Humans have been fascinated with robots since the days of the old Jetsons cartoons. Back in those days, flying your car home from work to your home in the sky seemed like it might be possible by 2025. But alas, cars still don’t fly. Robots that clean your floors, though, have become reality, so not all is lost.
Today, robots take many forms. Kids in grade school commonly work on simple robots in the classroom. Robot vacuum cleaners and even robot lawnmowers can be found in homes across the country. The most common place for humans to interact with robots, though, is at work.
Robots represent one of the most common types of advanced automation technology that has transformed industry, especially in a sector like manufacturing. From robot dogs that help improve preventive maintenance to humanoid robots that mimic not only human abilities, but also the human form, robots have become ubiquitous throughout modern manufacturing.
So, what’s the go-to robot for most manufacturers? Those who have long feared humans being replaced by robots might worry that humanoid robots fit that bill perfectly. However, experts note that manufacturers thus far seem to prefer function over form.
According to a recent Reuters article by Akash Sriram, specialist robots have captured the attention of manufacturers: “their ability to do single tasks cheaply and efficiently is attracting investor dollars as focus shifts to function from flash.”
Specialist robots are not “the sleek humanoids of science fiction that are meant for complex and adaptive work.” To the contrary, these “boxy and utilitarian robots – some the size of industrial tool chests – are built to handle tasks such as hauling parts, collecting trash or inspecting equipment.”
Their popularity stems from the fact that “they offer a clear path to profitability, given the stress on automation across industries, including retail, defense and waste management.” This is a stark contrast to humanoid robots that “are still grappling with technical challenges, including limited training data and difficulty operating in unpredictable real-world environments.”
While more complex humanoid robots may become more popular in time, current funding reveals that specialist robots will continue to dominate manufacturing facilities for the foreseeable future. “Data from PitchBook shows robotics companies globally raised $2.26 billion in the first quarter of 2025, with more than 70% of that capital funneled into firms making task-focused machines.”
Another key factor supporting the popularity of specialist robots is cost: “[t]he cost of humanoids is also far higher than task-specific robots. Components such as cameras and lidar sensors can push manufacturing costs for humanoid robots to between $50,000 and $200,000 per unit, compared with $5,000 to $100,000 for task-specific machines.”
Regardless of what type of robot any manufacturer chooses, it’s clear that companies will need to hire new skilled workers or upskill current workers to make the most of these new advanced automation technologies.
How can you be sure a worker has the advanced automation skills needed to excel in the workplace of the future? Many companies look for workers with industry-standard certifications that prove they have the hands-on skills employers need.
The Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) has been hard at work collaborating with industry leaders to develop a wide variety of industry-standard certifications that will help employers find workers who possess the advanced connected-systems skills they need to take their businesses to the next level.
For example, SACA’s Certified Industry 4.0 Robotics Specialist certification confirms that certified individuals can succeed as a robotics technician in modern production environments that use Industry 4.0 technologies. This certification verifies that individuals can install, program, test, interface, and maintain industrial robot systems and workcells. SACA offers a wide variety of other industry-standard certifications focused on advanced automation technologies and related skills. Be sure to check out SACA and all it has to offer!
