Robotics technology is becoming increasingly advanced, as bots can now be found everywhere from the backs of warehouses to the fronts of cafe service counters, as the top March 2018 robot ideas show. Beyond the retail environment, robots also have a part to play across a number of highly varied industries. In the world of real estate, Restb.ai leverages an image recognition system to automate the appraisal process of listings. Robots are also now being used to fill in for news anchors on TV and assist with the growth of plants within the agricultural sector.
At the New York Toy Fair, a number of new robot toys were introduced for kids, including ones that facilitate smart interactions and others that teach the basics of programming and robotics.
Top 25 Robot Trends in March
25
Flying 3D Printers
DediBot's Conceptual 'Fly Elephant' Printer is Not Limited by Size Constraints
24
Dynamic Package Delivery Systems
The 'Gamaru' Mailbox Robot Station is Efficient and Smart
23
Robot Warehouse Workers
InVia Robotics is Offering Subscription-Based Robot Services to Warehouses
22
Customizable Camera Drone Equipment
The 'WWWing' Drone Features Clip-on Parts to Go Anywhere
21
Emergency Double-Rotor Drones
The 'Alvix' Drone Can be Kept in a Pack Until Needed
20
On-Demand Drone Vehicle Chargers
The 'Volt' Drone Recharges Your Vehicle Wherever You Are
19
Ultra-Realistic Puppy Toys
'Ricky the Trick-Lovin Pup' is a Highly Convincing Companion Toy
18
Triangular Deep-Cleaning Vacuums
The 'Vroom' Vacuum Cleans Debris from Every Nook and Cranny
17
Robotic Bee Attractors
An Australian Designed and Robotic Flower That Can Aid in Pollination
16
DIY Underwater Drones
The Sibiu Nano Drone Offers Open-Source Software and Optional Self-Assembly
15
AI Real Estate Solutions
Restb.ai Uses an Image Recognition System for Real Estate Websites
14
Low-Tech Robotics Kits
Thames & Kosmos' Coding & Robotics Set Teaches without Mobile Devices
13
Funding Food Service Robots
Miso Robotics Recently Acquired Large Funding From Multiple Investors
12
Robot Mascot Toys
SoftBank is Introducing a Robot Plush Toy Version of Pepper the Robot
11
Real-Time 3D Scanners
Fraunhofer IGD's 3D Scanning System Instantly Reveals Insights
10
Educational Dancing Robots
The New Kamigami Educational Robots Hope to Teach Basic Coding to Kids
9
Solar Cell-Scrubbing Robots
This Solar Panel Cleaning Robot Cuts Maintenance Costs by 80%
8
Robotic Cafe Baristas
Tokyo's 'Henn na Cafe' Has a Bot Serve Coffee to Customers
7
Automated Triple-Stage Vacuums
The ECOVACS DEEBOT N79S Vacuum is Compatible with Amazon Alexa
6
Intelligent Voice-Controlled Toys
CogniToys' 'Scout' is a Toy That Plays, Jokes and Chats
5
Smartphone-Powered Educational Robots
The 'Robobo' Helps Anyone Learn About Programming Robots
4
Brainwave-Reading Robotic Bartenders
'Barbot 4' is Paired with a Headset to Automates Drink-Making
3
Agriculture-Assisting Robots
Blue River Technology's System Spots and Kills Weeds with Precision
2
Robot News Anchors
This Japanese Robot is Set to Become the First TV News Anchor
1
Comprehensive House-Guarding Robots
The 'CARL' Smart Home Security Robot Respects Your Privacy
Related Ideas
Autonomous Farming Tractors
The Dynium Robot is a Newly Designed Driverless Tractor
Social Media-Inspired Dog Toys
Barkshop's 'Lights Camera Bark' Collection is Photogenic
No-Fly Drone Zones
A DJI No-Fly Zone Will be Implemented at the 2018 Winter Olympics
AI Art Doppelganger Apps
Google Arts & Culture's Latest Update Reads Faces to Find Lookalikes
Solar-Powered Sun Loungers
The 'SUN WAVE' Lounger Charges Devices and Protects Valuables
Heritage-Inspired Motorcycles
Velomacchi and Yamaha Created the New Rural Racer Project
Carbon Fiber Taxi Drones
The Ehang 184 Flying Taxi Aims to Battle Pollution and Congestion
Robotic Window Washers
The Winbot 950 Cleans Up in Its Niche in the Market
Pint-Sized Trailer Dwellings
This Tiny Trailer Home Befits an on-the-Go Outdoorsy Lifestyle
Introductory 3D Printers
The Da Vinci Code Nano is Compact, Functional and Inexpensive
Empowering Celebrity Tree Toppers
Women To Look Up To Transformed Powerful Women into Tree Toppers
Transforming Tractor Vehicles
The 'Trakthor' Has Multiple Modes to Get Farm Work Done
Canine Playtime Toy Guns
The NERF Dog Ball Launcher Projects Toys 50 Feet in the Air
Hungry Dinosaur Toys
Hasbro's FurReal Munchin' Rex Eats Plastic Broccoli and Cookie Toys
Palm-Sized Racer Drones
The UVify 'OOri' Micro Racing Drone Flies at Up to 60mph
Heavy-Haul Cargo Drones
This Boeing Quadcopter Can Carry Up To 500 Pounds Of Goods
Car-Sponsored Escape Rooms
Audi is Promoting It's 'E-Tron' Line with These Escape Rooms
Streamlined Handheld Cleaning Appliances
The 'Handy' Vacuum Cleaner Does Away with Clunky Units
Conceptual Circuit Racing Drones
The 'Robodrone' Concept Flying Drone Performs with Agility
WiFi-Enabled Solar Benches
The Mmcité1 'Woody' Bench Has Charging Capabilities and More
AI-Led Construction Projects
The Start-Up Doxel is Enhancing Big Construction Projects Using Tech
4K Camera Marine Drones
The 'PowerDolphin' Works Seamlessly Above and Below the Waves
On-Demand Drone Vehicle Chargers
The 'Volt' Drone Recharges Your Vehicle Wherever You Are
Holistic Housekeeping Bots
The Unibot Can Carry Out Four Specialized Functions Simultaneously
Personalized Medicine Makers
FabRx Turns Magic Candy Factory 3D Printers into Medicine Makers
Autonomous Food Delivering Robots
The 'Carriro Delivery Bot' is Bringing Sushi to Offices in Japan
Entry-Level STEM Robots
The 'Codey Rocky' Robot Teaches Kids About Coding and AI
Deep-Cleaning Pet Owner Vacuums
The Hoover PowerDrive Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner is Powerful
Aquatic Animal Plush Toys
BigStuffed's Plushies are Albino, Sizable and Handmade
Hollow Anatomical Canine Toys
The JW Dog Toys Let You Hide Treats Inside for Your Pet
Lazy Dog Toy Collections
Target and BarkShop's 'Couch Pawtatoes' Introduce Cute Dog Toys
Custom 3D-Scanned Shoes
The iovada Luxury Italian Shoes are Made from Premium Materials
Drone-Powered Runway Shows
The Dolce & Gabbana Drone Display Shows a Unique Use of Tech in Fashion
Animatronic Order-Taking Robots
KFC Has Created a Colonel Sanders Robot to Take Drive-Thu Orders
Bee Health Protection Systems
The Bee Hospital Offers Solace to Prevent Colony Collapse
Comical Parrot Toys
Hasbro's 'Rock-a-too the Show Bird' Sings, Dances, Jokes and Imitates
Full-Color 3D Printers
The First HP 3D Printers are Already Changing the Way Printers Handle Color
Tree-Shaped Car-Charging Stations
COBE Unveiled a New Concept for Modular Electric Car Charging
High-Speed Airport Transports
Arrivo Has Come to a Deal to Build Its High-Speed System in Denver
Eerie Artist-Adapted Lucky Cats
These New Ron English Figurines Were Debuted at the 2018 Toy Fair
Robotic Public Spaces
The MacArthur Annex is Built Out of Used Shipping Containers
Portable Performance Drones
The Mavic Air is a Powerhouse Drone that is Compact and Portable
Customized Luxury Car Seats
Aston Martin 3D Scans Drivers to Create Ultra-Comfortable Seats
Gesture-Controlled Air Toys
The SpinMaster Supernova Does Away with the Remote Control System
Educational STEM Robot Toys
The 'ROBOPAL' Teaches Kids About Programming in an Entertaining Way
Home Design-Branded Battery Packs
The IKEA Solar Battery Packs Cut Electricity Bills by 70 Percent
Air-Purifying Upright Vacuums
The 'Aircuum' Purifies the Air When Not Being Used for Cleaning
Water-Creating Solar Panels
The Innovative 'Source' Solar Panels Draw Drinking Water from the Air
Smart AI Home Robots
The QNAP 'AfoBot' Showed Off Impressive Features at CES 2018
DIY Underwater Drones
The Sibiu Nano Drone Offers Open-Source Software and Optional Self-Assembly
Underwater Consumer Drones
The Blueye Pioneer Drone Offers Views 150 Meters Under the Water
Interactive Construction STEM Toys
The New CogniToys 'STEMosaur' Allows Access to Internal Parts
Autonomous Delivery Cars
Nuro's Self-Driving Delivery Vehicle Only Transports Goods, Not Humans
Solar Energy Canopies
iSun Oasis is a Smart Shading Solution That Delivers Energy to the Home
Robotic Voice Control Vacuums
The Shark 'ION ROBOT' Vacuum Captures Dirt, Allergens and More
Inspiring Superhero Rag Dolls
La Loba Teaches Kids to Celebrate Being Different and Independent
Underground Urban Farms
This Underground Farm in Paris Uses Hydroponics to Grow Organic Produce
3D-Printed Cafe Bars
MX3D's 'Cucuyo' is a Cocoon-Shaped Outdoor Grab-and-Go Cafe
Customized Solar Panels
Sistine Solar's Rooftop Panels are Tailored to Match One's Home
AR-Controlled 3D Printers
The Robotic Modeling Assistant Combines AR With Robotic 3D Printing
Consumer-Friendly 3D Printers
Polaroid Unveiled User-Friendly Consumer 3D Printers at CES 2018
Bee-Saving Honey Granolas
Back to Nature Foods' Gluten-Free Honey-Nut Granola Helps Save the Bees
Mini Mail Delivery Vehicles
The Fish Mail Delivery Car Packs Parcels and Mail for Rural Recipients
Expression-Changing Plush Toys
WMC Toys' 'Feisty Pets' Have Emotive Eyes and Mouths
Battery Powered Garage Vacuums
The Ryobi One+ Cordless Shop Vac Holds Up to Six Gallons of Waste
Multipurpose Drone Power Stations
The Energen 'DroneMax 360' Charges Drones, Laptops and More
Delivery Staff-Supporting Robots
The Deutsche Post 'PostBOT' Supports Mail Deliverers as They Work
Palm-Sized Underwater Drones
The 'Druiser' Underwater Wireless Drone Captures Scenes Seamlessly
Graceful Underwater Drones
The Mantadroid Elegantly Swims Through the Water
Electric Mail Delivery Vehicles
The Royal Mail Will Be Trailing 9 Zero Emission Vehicles in London
Adaptable In-Home Robots
Aeolus is a Robot Created to Be a "Personal Helping Hand"
Dog-Friendly Pop-Up Shops
Nordstrom is Opening a Celebratory Year of the Dog Pop-Up
Intentionally Lumpy Vases
These Unique Sculptural Vases Were Printed with a Special Algorithm
Bee Survival Aid Devices
Bee Hospital Helps the Declining Bee Population Adapt to Urban Cities
Energy-Generating Solar Sidewalks
Thomson Rivers University is Aiming to Be More Sustainable
Food Recognition Apps
The Pinterest Lens Feature Recognizes Dishes and Offers Up Recipes
Educational Dancing Robots
The New Kamigami Educational Robots Hope to Teach Basic Coding to Kids
Cocktail-Making Robots
Inspired by Doctor Who, Factorylux and ST Robotics Created a Cocktail Robot
Autonomous Agricultural Systems
Hands Free Hectare Uses Drone and Automated Machines to Tend Crops
Self-Driving Security Cars
The Otsaw Robotics OR-3 Pairs an Autonomous Car with a Drone
Exploratory Deepwater Drones
The YouCan BlueWater 1 Underwater Drones Explore Like Never Before
Drone Racing Training Systems
The Fat Shark 101 Introduces Users to FPV Drone Flying
Chili Pepper Subscription Boxes
The Chili Pepper Harvest Box Contains Organically Grown Products
Humanoid Hotel Employees
The 'Pepper' Bot is a New Staff Member at the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas
Agricultural Robotics Startups
Swarm Farm Uses Technology to Make Crop Cultivation More Efficient
Rugged Work Area Vacuums
The Ryobi Devour Cordless Sweeper Sucks Up Any Kind of Worksite Debris
Amalgamated Medication Printers
The 'AutoCompounder 3D' Prints Personalized All-in-One Pills
Whiteboard Coding Robots
The Root is a Code-Teaching Robot that Recently Showcased at CES 2018
Emotion-Detecting Bank Robots
Pepper and Nao Can Identify Emotions and Express Human-Like Feelings
On-Demand 3D Printing Apps
Sony Xperia XZ1 Owners Can Order 3D Prints from Their Phone
Robotic Cafe Baristas
Tokyo's 'Henn na Cafe' Has a Bot Serve Coffee to Customers
Voice-Controlled Vacuums
LG's Hom-Bot Turbo+ Now Includes a Built-In Google Assistant
Digital Assistant Teddy Bears
Lexa Bear Offers a Cuddle Form for Voice Assistant Interactions
Branded Fast Food Drones
The 'KFO Drone' Package is the Latest Asia-Only Publicity Stunt by KFC
Respectful Funereal Robots
The Pepper Robot Can Perform Buddhist Funeral Rites
Mod Maneuverable Vacuums
This Concept LG Cyking Was Designed to Prioritize Usability
Coincidental Discovery Toys
Sony's 'toio' Lets Kids Build and Play with Robotics
Youth Farming Programs
BK Farmyards is a Partnership with a High School in Brooklyn
Shelf-Scanning Retail Robots
The Bossa Nova Robot Autonomously Keeps Tabs on Inventory
Drone Flight-Recording Hard Drives
The LaCie DJI Copilot Stores Drone Footage at CES 2018
3D-Printed Manicure Sets
Toshiba's 'Open Nail' Project Uses Data to Generate Custom False Nails
Burger-Flipping Robots
Miso Robotics' 'Flippy' Helps to Speed Up Fast Food Orders
Maple Tree Adoption Campaigns
Kettle Ridge Farm is Inviting People to Adopt a Maple Tree
Farm-Integrated Buildings
Plantagon's World Food Building Has a 60-Meter Vertical Urban Farm
WiFi-Enabled Camping Trailers
The Mink Camper Offers Ample Comforts When Exploring
Elevated Crop Lookouts
'Tragata' is a Shelter Where Farmers Can Keep Tabs on the Harvest
Voice Assistant Robot Vacuums
The Roomba 890 Home Robot Vacuum Has Amazon Alexa Support
Legal Robot Citizenships
The Saudi Arabian Government has Granted Citizenship to 'Sophia', a Robot
Autonomous Toy Cars
This Raspberry Pi DIY Toy Car Kit Teaches Programming and Robotics
Emotive Bot Toys
Anki's Cozmo Fuses Robotics, AI, Game Design and More
Rapidly 3D-Printed Dentures
Porimy's 3D Printer Can Create a Custom Pair of Dentures in a Week
Assistive Retail Robots
The Armar-6 Robot Provides Labour Assistance to Warehouse Workers
Sci-Fi Franchise Robot Vacuums
The Samsung POWERbot VR7000 Comes in Two Star Wars Designs
Interview-Conducting Cars
Volvo is Using AI and Its S90 Model to Recruit Prospective Technicians
Smart Shopping Chatbots
eBay ShopBot Helps Users Shop Directly Through Facebook Messenger
Knitted Domestic Social Bots
Blossom is a Family-Friendly Robot That Looks Like a Child's Toy
AR Car Playsets
The Hot Wheels AR App is Bringing Modern Tech to Classic Kids' Toys
Cubic AR Toys
PleIQ Combines Tangible Cube Toys with Augmented Reality Interactions
Water-Monitoring Swan Mechanisms
These Robotic Swans Make Sure That Singapore Has Clean Water
Image-Based Translation Apps
'Polyword' Gives Translations of Objects Using Image Recognition
Image Recognition Recipe Tools
Pic2Recipe Uses a Neural Network to Predict Recipes Based on Photos
Takeout Delivery Rovers
Yelp Eat24 is Now Testing Marble's Food Delivery Robot in San Francisco
Orchestral Robotic Arms
ABB's YuMi was Maestro for Andrea Bocelli and the Lucca Symphony Orchestra
Biofuel-Incorporating Metropolitan Buses
London Buses are Using a Coffee Ground-Derived Fuel
Controller-Free Drones
'Ready-Aim-Fly' is a Project that Hopes to Control Drones With Users' Faces
Tabletop Restaurant Robots
Bots from Coco's Family Restaurant Chain Entertain Patrons as They Wait
3D-Printed Robot Toys
Interactive Robogami from CSAIL Lets Users Mix and Match Components
Socially Responsible AI Classes
'Artificial Intelligence for Social Good' Teaches Safety in AI
Versatile Car Charging Stations
The Royal Dutch Shell's Stations Can Charge a Vehicle in 5 Minutes
Hawk-Eyed Night Vision Sensors
OmniVision's Nyxel Technology Can See Better and Farther