HolonIQ's upcoming Robotics in Education Report shows an industry forecast to grow to $3.1B by 2025. While most of the current value relates to robotics for STEM education, future value will be created in emerging applications and in particular the combination of Robotics and AI.
Robotics Market Growth.
The Robotics market in education is forecast to grow from $1.3B to $3.1B to 2025, at which point it will be displaced by Artificial Intelligence. Short term growth is expected in the STEM education segments as governments increasingly move to support STEM curriculum, through, for example mandating programming in K12 curriculum.
However, deeper applications of AI in robotics is perceived to have unlocked new potential applications (and value) including in education – particularly in language learning, social development and vocational training.
Defining Robotics
Robots have 3 defining characteristics. They are generally mechanical in construction, have electrical componentry and are programmable. Robots can be further categorised by appearance and degree of autonomy – Fully Autonomous vs Fully Controlled vs Hybrid, and Humanoid vs non humanoid. With the rise of smart devices, the line between what is a robot and what is simply a programmable device has become blurred.
However, with the advent of AI driving significant progress in imbuing devices with the human traits of vision and language, even static devices have been able to take on human features.
Robotics in Education Categories
Robotics kits are used heavily to teach STEM. They have the additional benefit of being highly tactile and project-based. STEM solutions consist of structural and electronic components that can be assembled, a programming interface and supporting materials and services.
Programmable robots and robotic toys differ from full robotics kits in that they typically cannot be physically assembled from parts or reconfigured. These robots usually come in one piece and one form factor. Some products blur the line between educational tool and toy.
Advances in AI have brought about a step-change in the areas of voice, vision and language and transforming how humans interact with smart devices. Robots are increasingly used in applications requiring a human’s cognitive or emotional skills.
