Healthcare Humanoid Robot Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Mitigating understaffing in healthcare: According to the National Library of Medicine (NIH) nurses constitute 45% of all healthcare professionals in the practice, highlighting that understaffing is an evident priority problem faced by the present healthcare system. This need to reduce the workload of healthcare professionals and automation adoption in hospitals for patient care is anticipated to drive the healthcare humanoid robots market growth during the forecast period. The automation helps maintain high level of patient care while addressing the workforce gap, improving operational efficiency, and reducing burnout among healthcare workers. Additionally, these robots can assist in rehabilitation and support elderly patients, further enhancing the healthcare system’s capacity to handle the rising demand.

• Progress in robotics and sensor technologies: Advances in AI, ML, and computer vision enable healthcare humanoid robots to perform complex tasks with greater precision and autonomy. Enhanced sensors allow robots to safely and effectively interact with patients. These developments not only improve the robots’ functionality in delivering care but also enhance their ability to assist with the targeted people. For instance, in December 2023, Touchlab introduced first-of-its-kind robot named Välkky telerobot, which allows clinicians to interact with patients remotely, as part of a Finnish hospital pilot. The robot is equipped with the most advanced electronic skin technology, controlled by operators wearing an electronic haptic glove. Product launches such as these are projected to boost the expansion of the market in upcoming years.

Challenges

• Limited human-robot interaction (HRI) capabilities: Despite advancements in AI, robots still face difficulties in understanding and responding to complex human emotions, needs, and communication cues. This can impact their ability to provide personalized care, especially in sensitive healthcare settings where empathy and nuanced communication are essential. Ensuring that robots can interact naturally with patients, healthcare staff, and caregivers remains a significant hurdle for wider adoption. Hence, HRI remains a priority concern for the development and expansion of the healthcare humanoid robot market globally.

• Integration with existing healthcare system: Many hospitals and clinics operate with legacy infrastructure and processes, making it difficult to incorporate advanced robotic systems without substantial changes in workflow and resource allocation. The cost of integration, coupled with the need for specialized training for healthcare professionals to effectively work alongside robots, adds to the complexity. Additionally, ensuring seamless data exchange between robots and existing electronic health record (HER) systems is a technical barrier that can slow down the adoption of humanoid robots in healthcare.