Hollywood has shown both the endearing side of robots, such as in Walt Disney’s “Wall-E,” and the more feared versions from the “Terminator” franchise. Although movies and TV shows have tried to enlist strong emotions from viewers when it comes to pop-culture robots, in reality, robots are simply a solution to efficient warehouse operations.
According to the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), 14,135 robots were ordered from North American robotics companies in the first half of 2014, an increase of 30 percent in units compared with that same timeframe in 2013. The second quarter accounted for the majority of sales with 8,197 units sold to North American customers. Since 2010, robotics sales in North America have increased an average of 26 percent each year, the RIA adds.