Robot facts & stats

Question 1

In what year was the world's first industrial robot put to work on a production line?

Accepted Answer

1961. Unimation installed its Unimate at a General Motors plant in Trenton, New Jersey, where it stacked hot pieces of die-cast metal.

Question 2

Which economy has the world's highest robot density in manufacturing?

Accepted Answer

Republic of Korea. Korea's big electronics and automotive industries are the two largest customers for its industrial robots; Singapore ranks second.

Question 3

How many industrial robots were installed worldwide in 2024?

Accepted Answer

542,000. That's more than double the number from 10 years earlier, and the fourth year in a row above 500,000.

Question 4

How many industrial robots were in operational use worldwide in 2024?

Accepted Answer

4,664,000. The global operating stock grew 9% compared with the previous year.

Question 5

How many robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees does the Republic of Korea have?

Accepted Answer

1,220. The global average is 132 robots per 10,000 employees; Singapore is second with 818.

Question 6

The first Unimate robot cost $65,000 to make. What did Unimation sell it for?

Accepted Answer

US$18,000. The robot's 4,000-pound arm followed step-by-step commands stored on a magnetic drum.

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