The UK public is more comfortable with robots working in warehouses and factories than in hospitals, schools or care settings, according to new research from technology company Hexagon.
The company’s Robot Generation study found that 53% of UK adults support the use of robots in industrial environments, making warehouses and factories the most widely accepted settings for robotic technology.
The findings suggest growing public acceptance of automation in logistics and industrial operations, particularly for tasks involving heavy lifting, transporting goods and monitoring workplace hazards.
More than half (56%) of UK adults said they would prefer a robot to lift and transport heavy items, while 38% would choose a robot for carrying and delivering goods.
A further 34% said they would favour robots for monitoring hazards in the workplace.
The results reflect the types of applications already being deployed across warehouses and distribution centres, where automation is increasingly being used to improve productivity, reduce manual handling and support health and safety objectives.
Hexagon’s study also found that public support for robotics is strongest when the technology is used for clearly defined, practical tasks rather than roles requiring human judgement or personal interaction.
Despite support for automation in industrial settings, respondents said clear governance would be essential.
Almost nine in 10 (88%) UK adults said there should be clear rules governing what robots can and cannot do, while concerns around security, trust and reliability remain.
The research suggests that familiarity plays a role in acceptance. Only 30% of UK adults said they had encountered robots in real life, yet industrial settings were still viewed as the most appropriate environment for their deployment.
The study also pointed to a generational shift in attitudes towards workplace automation. Children were generally more positive about robots than adults and were more likely to view them as future colleagues in the workplace.
For the warehousing and logistics sector, the findings indicate that public opinion may be increasingly aligned with the growing adoption of robotics for material handling, goods movement and safety-related applications within distribution operations.
Burkhard Boeckem, Hexagon chief technology officer, said the findings highlighted public confidence in the use of robotics for operational tasks.
“Industrial environments are where the tasks for robots are the most defined, the safety cases are mature, and governance is in public view,” he said.
“That is where people feel most comfortable working alongside humanoids.”
