When robots learn to think, make money and collaborate, we analyze 15 types of robotics technologies and application cases

Compiled by Felix, PANews (Edited and edited)

“Everyone asks, what can AI do? But the real question is, what happens when AI becomes physical?”

The narrative in the robotics space has finally reached a major turning point. Capital is starting to pay attention, the narrative is hotter than ever, and more builders are emerging. However, robotics technology (especially now integrated with AI and Web3) is still in its early stages of development.

Before discussing the decentralized robot economy, we need to answer a fundamental question: What exactly is a robot?

Robots are programmable machines designed to perform specific tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously. They use sensors, actuators, and control systems to interact with their environment and adapt to different conditions as needed.

In short, a robot is like an intelligent assistant toy. You tell it what to do, and it remembers. It has "eyes" (called sensors) to observe its surroundings, "hands and feet" (called movable parts), and a "brain" to help it decide how best to complete tasks, such as cleaning, building, or even dancing, either on its own or with your help.

Over the years, robotics has evolved far beyond factory robotic arms. Today, robots come in many forms and for many different purposes.

The following is a classification of robotics technology and its practical application cases.

1. Industrial robots

Industrial robots are automated machines used for high-precision, repetitive tasks such as welding, painting, assembly, and material handling. They are designed to operate in manufacturing environments, often working in conjunction with CNC machine tools, conveyor belts, and automated storage systems.

2. Articulated Robot

Articulated robots are multi-jointed robots that resemble human arms, sometimes even exceeding their capabilities. They can have up to ten rotary joints, offering exceptional flexibility and enabling complex movements in a variety of directions. These robots are often used in the automotive industry for assembly and sorting tasks, and are also capable of operating in confined spaces.

3. SCARA Robot

SCARA robots are selectively compliant assembly robots. They have a unique mechanical structure consisting of two parallel arms connected to a joint at a right angle. This enables SCARA robots to move horizontally and are known for their high speed and reliability. SCARA robots are commonly used in manufacturing and assembly processes, such as pick and place operations.

4. Service Robots

Service robots work in homes, hospitals, hotels, and other settings, performing tasks ranging from cleaning floors to delivering packages. Designed to assist humans, they typically operate semi-autonomously or fully autonomously. These robots focus on practical, real-world tasks rather than industrial applications. Some assist with household chores, others optimize logistics, and even provide customer service.

Service robot example:

Cleaning robots: The traditional Roomba is an example, which can autonomously navigate and avoid obstacles to clean floors.
Delivery robots: These robots are used in warehouses, hospitals, and even food delivery services to efficiently deliver supplies without human intervention.
Medical Robotics: When precision is crucial but human hands aren’t steady enough, medical robots step in. These robots can literally change lives.

5. Detection Robot

Exploration robots, built for extreme environments, help scientists and engineers explore places that are too dangerous or remote for humans. These robots must operate in harsh conditions while collecting data that is vital to research and technological advancement.

Explore examples of robots:

Mars rovers: NASA's Perseverance and Curiosity are traversing the Martian surface, analyzing the soil and searching for signs of past life.
Bathyscaphes: The Alvin and Poseidon bathyscaphes venture into the ocean, discovering species and shipwrecks at depths too deep for human divers to reach.

6. Humanoid Robots

Some robots not only perform human tasks but also look like humans. Humanoid robots mimic human movements, expressions, and even speech, making them useful for customer service, research, and even companionship.

These robots are designed to resemble human forms, with arms, legs, and sometimes eerie facial expressions. They are often equipped with artificial intelligence that allows them to understand language, recognize emotions, and interact naturally with people.

Humanoid robot example:

ASIMO: A bipedal robot that can walk, run, and even serve drinks.
Atlas: Boston Dynamics' parkour robot moves more like a superhero than a regular machine.

7. Educational Robots

Some robots build cars, others build minds. Educational robots make STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) more engaging by giving students hands-on experience with coding, engineering, and artificial intelligence. Designed for classrooms and research labs, these robots teach coding, robotics, and problem-solving skills in an interactive way. They help students understand complex concepts while having fun.

Educational Robot Example

LEGO Mindstorms: A beginner-friendly robotics kit that lets students build and program their own robots.
NAO Robot: A humanoid robot used in classrooms around the world to teach programming, artificial intelligence, and even human-computer interaction.

8. Companion Robots

Not all robots are designed for work; some are designed for companionship. Companion robots provide emotional support, entertainment, and even therapy, playing an important role in elder care, mental health, and everyday interactions. These robots are designed to interact socially or therapeutically with humans. They are equipped with artificial intelligence, facial recognition technology, and sometimes even have soft, pet-like shells to make them more appealing.

Companion robot example

Paro: A robotic baby seal that helps relieve pressure on hospitals and nursing homes.
Lovot: A small, huggable robot designed to form an emotional connection with its owner.

9. Autonomous Mobile Robots

Self-driving cars are no longer a distant dream; they're already on the road, shuttling between warehouses, and even making deliveries. Autonomous vehicles (AVs), which use AI, cameras, and sensors to operate without human intervention, are becoming a crucial player in transportation, logistics, and industry.

These vehicles are able to perceive their surroundings and make driving decisions autonomously, without human intervention. They rely on lidar, GPS, and real-time data processing to react to their surroundings.

Self-driving car example:

Self-driving cars: Companies like Tesla and Waymo are pushing for the adoption of fully autonomous vehicles on public roads.
Autonomous drones: used for surveillance, delivery, and even agriculture.
Autonomous forklifts: Warehouses use these to move goods with extreme precision.

10. Collaborative Robots

Collaborative robots can work safely alongside humans, handling repetitive tasks and freeing them to focus on higher-level activities. Unlike traditional industrial robots that require safety cages, collaborative robots are equipped with sensors and force-limiting features to prevent serious accidents.

Collaborative robots can share workspaces with humans, assisting in manufacturing, assembly, and even healthcare. Their ease of programming and flexibility make them ideal for companies looking to automate without major infrastructure changes.

Examples of collaborative robots:

Standard Bots' RO1: A state-of-the-art six-axis collaborative robot for machine shops, it features best-in-class precision, AI-driven automation, and easy operation without programming. It's a versatile robot capable of performing everything from CNC machine operation to fine assembly.
Universal Robots’ UR series: The industry’s most popular collaborative robots, known for their plug-and-play simplicity and flexible deployment.
Rethink Robotics' Sawyer: It has a reputation for precision work in assembly and quality control.

11. Swarm Robotics

Swarm robots are small, independent robots that communicate and coordinate like a hive, capable of handling complex tasks that would be impossible for a single machine. Inspired by ants, bees, and birds, these robots can move, adapt, and solve problems collectively.

The core of swarm robots lies in numbers and teamwork. They do not rely on a single leader, but instead follow simple rules to build an intelligent distributed system. If one robot fails, the others will continue to work.

Examples of robots with swarm capabilities

Kilobots: Tiny research robots for studying collective behavior and self-organization.
Harvard University's RoboBees: tiny flying robots designed to mimic the behavior of honeybees for pollination and search and rescue.
Festo's BionicAnts: robotic ants that collaborate to complete tasks using swarm intelligence.

12. Soft Robots

Soft robots eschew rigid frameworks in favor of flexible, soft materials, enabling them to stretch, bend, and adapt to their surroundings. Inspired by biology, their movements resemble those of octopuses, making them well-suited for handling fragile objects and navigating unpredictable environments. Instead of traditional motors and gears, soft robots leverage air pressure, fluid motion, and smart materials to change shape and adapt to their environment.

Examples of soft robots

Octobot: A fully soft robot inspired by imagery, designed with flexibility in mind.
Soft robotic grippers: Used in food handling and medical applications where a gentle touch is required.
Festo Bionic Soft Hand: A robotic hand with soft, adaptive fingers that can grasp objects like a human.

13. Nanorobots

Nanorobots operate on a microscopic level, small enough to swim through your bloodstream or break down pollutants at the molecular level. Although they sound like the stuff of science fiction, they are inching closer to real-world applications, particularly in medicine and environmental science.

These ultra-tiny machines are capable of performing high-quality work where precision is crucial. Most are still in the research and development stages, but they have the potential to transform everything from drug delivery to industrial cleaning.

Nanorobot Examples (Prototypes and Theory)

DNA nanorobots: Tiny robots built from DNA strands that can deliver drugs to specific cells like a GPS-guided syringe.
Microbial Bot: A conceptual nanorobot designed to move through the bloodstream and destroy harmful bacteria.
Environmental cleaning robots: Theoretical nanorobots that can break down pollutants in water and air at the molecular level.

14. Reconfigurable Robots

Reconfigurable robots can change their shape depending on the task they are performing. Some modular robots snap together like high-tech Lego blocks, while others can be reshaped without having to disassemble them.

These transformable machines excel in scenarios requiring flexibility and adaptability, and they can do so autonomously. Furthermore, their reconfiguration capabilities make them indispensable tools in a variety of fields.

Examples of reconfigurable robots

Roombots: Transformable furniture robots that can be assembled into chairs, tables, or whatever you need, and then reassembled into new shapes.
Molecubes: Cube-shaped robots that can twist, turn, and even replicate themselves, paving the way for machines that can build themselves.
PolyBot: A modular marvel that slithers like a snake or forms new shapes, tackling rough terrain with ease.

15. Cartesian Robot

Also known as Gantry robots, Cartesian robots operate like three-dimensional meshes. Their flexibility provides precise control of linear motion. They are used for pick-and-place work, CNC machining, and 3D printing.

Historically, robots have been designed to carry out instructions. In the past, they were like obedient workers, doing exactly what you told them to do, no more, no less. But now, they're evolving from simply acting to actually thinking.

Thanks to artificial intelligence, robots are starting to look less like tools and more like teammates: they are beginning to think, learn, adapt and collaborate.

The next evolution is not just mechanical, it’s cognitive. When you combine AI, robotics, and Web3, something completely new emerges.

A physical machine economic entity that can work, think and trade autonomously. This is where OpenMind comes in.

Openmind combines robotics with AI cognition and decentralized intelligence to redefine how robots learn, adapt, and collaborate by:
Decentralized Cognitive Layer: Openmind enables robots to securely access shared intelligence across a decentralized network, rather than relying on centralized data silos. This means faster learning, more secure coordination, and more autonomous decision-making.
General AI Integration: Openmind is pioneering general artificial intelligence for robots, building intelligent agents that can reason, plan, and evolve beyond pre-programmed tasks.
Robotics meets Web3: By combining AI robotics with blockchain verification, Openmind ensures transparency, verifiability, and interoperability across the robotics ecosystem.
Economic Advantage: Openmind has ushered in the era of the robot economy, where intelligent robots can autonomously provide services, perform tasks, and even conduct transactions, creating a new field of machine-driven productivity.

Openmind is committed to building the brains of intelligent machines, while XMAQUINA is building economic and ownership levels to return power to the public.

XMAQUINA is a DAO with a mission to democratize access to robotics, humanoid machines, and physical AI. The DAO holds a multi-asset treasury consisting of investments in private robotics companies, real-world assets, and crypto assets.

XMAQUINA has a concept of a "machine economy launchpad" that aims to allow developers and the community to create SubDAOs (specific asset DAOs), jointly own specific machine assets or robot companies, and achieve on-chain governance.

XMAQUINA is working to enable global community participation (governance, investment, co-ownership) in the development of robotics and physical AI, rather than limiting it to large corporations.

The growth of robotics isn’t just a passing hype cycle. It’s the convergence of three of today’s most powerful forces: artificial intelligence, automation, and decentralized systems.

While traditional robots have increased productivity, the next generation of robots will transform labor, ownership, and value creation. Those who understand this early will not only capitalize on this trend but also help build the new machine economy. The narrative has arrived, and the infrastructure is forming.