With the robotic sensor market continuing to expand, core enterprises in the sensor market, particularly leading companies in the fields of 3D vision, six-axis force sensors, and tactile sensors, are poised to benefit directly. It is recommended to focus on the opportunities within three specific sensor segments: vision sensors, force sensors, and tactile sensors. The main viewpoints are as follows:

Sensors represent crucial underlying hardware for robots, with their deterministic incremental logic becoming increasingly prominent. As core hardware in the robot's "perception-decision-execution" workflow, sensors are becoming a key support for the industry's development due to their versatility across multiple technical routes and high certainty for growth. The sensor segment continues to command a market premium owing to high technical barriers and well-defined functional positioning. In terms of market space, global robotic sensor sales are projected to grow from $2.8 billion in 2026 to $7.9 billion by 2036, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately 10.9%.

At the perception layer, vision serves as the foundational capability, with multiple technical paths developing in parallel. Vision sensors are the primary channel for robot information input, with 3D vision technology becoming standard due to its high-precision perception. Robot manufacturers are adopting divergent strategies: one focuses on pure vision enhanced by algorithms, while another employs a fusion of vision with depth/lidar technologies. As models evolve towards greater refinement, visual perception is deepening from simple detection to task-relevant understanding. The machine vision market in China is forecast to exceed 38.5 billion yuan by 2028, with 3D vision growing at a compound annual rate of 25.73%. Domestic manufacturers are rapidly emerging in this space.

At the execution layer, force and tactile sensors enable dexterous manipulation, though technical routes have yet to converge. Six-axis force sensors are critical for achieving compliant control and precise assembly, currently deployed mainly in wrists and ankles. However, high costs and reliability concerns remain bottlenecks for mass production. Shipments of six-axis force sensors for humanoid robots in China are expected to reach 12,300 units in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 510%. Future volume production of consumer-facing humanoid robots is anticipated to drive rapid growth for these sensors. Tactile sensor technology is still in the early stages of industrialization, with flexible array, magnetic/Hall array, and optical visuo-tactile approaches developing concurrently. The field is currently led by overseas manufacturers, though domestic companies are actively expanding their presence. The global force sensor market for humanoid robots is projected to reach 32.806 billion yuan by 2030.

Auxiliary sensors have not yet seen large-scale application but are expected to expand into specific scenarios. Inertial Measurement Units are mature components for robot posture sensing, playing a key role in locomotion and disturbance rejection, and have become standard equipment. Voice interaction sensors primarily enhance the experience in service scenarios but are not essential. Specialized sensors are task-oriented for scenarios like emergency rescue and inspection, currently dominated by customized projects. They show potential for penetration in specific segments in the medium to long term, though their industrialization pace is slower than that of core sensors.

Risk factors include technological iteration risks, uncertainty in market demand, and supply chain and cost fluctuation risks.