Once found mostly in high-volume manufacturing environments, robots are now being used in smaller organizations, and in a wider variety of applications. The cost of implementing robots has fallen significantly, and it is now easier to apply robotics in more ways.
The reason is simple: Over the past few years, controls have become more user-friendly, requiring fewer programming resources. System design has become easier with the availability of online tools to help end-users and OEMs build systems directly. Servicing has also become easier and faster thanks to standardized components and powerful diagnostics.