With offices in Beijing and San Jose, Calif., ForwardX Technology Co. has a rare perspective on the mobile robot industry in both the Asian and North American markets. Nicholas Chee, founder and CEO of ForwardX Robotics, recently shared insights into where the mobile robot market is now and where it’s going.
Since it was founded in 2016, ForwardX has deployed more than 4,200 vision-guided autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in over 200 facilities across four continents. The company said it is expanding and “applying its proven solutions to empower the workforce of tomorrow.”
Earlier this month, ForwardX deployed an additional 98 AMRs at Chery Automobile Co. The automaker first deployed more than 100 of ForwardX’s robots at its Super One Factory in 2023. Last month, Chery deployed 435 AMRs at its electric vehicle production site in Dalian, China.
ForwardX on the current state of AMRs
How have end-user perceptions of AMRs changed in recent years?
Chee: Over the past five years, we’ve seen a fundamental shift in how end users view AMRs—from experimental technologies to mission-critical infrastructure in modern intralogistics. Initially, many companies were skeptical, with concerns about ROI [return on investment], reliability, and ease of integration.
However, proven, large-scale deployments—such as the 435 AMRs implemented at Chery’s Dalian factory—have changed the conversation. AMRs are no longer considered a future investment; they are a present necessity.
Businesses today are actively seeking scalable, flexible automation to combat labor shortages, rising operational costs, and increasing supply chain complexities. The key question has evolved from “Should we adopt AMRs?” to “How quickly can we deploy them?”
As AMRs become more prevalent, what regulatory hurdles do you foresee?
Chee: As adoption accelerates globally, we anticipate increased focus on standardization and safety, especially in environments where humans and robots collaborate closely. While industrial settings are often controlled, more regulations are emerging around data privacy, cross-border AI usage, and human-robot interaction standards.
Regions like Europe are leading this shift with stricter robotics and machine learning compliance. Rather than slowing progress, clearer international regulations will reduce ambiguity and provide the assurance customers need to invest in automation at scale.
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Looking toward the future of AMRs
What role will recent advances in artificial intelligence, like large language models (LLMs), play in developing AMR technology?
Chee: LLMs are poised to redefine human-robot interaction. Traditional AMRs are rule-based and reactive; integrating LLMs enables more intuitive, adaptive, and conversational systems.
Imagine a warehouse manager asking the AMR fleet in natural language to analyze bottlenecks, optimize routes, or even explain a behavior—LLMs can bridge that communication gap. At ForwardX, we’re actively exploring the fusion of vision-based navigation with LLMs to elevate AMR intelligence and usability across industries.
What emerging industries do you think will be the most promising for mobile robots in the coming years?
Chee: While automotive, 3PL, and electronics manufacturing remain strongholds, we’re seeing rapid expansion into industries like semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and food & beverage. These sectors demand complex material handling, traceability, and high safety standards, making them ideal candidates for AMR integration.
As supply chains become more dynamic and data-driven, the ability of AMRs to seamlessly integrate with WMS/MES systems becomes not just a benefit—but a strategic advantage.
ForwardX’s latest technologies
Are there any new developments in robotics that particularly excite you?
Chee: Absolutely. We’re especially excited about advancements in multi-sensor fusion, real-time edge computing, and AI-driven decision-making, which are making AMRs more capable in unstructured and dynamic environments.
A standout innovation is our Apex autonomous forklift series, such as the Apex 2000, which supports relay-based transport of heavy payloads across multiple floors. These solutions are transforming operations in large-scale facilities—not just as robotic movers, but as intelligent collaborators in logistics workflows.
Just as impressive is how quickly we can replicate these systems across global operations. For example, after a successful launch at one client’s domestic facility, the customer quickly expanded to a site in Mexico.
Within one week, our team delivered a localized deployment—including site setup, English and Spanish operator training, and full system launch. This agility showcases our ability to deliver scalable automation globally, without compromising on efficiency or speed.
