Industrial robot sales almost doubled compared to 2009 – to $5.7 billion – with the auto and electronics industries as the main drivers.The IFR expects China to become the world’s largest market for robots by 2014. For the first time, global sales to the electronics sector surpassed those to the auto industry.

An additional $3.6 billion service robots were sold. $3.1 bn to corporations and governments (75% of which was for security and defense). $0.5 bn for personal and domestic use (a 35% increase).