The ones that assemble other robots are currently in short supply according to NYT article several weeks ago. The simple ones that do a single task on an assembly line (e..g. drill hole, tighten bolts, arc weld joints, etc) are readily available. Jury is still out on growth market for surgical robots. Lots of hospitals, out-patient centers etc. spent a gazillion dollars installing robotic operating rooms and tried to use that investment to push up pricing on surgical procedures. Insurance companies pushed back and refused to pay until there is sufficient evidence showing incremental cost is warranted in terms of greater success rates, fewer “accidents” during surgery, better long-term survival rates etc. Thus, today, there is considerable “over-capacity” in surgical robotic production capability as new orders have flattened .
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