Analyst Report

The Systems That Enable Smart Robots and Drones

The Gartner® Emerging Tech Impact Radar: Smart Robots and Drones

This report outlines how core technologies work together, with particular emphasis on sensing, connectivity and power efficiency. For drones, these requirements place RF performance at the center of system design, influencing range, reliability and coexistence across inspection and monitoring in commercial and industrial applications.

  • Key Insights in this Report:

    • Why mission-specific drones are leading adoption due to clearer system requirements
    • How sensing and wireless connectivity support navigation, situational awareness and remote operation
    • Why edge intelligence increases dependence on stable RF links and efficient power architectures
    • How system limitations, not software capabilities, define where autonomous drones can be deployed at scale

    Mission-specific robots continue to thrive for limited-range tasks and environments, with dedicated capabilities that enable them to perform with greater speed, accuracy and reliability.
    Gartner, Emerging Tech Impact Radar: Smart Robots and Drones


  • Limited-time access, available through March 27, 2026.

Section 2: Spin Straw into Gold