As of June 12, 2018, the total number of patent applications for industrial robot technology reached 23,054. Among them, the number of invention patents is the largest, reaching 9946 items, accounting for 43.14%; the number of utility model patents is next, 8331 items, accounting for 36.14%; appearance and invention patents account for 8.90% and 11.82% respectively.
 
From the perspective of the number of patent applications, from 2007 to 2017, the number of industrial robot patent applications in my country has shown an overall upward trend. During the three years from 2014 to 2016, the number of patent applications increased significantly; by 2017, the number of industrial robot patent applications reached 5,608.
 
 
Industrial Robot Technology Trend
 
At present, industrial robot technology is developing in the direction of fuzzy control, intelligence, generalization, standardization, modularization, high-precision, networking, and self-improvement and repair capabilities.
 
First of all, fuzzy control is a control method that uses the basic ideas and theories of fuzzy mathematics. For complex systems, due to too many variables, it is difficult to correctly describe the dynamics of the system with traditional control models. At this time, fuzzy mathematics can be used to deal with these control problems. The feature of future robots lies in their higher intelligence. With the continuous development of high and new technology such as computer technology, fuzzy control technology, expert system technology, artificial neural network technology and intelligent engineering technology, the working capabilities of industrial robots will be improved and developed in a breakthrough.
 
Secondly, the realization of generalization, standardization, and modularization of industrial robot components and components is one of the important ways to reduce costs.
 
Third, as the manufacturing industry's requirements for robots increase, the development of high-precision industrial robots is an inevitable development result.
 
Fourth, most of the currently used robots only realize simple network communication and control. How to make the robot develop from an independent system to a group system, so that remote operation monitoring, maintenance and remote control are one of the hot spots in the current robot research.
 
Finally, the robot should have the ability to repair itself to better avoid production stoppages caused by emergencies. When there is a wrong instruction, you should report to the police or debug by yourself; when the components are damaged, you can repair yourself.