Finding the Path from Zero to One in Robotics Commercialization

This capstone project examined how a large enterprise can evaluate and enter emerging robotics markets. It began with the assumption that the best approach was to research robotics sectors, identify promising areas, and deliver a ranked list of opportunities beyond traditional automation.

Early work focused on building a broad robotics landscape across multiple sectors and creating scoring frameworks to compare them. The analysis covered factors such as market potential, growth trends, technical readiness, and strategic fit. Over time, it became clear that sector rankings alone do not explain how robotics ventures actually move from prototypes to scalable, repeatable deployments.

The project then pivoted to studying what “zero to one” commercialization looks like in practice. Insights from real-world examples highlighted common barriers and success patterns, including the simulation-to-reality gap, data collection constraints, and the fact that integration and deployment friction can outweigh the robot’s sticker price. The most durable businesses often differentiated through software, workflow redesign, and platform thinking rather than hardware alone.

These observations were synthesized into a practical evaluation methodology. The work produced an 8-stage maturity model, from lab prototype through platform expansion, and a definition of “one” as repeatable production deployments in real operations, not a demo or one-off pilot. The methodology emphasized evidence over narratives by focusing on what teams have already proven at each stage.

The final deliverable was a “Process Book” designed as a reusable manual rather than a one-time report. It includes the 8-stage model, a 4+1 ROI lens (speed of value, profit engine, learning loop, hidden costs, plus team adaptability), and standardized templates for comparing companies and opportunities side-by-side. Together, these tools provide a repeatable way to assess robotics ideas and decide which are worth pursuing.