From Tools to Teammates: Robots at the Heart of Industry at Automatica

At Automatica 2025 in Munich, the message was unmistakable: robots are no longer just functional machines—they are integral components of a broader, intelligent ecosystem shaping the future of industrial work. Editor-in-Chief of Rocking Robots, Marco van der Hoeven, shared his insights in a video report from the show floor, emphasizing how this year’s event underscores a major shift in how robots are perceived, implemented, and integrated.

“Robots take center stage again,” Van der Hoeven observed, “but more than ever, they dominate industry not just by what they do—but by how they fit into a larger, connected system.” That system is built on the convergence of robotics, artificial intelligence, and data-driven industrial processes.

What stands out at Automatica 2025 is how thoroughly robotics has become embedded in digital manufacturing networks. Robots are no longer standalone tools; they are data processors, system actors, and collaborators. According to Van der Hoeven, today’s robots function within intelligent networks—an ecosystem in which AI plays a central role. From object recognition to autonomous decision-making, artificial intelligence enables robots to continuously process and act on data, adapting to dynamic industrial environments in real time.

This evolution goes beyond technical capability. A central theme of the first day was also acceptance. Research presented at Automatica suggests that the social and professional acceptance of robots has risen significantly. In some countries, over 70 percent of the workforce sees robots as a positive addition—particularly in the context of ongoing labor shortages.

Van der Hoeven noted that “everyone recognizes the enormous impact of labor shortage.” As a result, companies are more willing to integrate robotics not just to improve efficiency, but to maintain operational continuity. This willingness is key to the rapid transformation currently underway, even in a global context marked by economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

Despite these external challenges, the robotics market remains dynamic. The key drivers? A growing need for automation, rising trust in AI-enhanced systems, and the clear benefits of combining robotic labor with human expertise.

The dominant trend at Automatica 2025 is thus not simply smarter robots—it is the maturation of a collaborative ecosystem where humans and machines interact seamlessly. Robots are evolving from being tools to becoming teammates, empowered by AI and embedded in smart industrial environments.