Assistive Robotics for People with Special Needs
Patent landscape analysis — PATSTAT BigQuery reproduction of the EPO Patent Insight Report. 54,000+ patent families across 6 robotic concepts from exoskeletons to humanoid robots.
Executive Summary
Reproducing the EPO Patent Insight Report on assistive robotics using PATSTAT BigQuery.
Scope
This report reproduces and extends the EPO's December 2024 Patent Insight Report on Assistive Robotics for People with Special Needs using PATSTAT BigQuery. The ANSERA search queries are translated into executable SQL.
Growth
Patent family numbers increased by over 2,000% between 2001 and 2021, far exceeding the ~590% increase across all technology fields. After peaking at 6,058 families in 2021, a decline to ~5,000 was observed.
Key Insight for PATLIBs
The ANSERA search strategies use IPC/CPC codes (B25J9/0006, A61F5/01, A61H1/02, etc.) combined with multilingual keyword searches. In PATSTAT, we approximate via CPC/IPC code matching.
Six Robotic Concepts at a Glance
Assistive robotics is broken down into six robotic concepts, identified through CPC/IPC codes.
Assistive Exoskeletons
21,655 families (B25J9/0006, A61F5/01). The largest category, covering powered orthopedic supports and programmable manipulators for people with disabilities.
Robotic Walkers
10,411 families (A61H3/04, A61H2003/043). Wheeled walking aids with motorized assistance, from simple sensor-equipped walkers to autonomous navigation platforms.
Therapeutic Robots
8,062 families (A61H1/02 + A61H2201 tags). Exercise and rehabilitation apparatus with robotic components, sensors, and controllers.
Mobile Platforms
7,967 families (A61H3/008, B25J11/008). Computer-controlled walking aids and personal service robots that provide mobility assistance.
Humanoid & Pet Robots
5,383 families (B62D57/032, G06N3/008). Walking vehicles and AI embodiment for social robots, companions, and therapy animals.
Cobots
539 families (G05B2219/40202). Human-robot cooperation for assistive tasks, the smallest but fastest-growing category (+1,683% from 2010 to 2021).
The ANSERA queries combine classification codes with multilingual keyword proximity searches. In PATSTAT BigQuery, we capture the classification-based component. Keyword-based refinements for sub-concepts like "elderly" or "rehabilitation" require title/abstract full-text searches, demonstrated in the SQL appendix.
Overall Patent Activity Development
Composite dataset for assistive robotics showing annual DOCDB patent families and international families (2001–2023).
Data table: Overall Trend (selected years)
| Year | All Families | International |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 570 | 246 |
| 2005 | 656 | 258 |
| 2010 | 923 | 270 |
| 2015 | 1,988 | 586 |
| 2019 | 4,953 | 1,124 |
| 2021 | 6,058 | 1,052 |
| 2023 | 4,976 | 618 |
Between 2001 (570 families) and 2021 (6,058 families), patent families increased by over 960%. International patent families (filed in 2+ jurisdictions) peaked at 1,124 in 2019, indicating high economic expectations. The post-2021 decline of ~18% mirrors shifts in R&D priorities also observed in other medical technology fields.
Patent Activity by Robotic Concept
Each robotic concept shows distinct growth dynamics. Exoskeletons dominate, but therapeutic robots and mobile platforms show the steepest relative growth.
Data table: Growth Dynamics 2010 to 2021 peak
| Concept | 2010 | 2021 | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exoskeletons | 550 | 2,224 | +304% |
| Therapeutic Robots | 38 | 1,412 | +3,616% |
| Robotic Walkers | 174 | 1,431 | +722% |
| Mobile Platforms | 95 | 1,032 | +986% |
| Humanoid & Pet | 109 | 739 | +578% |
| Cobots | 6 | 107 | +1,683% |
Geographic Filing Strategy
China dominates the filing landscape with over 32,000 families, followed by the US, Korea, and PCT.
Data table: Filings by Patent Authority
| Authority | 2000–2010 | 2011–2017 | 2018–2023 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN (CNIPA) | 1,399 | 7,265 | 23,797 | 32,457 |
| US (USPTO) | 1,766 | 3,309 | 4,988 | 9,512 |
| KR (KIPO) | 1,261 | 2,205 | 3,680 | 7,120 |
| WO (PCT) | 1,126 | 1,775 | 3,196 | 6,096 |
| JP (JPO) | 1,488 | 1,514 | 1,670 | 4,580 |
| EP (EPO) | 944 | 1,420 | 2,052 | 4,408 |
| DE (DPMA) | 803 | 637 | 748 | 2,183 |
| CA (CIPO) | 350 | 366 | 347 | 1,061 |
| AU (IP Australia) | 332 | 238 | 365 | 906 |
| TW (TIPO) | 175 | 229 | 342 | 746 |
China's dominance: CNIPA accounts for ~45% of all filings. The explosive growth from 1,399 families (2000–2010) to 23,797 (2018–2023) reflects massive R&D investment. Many Chinese filings are domestic-only (not international patent families), which aligns with the EPO report's finding that Asian applicants dominate all patent families while international families show more European/US presence.
Most Active Applicants
The landscape is dominated by large Asian conglomerates alongside specialized European companies.
Exoskeletons — Top Applicants
Data table: Top Exoskeleton Applicants
| Applicant | Country | Families |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics | KR | 200 |
| Ottobock SE | DE | 104 |
| Ossur Americas | US | 96 |
| Chinese Acad. of Sciences | CN | 89 |
| Honda Motor | JP | 84 |
| Ossur HF | IS | 83 |
| Hyundai Motor | KR | 78 |
Humanoid & Pet Robots — Top Applicants
Data table: Top Humanoid Robot Applicants
| Applicant | Country | Families |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Motor | JP | 255 |
| Sony Corporation | JP | 215 |
| UBTECH Robotics | CN | 165 |
| Samsung Electronics | KR | 79 |
| Beijing Inst. of Technology | CN | 71 |
| Boston Dynamics | US | 68 |
| US | 67 |
Grant Rates by Patent Authority
Grant rates vary significantly across jurisdictions, reflecting different examination standards.
The high grant rates at TW (84.3%) and FR (82.5%) reflect efficient examination procedures. The US (76.3%) and China (72.3%) show patent-friendly environments for assistive robotics. Germany (50.0%) and EPO (62.1%) have more stringent examination, particularly for inventive step requirements.
Methodology
ANSERA to PATSTAT BigQuery translation, data sources, and limitations.
Data Source
EPO PATSTAT Global (2025 Edition), accessible via Google Cloud BigQuery. All queries in standard BigQuery SQL, executable in the EPO TIP or any BigQuery client with PATSTAT access.
Search Strategy Translation
The EPO's supplementary materials provide ANSERA search statements for 42 search concepts across 6 robotic categories. These combine IPC/CPC codes with multilingual keyword proximity searches. We implement the classification-based component directly.
Counting Methodology
Primary unit: DOCDB patent families. International families = filed in 2+ authorities. Year = filing year. Applicants identified via applt_seq_nr > 0, consolidated using han_name.
Key CPC/IPC Codes
Exoskeletons: B25J9/0006, A61F5/01. Therapeutic: A61H1/02 + A61H2201. Walkers: A61H3/04. Cobots: G05B2219/40202. Humanoid: B62D57/032, G06N3/008. Mobile: A61H3/008, B25J11/008.
Scope Limitations
- 2023 data may be incomplete due to 18-month publication delay.
- PATSTAT classification-based approach may miss documents only retrievable via keyword proximity searches.
- Grant rates for 2021+ applications are not yet fully meaningful.
- The original EPO report used Spring 2024 PATSTAT; this uses the 2025 edition with additional data.
Stack
PATSTAT BigQuery + patstat-mcp (custom MCP server) + Claude AI for analysis and visualization. All SQL queries are included and reproducible.
Glossary — Patent Terms Explained
- ANSERA
- EPO's internal search tool used for patent landscape studies. Supports IPC/CPC codes and multilingual keyword proximity searches.
- Patent Family (DOCDB)
- A group of patent applications protecting the same invention across countries. Counted once to avoid double-counting.
- International Patent Family
- A DOCDB family with filings in 2 or more patent authorities, indicating commercial interest beyond the home market.
- CPC (Cooperative Patent Classification)
- Classification system jointly maintained by EPO and USPTO. More granular than IPC, used as the primary search layer.
- Exoskeleton (B25J9/0006)
- Powered orthopedic device worn externally to support, protect, or augment human movement.
- Cobot (G05B2219/40202)
- Collaborative robot designed to work alongside humans in shared workspaces, with safety features for direct interaction.
- Grant Rate
- Percentage of patent applications ultimately granted. Rates for recent years appear low because examination takes 3–5 years.
All SQL queries and the complete data basis are available for download.
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This report was built with a fully reproducible pipeline: EPO PATSTAT Global on BigQuery, a custom MCP server, and Claude AI for analysis and visualization. Everything is open and auditable — the SQL queries are included.