Accelerating Adoption of Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT)

Key takeaways:

• IoT‑enabled robots leverage both local and distributed intelligence.
• These robots operate across diverse settings—from deep‑sea exploration to high‑speed warehouses.
• Their networking strategies reflect the breadth of their applications.

The past year has seen a surge in smart robotics, with IoT integration driving sophisticated automation across industries. While IoT in robotics is not new, the term Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT) was first coined by ABI Research in 2014 to describe intelligent devices that monitor surroundings, fuse multi‑sensor data, and make autonomous decisions before acting on physical objects.

In September 2016, MarketsandMarkets projected that the IoRT market would reach approximately $21.44 billion by 2022, largely propelled by e‑commerce adoption. The report highlighted that connected robots offer a short payback period and a strong ROI through seamless technology integration.

Meet Chuck

6 River Systems’ collaborative mobile robots—nicknamed Chucks—illustrate IoRT in action. According to Fergel Glynn, VP of marketing at 6 River Systems (a Shopify subsidiary), these robots wirelessly transmit data to a cloud‑based platform. Each Chuck runs local software that processes sensor inputs, while higher‑level decision logic resides in the cloud, optimizing task assignments for both robots and human associates.

Ingram Micro Commerce & Lifecycle Services uses Chucks to support a major fashion retailer. Paul Geosano, executive director of operations, notes that the combination of robotic order picking, put walls, and auto‑baggers delivers end‑to‑end outbound processing. IoRT provides real‑time visibility into key performance indicators and upcoming workloads, enabling proactive, agile leadership that meets customer demands and mitigates risks.

IoRT in the Supply Chain

John Santagate, VP of robotics at Körber Supply Chain, explains that collaborative and autonomous mobile robots act as connected endpoints. By digitizing the entire pick path, these robots maintain continuous inventory visibility, sending real‑time signals back to the warehouse management system—a truly transactional IoT experience. The data collected informs warehouse layout decisions, from slotting to zoning, facilitating continuous operational improvements.

Underwater IoRT

Houston Mechatronics Inc. (HMI) applies IoRT to its Aquanaut autonomous offshore inspection and maintenance robot. Unlike tethered subsea vehicles, Aquanaut transitions from an autonomous underwater vehicle to a remotely operated vehicle, eliminating surface vessel dependence. Target markets include energy, telecom, aquaculture, mining, and renewables.

Senior VP of products and services Sean Halpin highlights the novelty of minimal human supervision in oceanic environments. HMI integrated Numurus LLC’s Edge Platform Interface (NEPI) to enable two‑way acoustic and satellite communication, remote configuration, and secure cloud data management.

Communications remain a challenge beneath the waves. Halpin notes that conventional microwaves and sonar are inadequate, prompting the development of a mesh network of internet‑enabled devices to ensure reliable data offload and telemetering back to shore. Onboard edge computing handles real‑time data processing when connectivity is limited, complementing cloud resources.

For comprehensive coverage of IoT trends, read our IoT World 2020 conference guide.