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India can be a robotics hub in the near future

2024-02-23

The market growth of industrial robots is projected to be worth over $ 66 billion, at a CAGR of 15.1 per cent, by 2027. In 2020, according to the International Federation of Robots (IFR), the automotive industry was the largest (around 28 per cent) user of robots worldwide. Construction robots are a relatively new phenomenon but as painting and coating operations are highly repetitive, they are well-suited for robotic automation. Painting robots can paint a room in a fraction of the time (nearly 30 times faster than manual painting with more consistent results) that it takes a person and they are not bothered by toxic fumes. Also, they ensure accurate regulation of pressure and flow, which is important to give consistent high-quality results. The machines can work continuously with no breaks, except for periodic maintenance. Understanding its potential, Ayushmoy Roy and Srinivas K Pai co-founded Pace Robotics, a construction robotics startup.

The journey began in 2020 when Roy developed a prototype for a painting robot. An expert in robotics with a master’s degree from Pennsylvania University, during conversations with contractors he realised the huge interest for such a product as skilled labour shortage was a critical pain point...