Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Industrial robots

Fanuc-powered robotic cell automates one of furniture manufacturing’s toughest jobs

by

A Canadian furniture manufacturer has automated a traditionally labor-intensive upholstery process using a robotic work cell built around a Fanuc M-710iC industrial robot.

Developed by Fanuc Authorized System Integrator Dvolu, the automated upholstery cell performs a series of tasks that have historically required skilled human workers, including fabric stretching, stapling, trimming, and palletizing chair seat linings.

The project highlights how robotics is increasingly moving beyond traditional manufacturing applications such as welding, machine tending, and material handling into tasks that require a greater degree of dexterity and adaptability. [Read more…] about Fanuc-powered robotic cell automates one of furniture manufacturing’s toughest jobs

Interview with Workr Robotics CEO Ken Macken: ‘Paying for automation by the hour’

by

Industrial robotics is entering a new phase. Advances in artificial intelligence, large language models, and so-called embodied AI have sparked renewed excitement about robots that can understand, reason about, and interact with the physical world.

High-profile collaborations between companies such as Google DeepMind and Boston Dynamics have fueled speculation that increasingly capable general-purpose robots may soon find their way onto factory floors.

But not everyone in the industry is convinced that these developments represent an immediate breakthrough for manufacturing. [Read more…] about Interview with Workr Robotics CEO Ken Macken: ‘Paying for automation by the hour’

Inbolt to launch vision-enabled robot programming at Automate event

by

Inbolt, the robot intelligence company that turns digital twins into live robot control, is launching two new capabilities that complete the company’s AI vision model for robot guidance: Inbolt Robot Programming and an expanded Inbolt Robot Control. The launch pad is booth #1675 at Automate 2026 in Chicago, June 22-25.

Rudy Cohen, CEO and co-founder of Inbolt, says: “Robot deployment still takes weeks because the digital twin never matches the real factory floor, engineers hand-tune every trajectory during commissioning.

“With Robot Programming, the Vision Model, and Robot Control on a single platform, that gap closes; Engineers build the program from the CAD, our vision model locates the real part, and the robot executes the planned path.  [Read more…] about Inbolt to launch vision-enabled robot programming at Automate event

ABB and Salzburg researchers patent AI system to cut energy use in industrial robots

by

Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and ABB’s Machine Automation Division – B&R –  are working together to apply artificial intelligence to improve energy efficiency in industrial automation.

The collaboration, anchored in the Josef Ressel Center for Intelligent and Secure Industrial Automation (JRZ ISIA), focuses on translating advanced research into practical solutions for industrial drive systems.

A recent milestone of this collaboration is the filing of a joint patent application in the field of energy-optimized motion control for drive systems used in industrial automation – such as robots, machine tools and automated production lines – where highly dynamic motion sequences including positioning, acceleration, deceleration and cyclic movement must be controlled with high precision. [Read more…] about ABB and Salzburg researchers patent AI system to cut energy use in industrial robots

Robotiq launches AI platform to automate robotic workcell integration

by

Robotiq has introduced IQ, an AI-enabled platform designed to make robotic Workcell integration faster, more predictable, and easier to scale.

Enabling a much-needed shift from a manual, expert-dependent approach to automatic integration, IQ captures unstructured automation project data, coordinates engineering workflows, and helps partners generate validated workcell designs based on real customer inputs and historical deployment data from thousands of previous factory installations.

Samuel Bouchard, CEO of Robotiq, says: “Automation does not scale when integration remains manual. [Read more…] about Robotiq launches AI platform to automate robotic workcell integration

Fanuc launches 11 kg ‘lightest’ collaborative welding robot

by

Fanuc has announced the European launch of its CRX-3iA collaborative robot, the lightest and smallest model in the CRX portfolio to date.

With a total weight of just 11 kg, Fanuc’s latest offering is compact, portable, intuitive and precise, making it ideal for welding applications.

Addressing growing demand in sectors such as shipbuilding and steel construction, it can be carried easily with just one hand, allowing a single person to supervise multiple welding locations and mitigating the Europe-wide shortage of skilled welders. [Read more…] about Fanuc launches 11 kg ‘lightest’ collaborative welding robot

Flexiv to offer exclusive preview of next-generation robots at ICRA

by

Flexiv, a provider of general-purpose robotics, has announced it will host an exclusive preview of its next-generation robotics portfolio at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), taking place June 1-5 in Vienna, Austria.

At Hall B, Booth 130, visitors will get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of two groundbreaking robotic platforms ahead of their international launch later this year.

Flexiv is using the event to demonstrate the core architecture and technical capabilities of its new lineup, showcasing new benchmarks in tactile intelligence and modular adaptability. [Read more…] about Flexiv to offer exclusive preview of next-generation robots at ICRA

Festo introduces two-finger pneumatic gripper for cobot applications

by

Collaborative robots operate within strict payload and mounting constraints. Pneumatic gripper installations that rely on external valves, sensors, and wiring add weight, increase footprint, and complicate routing along compact cobot arms.

To address these constraints, Festo has introduced the HPPH two-finger pneumatic parallel gripper, a compact, lightweight design that integrates control, sensing, and collaborative safety functions directly into the gripper body.

By reducing external components, the HPPH preserves payload capacity and simplifies mounting and wiring on collaborative robot platforms. The HPPH is available through Festo and the Universal Robotics Marketplace. [Read more…] about Festo introduces two-finger pneumatic gripper for cobot applications

Doozy Robotics launches global expansion to scale AI-powered humanoid workforce for factories

by

Doozy Robotics, the Singapore-based Physical AI humanoid company building autonomous industrial workforces, has announced a coordinated global expansion across the United States, GCC, and Asia, marking its next phase of growth ahead of a planned Series A.

The startup is backed by investors including Cocoon Capital, who have supported the company through a period of great commercial traction.

Founded by Suresh Chandrasekar and Ajmal Thahseen, Doozy is building a vertically integrated ecosystem rather than selling isolated machines. [Read more…] about Doozy Robotics launches global expansion to scale AI-powered humanoid workforce for factories

Geekplus Takes Fifth RBR50 Innovation Award With AI-Powered Picking Station

by

The warehouse robotics firm’s latest win recognises a zero-shot learning system deployed at a Schneider Electric facility in Shanghai

Beijing-headquartered Geekplus (HKEX: 2590.HK) has won the 2026 RBR50 Innovation Award for its Robot Arm Picking Station, an intelligent system that automates item picking, which is widely regarded as the last major bottleneck in warehouse automation.

The award, presented annually by The Robot Report at the Robotics Summit & Expo, recognises the 50 most innovative companies in global robotics. It is the fifth time Geekplus has appeared on the list, placing it alongside ABB, Amazon, Boston Dynamics and Nvidia among repeat honourees. [Read more…] about Geekplus Takes Fifth RBR50 Innovation Award With AI-Powered Picking Station