefully a sign of strong growth going forward in this sector,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of RIA.

For those doing the math, there are now around 205,000 robots used in the U.S. alone and more than 1 million industrial robots are used worldwide. This is good news, as it’s crystal clear that we still outnumber our metallic creations, but it may only be a matter of time. As we continue to teach robots how to perform more complex tasks and solve problems on their own, the likelihood that they will rise up and destroy us continues to grow. But hey, we’ve still got some time. It’s not like they have a hive mind yet…

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Guardian31756 at 9:03pm 2nd August 2011 IMHO, I believe that many manufactures are causing more problems then trying to solve them for the mere sake of making a profit . Foxconn, a major manufacture has had problems supplying the demands for it's products that it produces for Apple, it has had many labor issues and now it's paving the way by employing robots who the company will still show No Mercy,whether it's Robot or Human ! When their production line is fully manned by Robots, what will become of it's Human workers? They will meet the same faith as American workers, Unemployed and Obsolete !There is No right nor wrong solution to the problem that we face, we Humans thrive on goods that other Humans have become slaves to a society that's filled and run by Greed !
1. TechFreak at 10:15pm 2nd August 2011 If people in China do not want to be worked like robots, then they will be replaced by robots. Here in the U.S. we have an incredibly high unemployment rate, yet people complain about being underpaid, overworked, not having enough benefits etc. Lawsuits against employers are at an all-time high. Maybe people need to stop complaining and just take the work they are given. Then employers might higher more of them.I would not want to higher people when they come with too much baggage and you have the threat of lawsuits, unions and protests.
  1. Guardian31756 at 5:24am 3rd August 2011 I agree with you and I really can't say for sure but China has become the "Perpetual Child" in this case.American was facing some very Hard Times before WW2 and it all changed because of that war. I think the American people had said to themselves "Never Again, Will America get caught with it's Pants down", but it has ! After WW2, America has become Obsessed in being Number #1 and if you were not for the system, you got left behind.We became more GREEDY! We literally became the Planets Supercop and took everything we believe we should have a right too. Our Military became TOO BIG for it's own good and that old saying" My Rock is BIGGER then yours" has defined our way of life.American's had caused their own problem and now it's being filtered over to China ! China will face the same crisis as America. Robots will become the NEW species and humans will drop in the food chain.