Warehouse & Logistics Automation Patent Landscape
Warehouse & Logistics Automation Patent Landscape in 2026
Warehouse and logistics automation is a mature, crowded field with 14,566 patent families on record and activity plateaued near its 2021 peak, though the most recent filing years reflect normal publication lag. iRobot leads the ranked field, but the top five filers hold only 21% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, signaling a fragmented competitive structure with no single dominant player.
iRobot leads a fragmented field with no runaway dominant player
iRobot Corporation holds the top position with 572 patent families, followed closely by Toyota Motor Corporation (425), Toshiba (414), Murata Machinery (384), and Crown Equipment Corporation (382). The ranking spans established industrial automation incumbents, Japanese conglomerates, and Chinese e-commerce-driven entrants such as Beijing Jingdong Qianshi Technology and Hangzhou Hikrobot.
The top five filers account for 21% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total — a moderate concentration level that indicates no single organization has locked up the technology space. A second tier of challengers including Beijing Geekplus Technology, Fanuc, Boston Dynamics, and. The Boeing Company each hold between 202 and 247 patent families, keeping competitive pressure broad.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | iRobot Corporation | 572 | |
| 2 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 425 | |
| 3 | Toshiba Corporation | 414 | |
| 4 | Murata Machinery Ltd. | 384 | |
| 5 | Crown Equipment Corporation | 382 | |
| 6 | Beijing Jingdong Qianshi Technology Co., Ltd. | 333 | |
| 7 | Hangzhou Hikrobot Technology Co., Ltd. | 247 | |
| 8 | NEC Corporation | 238 | |
| 9 | Toyota Industries Corporation | 237 | |
| 10 | Beijing Geekplus Technology Co., Ltd. | 223 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Fanuc Ltd. | 220 | |
| 12 | Boston Dynamics Inc. | 202 | |
| 13 | The Boeing Company | 202 | |
| 14 | LG Electronics Inc. | 193 | |
| 15 | Hitachi Ltd. | 180 | |
| 16 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. | 175 | |
| 17 | Canon Inc. | 171 | |
| 18 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. | 170 | |
| 19 | Omron Corporation | 158 | |
| 20 | Sick AG | 152 |
The spread of leadership across US, Japanese, and Chinese applicants reflects geographically distributed R&D investment. Japanese incumbents dominate by sheer breadth of portfolio, while Chinese entrants concentrate on specific operational subsystems, suggesting different strategic postures within the same technology space.
Filing counts for the most recent 18–24 months are subject to publication lag and should not be interpreted as a slowdown in underlying R&D activity. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Annual volume plateaued after a 2021 peak; autonomous navigation dominates the technology mix
The filing trend and technology composition charts together reveal a field that grew rapidly through 2021 and has since stabilized, with R&D effort concentrated in autonomous control and robotic manipulation while adjacent branches remain comparatively sparse.
Annual filing trend
Filings grew sharply from 2017 to 2021, reaching a peak of 2,202 patent families in that year, then fluctuated in a narrower band through 2023. Figures for 2024 and 2025 reflect publication lag and should not be read as a real decline — a large share of applications filed in those years will not yet have appeared in public databases.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
G05D (control of non-electric variables) is by far the dominant branch with 11,852 patent records, reflecting the centrality of autonomous navigation and motion control across all platform types. B25J (manipulators and robots) and B65G (conveying and material handling) form a strong second tier. Lower-density branches — including G06Q (business and commerce data processing), G01C (navigation and positioning), and G05B (control and regulating systems) — represent adjacent areas that are active but proportionally underserved relative to the core.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Autonomous Mobile Robot Scissor Lift and Robot Arm
The present invention discloses an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) scissor lift and robot arm. This is done by incorporating a robotic arm or collaborative robot (cobot) onto an autonomous mobile robot or automated guided vehicle via the use of a scissor lift mechanism. The scissor lift mechanism facilitates height adjustment, enabling the robot arm or cobot… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robotic end effector system and method | 1,392 |
| 2 | Companion robot for personal interaction | 981 |
| 3 | Method and system for controlling a remote vehicle | 848 |
| 4 | Mobile Robot Providing Environmental Mapping for H… | 764 |
| 5 | Fully automated and computerized conveyor based ma… | 713 |
| 6 | Mobile robots and their control system | 694 |
| 7 | Navigational control system for an autonomous vehi… | 660 |
| 8 | Mobile Robot System | 643 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the patent structure means for R&D investment decisions
Four structural observations — maturity stage, competitive concentration, ecosystem collaboration, and geographic filing emphasis — shape where R&D capital can most efficiently be deployed.
Field is in late-growth/maturity with volume eased from its 2021 peak
Annual filings have plateaued near their 2021 peak of 2,202 patent families and have not returned to that level, placing the field in a maturity stage. This implies that broad foundational patents are already held by incumbents and new entrants face a thicker prior-art landscape. R&D differentiation through narrower, application-specific claims or novel system integrations is more likely to yield protectable positions than broad platform filings.
Lifecycle: MaturityModerate concentration opens room for focused challengers
With the top five filers holding 21% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, no single applicant controls a decisive share. The second tier — ranging from Beijing Jingdong Qianshi Technology at 333 patent families down to Sick AG at 152 — is densely packed, meaning a focused filing program in a specific subsystem can close the gap with leaders relatively quickly. Entrants with deep expertise in a single branch (e.g., lifting devices or positioning) can build defensible positions without competing across the full stack.
Competitive structureIntra-group co-filing dominates; cross-industry partnerships are sparse
The most active co-filing pair is Toshiba and Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation with 129 joint patent families, followed by Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor (a related entity) at 91, and Toyota Motor Corporation with Toyota Industries Corporation at 27. iRobot Corporation and Irobot-affiliated entity Intouch Technologies account for 16 co-filings. The dominant pattern is intra-corporate-group collaboration rather than cross-industry partnerships, suggesting that open ecosystem co-development remains an underexploited strategy for organizations outside these conglomerates.
EcosystemChina, the US, and Japan form a near-equal three-way lead in filing volume
China leads jurisdiction filings with 4,619 patent records, closely followed by the United States at 4,313 and Japan at 4,032. Europe (EPO) accounts for 2,224 records and WIPO (PCT) for 1,499, indicating meaningful cross-border protection strategies among top filers. Germany and South Korea form a secondary tier. Markets such as India (288 records) and Southeast Asia remain thin filing destinations relative to their manufacturing importance, pointing to potential enforcement gaps in those regions.
GeographyGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Toshiba Corporation | Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation | 129 |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | Toyota Motor Corporation | 91 |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | Toyota Industries Corporation | 27 |
| Toyota Industries Corporation | Toyota Motor Corporation | 27 |
| iRobot Corporation | Intouch Technologies Inc. | 16 |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | Meidensha Corporation | 15 |
| NEC Corporation | Nippon Sharyo Ltd. | 7 |
| Toshiba Corporation | Toshiba Engineering Corporation | 6 |
| Murata Machinery Ltd. | Keio University | 6 |
| Toyota Industries Corporation | Meidensha Corporation | 6 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
iRobot and Toshiba lead on opposite trajectories; Chinese challengers accelerating
The top ranked applicants split into decelerating Western/Japanese incumbents and accelerating Chinese challengers, creating an evolving competitive balance at the front of the field.
iRobot Corporation
iRobot leads the ranked field with 572 patent families, concentrated in G05D autonomous control (447 sub-class records), B25J robotic manipulation (153), and A47L cleaning appliances (138) — reflecting its consumer and service robot roots applied to logistics navigation. Recent momentum shows a sharp decline of -64% versus the prior three-year period, suggesting a strategic shift away from aggressive patent filing, possibly linked to its acquisition context. Its large installed portfolio remains a defensive asset but new claim generation has slowed materially.
families: 572Hangzhou Hikrobot Technology
Hangzhou Hikrobot Technology holds 247 patent families and is among the fastest-growing applicants in the ranked field, with recent filing momentum of +44% versus the prior period. Its technology focus spans G05D autonomous control (108 records) and B65G conveying and material handling (107 records) in near-equal measure, alongside G06Q business data processing (26 records) — a profile consistent with an AMR platform vendor integrating warehouse management software. This balanced hardware-software coverage and rising trajectory make it a structurally significant challenger to Japanese incumbents.
families: 247| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| iRobot Corporation | 34 | ▼ -64% |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | 101 | ▬ -4% |
| Toshiba Corporation | 109 | ▲ +30% |
| Murata Machinery Ltd. | 79 | ▲ +25% |
| Crown Equipment Corporation | 35 | ▼ -68% |
| Hangzhou Hikrobot Technology Co., Ltd. | 92 | ▲ +44% |
| NEC Corporation | 33 | ▼ -64% |
| Toyota Industries Corporation | 8 | ▼ -53% |
Under-served adjacent branches worth monitoring for white-space entry
Several IPC branches adjacent to the dominant control and robotics core show lower filing density relative to their technical relevance to warehouse automation — these are observations of relative sparsity, and entry feasibility depends on each organization’s existing capabilities.
G06Q · Business, commerce & admin data processing
With a 4% share among the top branches, G06Q (warehouse management systems, order orchestration, and logistics data processing) is proportionally sparse relative to the physical automation layers above it. Most top filers show only light coverage here — Hangzhou Hikrobot and Beijing Jingdong Qianshi Technology are exceptions with 26 and 29 sub-class records respectively. Organizations with software and operations-research capabilities may find this branch accessible, particularly for claims covering multi-robot fleet scheduling or dynamic slotting algorithms that sit above the navigation layer.
Search this in Eureka →B66F · Jacks & lifting devices
B66F (lifting and elevating equipment including forklifts and vertical transport in automated storage) accounts for a 3% share in the branch composition, despite being a core physical subsystem in most warehouse deployments. Crown Equipment Corporation stands out as the only ranked applicant with a deep focus here (167 B66F9 records), and most others show minimal coverage. For mechanical and mechatronics-focused entrants, this branch represents an adjacent area where prior-art density is lower than in the navigation and manipulation branches, and where integration with autonomous vehicle platforms offers a plausible technical entry path.
Search this in Eureka →How top applicants differ in their technology route emphasis
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | G05D 1 · Control of non-electric variables | B65G 1 · Conveying & material handling | B25J 9 · Manipulators & robots | B25J 5 · Manipulators & robots | B25J 19 · Manipulators & robots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iRobot Corporation | Strong · 447 | Absent | Moderate · 153 | Moderate · 109 | Emerging · 81 |
| Toshiba Corporation | Strong · 256 | Strong · 152 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Murata Machinery Ltd. | Strong · 209 | Strong · 180 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Toyota Motor Corporation | Strong · 316 | Absent | Absent | Emerging · 50 | Absent |
| Crown Equipment Corporation | Strong · 329 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Boston Dynamics Inc. | Absent | Absent | Strong · 121 | Moderate · 56 | Moderate · 48 |
| Toyota Industries Corporation | Strong · 221 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The evidence corpus contains 14,566 patent families in scope for warehouse and logistics automation, spanning global filings across all major jurisdictions.
iRobot Corporation leads the ranked field with 572 patent families, ahead of Toyota Motor Corporation (425), Toshiba (414), Murata Machinery (384), and Crown Equipment Corporation (382).
Annual filing volume reached a peak in 2021 and has since plateaued rather than continued rising. The field is in a maturity stage. Figures for 2024 and 2025 are affected by publication lag and do not represent a confirmed real-world decline.
China leads with 4,619 patent records, followed by the United States (4,313) and Japan (4,032). Europe (EPO) and WIPO (PCT) form the next tier, with Germany and South Korea as secondary national offices.
G05D (control of non-electric variables) dominates with 11,852 patent records. B25J (manipulators and robots) and B65G (conveying and material handling) form a strong second tier. Branches such as G06Q (business data processing), B66F (lifting devices), and G01C (navigation and positioning) are proportionally sparser relative to their operational relevance in warehouse deployments.
Among tracked applicants, Toshiba shows +30% growth versus the prior period and Murata Machinery shows +25%. Hangzhou Hikrobot Technology is up +44%. By contrast, iRobot Corporation and Crown Equipment Corporation have each declined by approximately -64% and -68% respectively versus their prior three-year filing rates.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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