The Indoor mobile robot
market is under pressure
- Margings are shrinking.
- Prices are being pushed down
- Global competition is intensifying
- Advanced functionality is now expected as standard
Mobile Robot Manufacturers are asked to reduce vehicle
cost, yet their hardware architecture was designed in a
different economic context, one where margins were wider and
complexity was affordable.
The problem is more structural than technical.
For years, the industry has relied on the "2D stack"
model: one LiDAR for navigation, a separate safety
scanner, additional sensors for overhang detection, and often a
camera system for pallet recognition.
Each component solves a specific task, but together they
create a fragmented architecture that inflates the
Bill of Materials, increases integration effort, and introduces
hidden licensing and validation costs.
And, what about hardware integration?
Sometimes, adding a new sensor is simply impossible.
This approach limits competitiveness. Every extra sensor adds
complexity, wiring, configuration time, and potential failure
points.
At the same time, indoor environments are becoming more
dynamic. Overhanging loads, variable rack layouts, and mixed pallet
types demand more perception capability.
Improving performance within a 2D framework often means adding
yet another sensor, pushing cost even higher and reinforcing the
cycle.
Luckily, technology has evolved and there's a solution:
One single 3D sensor
Mature, safety-certified 3D LiDAR technology now makes
it possible to consolidate navigation, safety coverage,
overhang detection, and pallet detection into a single sensor
platform.
Instead of stacking hardware to solve isolated problems, OEMs
can redesign their architecture around integration and
simplicity.
In this webinar, José Luis Peralta, CTO of
GIM Robotics, will demonstrate how achieving ±15 mm
accuracy and full safety compliance is now possible with a single
3D LiDAR solution priced under €1,500.
Bonus! Bonus! Bonus!
Performance Comparison: We show results from
our head-to-head testing of 4 of the best selling 3D LiDAR sensors
in real-world indoor tasks.
In a market where price pressure is constant, structural
simplicity becomes a competitive advantage.
The real question is no longer whether 3D navigation works,
but whether continuing to build around legacy 2D constraints still
makes economic sense.
