From automation to autonomy: Industry trends in unmanned tech

2026-10-28

As labor shortages intensify, unmanned technologies are emerging as a key solution to keeping society running. From hospital service robots to drones delivering emergency supplies, these technologies are moving beyond simple automation toward greater autonomy. The Industrial Technology Research Institute, or ITRI, is bringing industry leaders together to explore the latest developments and business opportunities in a series of seminars, as the sector looks toward a major growth period in the next four years.

ITRI on Wednesday held the inauguration ceremony of a series of seminars on industry development trends, with a focus on the outlook for 2027. Among the attendees were industry representatives from Qisda and the Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robotics Association. One key topic was emerging trends in unmanned technologies and industrial applications.

Chi Chao-yin
ITRI ISTI
According to the National Development Council, labor productivity will have to increase by 40% by 2050 in order for society to function. That’s why unmanned technologies will take over to keep operations running. Humans may have to step back from doing frontline tasks and command the processes instead.

In the future, human workers may have to shift from frontline duties to behind-the-scenes roles such as managing and supervising. In hospitals, that means service robots can lead patients around the building and provide basic health information. In remote rural areas or disaster sites, drones can take over emergency supply deliveries, easily clearing geographic obstacles. Machines may even cooperate by themselves in the future, as unmanned technologies shift from automation to autonomy. The range of applications continues to expand.

Cally Ko
Qisda General Manager
There are two teams in our company. One, specializing in drones and the other, in physical AI, including four-legged and two-legged robots for commercial use. Orders have been placed already, and production has begun. The period from next year to early 2030 will be a huge boom in growth for the unmanned tech sector.

Industry players see strong growth potential for unmanned technologies, as applications extend to smart manufacturing, healthcare, logistics and energy infrastructure inspections. Over the next 8 days, more than 70 keynote speakers brought together by ITRI will share their insights at 16 seminar sessions, so that businesses are up-to-date on the latest industry trends.

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#automation #autonomy #seminar #tech #unmannedtech

工研院揭2027趨勢! 無人科技自主化科技大廠積極布局

2026-10-28

工研院今天（28）舉辦’’眺望2027產業發展趨勢研討會’’，主題聚焦在無人科技發展趨勢與產業應用方面，專家指出無人科技正從自動化邁向自主化，看好無人科技商機，國內科技大廠也積極布局，佳世達透露，商用無人機已經接到訂單，預估一路至2030年，將會是重要成長期。

隨著啟動儀式，工研院舉辦的眺望2027產業發展趨勢研討會，正式揭開序幕，邀請佳世達科技、台灣智慧自動化與機器人協會等產業代表，共同探討無人科技發展趨勢與產業應用。

[[工研院產科所所長紀昭吟]]
“到2050年，其實根據國發會的這個資料，那其實人的生產力必須提升40%，才能夠維持這個社會的運作。無人科技其實是可以接續這個整個社會運作的一個關鍵的接棒者，也就是說人可能必須從過去的第一線退到後面的指揮官。”

未來人類沒有被機器取代，而是從第一線轉到幕後，負責管理和監督，像是在醫院，服務型機器人可以幫病人指引方向、提供衛教資訊；遇到偏鄉或災區救援，無人機也能突破地形限制，協助空投救援物資。甚至未來，機器之間還能互相合作，無人科技從自動化走向自主化，應用也越來越廣。

[[佳世達總經理柯淑芬]]
“我們有兩組，一組是專門做無人機，那另外一組是做Physical AI，就是做四足跟二足的機器人商用無人機方面，已經有接到一個訂單，那也開始去做生產。(無人科技產業)從明年開始到2030年初，絕對是一個很重要的一個成長好時機。”

看好無人科技產業成長動能，從智慧製造、醫療照護、物流運輸、能源巡檢等，應用範圍持續擴大，這回工研院也集結超過70位講者，舉辦為期8天、共16場的研討活動，希望協助企業掌握最新趨勢。

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