ROBOTICS CLUSTER

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Service Robotics Product Shipments and Revenue
Figure 5: Annual Worldwide Installations of Professional Service Robots
(Source: International Federation of Robotics)
Defense
Field
30,000
25,000
$3.77B
Other
Logistics
Medical
Shipments (Millions)
20,000
15,000
10,000
24.2K Units
5,000
013 2014
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
6.3.1. Healthcare Robotics
Healthcare providers are under enormous pressure to reduce costs and improve the quality of their
services. Robotics technology can act as a cost-reduction enabler, as a means to improve the efficiency
and efficacy of healthcare services, or both. For example, robotically assisted minimally invasive surgical
Healthcare robotics is the application
of robotics technology to diagnose
and treat disease, or to correct,
restore, or modify a body function or
a body part.
procedures have been shown to reduce the length of patient hospital stays, while robotic-assistive
technology allows disabled individuals to stay in their homes and live more independent lives. Similarly,
robotic pharmacy automation systems have been shown to increase operational efficiency and enhance
patient safety, which equates to higher quality patient care.
While the most recent figures for the number of shipped field and defense service robots were larger,
healthcare systems were accountable for more revenue, approximately US$1.3 billion, according to the
IFR (IFR, 2014-2). Healthcare robotics technologies and products can be costly and they provide for high
margins. The market itself can be taxonomized according to the target group that the technology supports
(Figure 6, below).
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THE MASSACHUSETTS ROBOTICS CLUSTER
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