Research and innovation in robotics in the mining industry operations and technologies sector has stagnated in the last quarter.
The most recent figures show that the number of robotics-related patent applications in the industry stood at 11 in the three months ending March – down from 16 over the same period in 2021.
Figures for patent grants related to robotics followed a different pattern to filings – stagnating from five in the three months ending March 2021 to five in the same period in 2022.
The figures are compiled by GlobalData, which tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Using textual analysis, as well as official patent classifications, these patents are grouped into key thematic areas and linked to key companies across various industries.
Robotics is one of the key areas tracked by GlobalData. It has been identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years, and is one of the areas that companies investing resources in now are expected to reap rewards from. The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.
Honeywell International was the top robotics innovator in the mining industry operations and technologies sector in the latest quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in the US, filed four robotics related patents in the three months ending March. That was the same as four over the same period in 2021.
It was followed by the US-based Caterpillar with two robotics patent applications, Australia-based Orica (2 applications), and Sweden-based Epiroc (1 applications).
