Can A Robot Go to Work for You? Or Perform Your Next Surgery?

According to a new study, the market for telepresence robots is developing rapidly and will have a significant impact on collaboration and communication in the enterprise, education, healthcare, and consumer markets. But what are telepresence robots and what do they do?

Telerobotics is the area of robotics concerned with the control of semi-autonomous robots from a distance, chiefly using a wireless network or tethered connections. It allows users to not just video conference, but to have mobility while they chat.

According to the report from Tractica, a market intelligence firm that focuses on human interaction with technology, starting from a base of 4,200 units in 2015, annual telepresence robot unit shipments will reach 31,600 by 2020, with cumulative shipments for the 5-year forecast period totaling nearly 92,000. But where are they headed?