Robotics & Automation News

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Manufacturing

How Procurement Automation Creates Audit-Ready Supply Chains in Manufacturing

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A tier-two automotive parts supplier processing 3,000 purchase orders per month discovered during a customer audit that it could not trace the approval history for 40% of its procurement transactions from the previous quarter.

The orders had been placed, the parts had been received, and the invoices had been paid. But the trail of who approved what, when, and against which budget was scattered across email threads, spreadsheets, and verbal confirmations that nobody had documented.

The audit finding did not result in a financial loss. It resulted in something worse: a conditional rating that put the supplier’s preferred status at risk. [Read more…] about How Procurement Automation Creates Audit-Ready Supply Chains in Manufacturing

Interview with the CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories: ‘Uncertainty in the real world’

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As robotics continues to move from controlled environments into more complex, real-world settings, the role of research institutions in shaping the next generation of systems is becoming increasingly significant.

One of the organizations operating at this intersection is Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL), the North America-based R&D arm of Mitsubishi Electric.

Led by president and CEO Anthony Vetro, MERL focuses on advancing core technologies that underpin robotics, including perception, control systems, and machine learning. Its work spans multiple domains, from industrial automation to energy systems, with an emphasis on bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical deployment. [Read more…] about Interview with the CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories: ‘Uncertainty in the real world’

The Hidden Ingredient Layer Behind Automated Food Processing

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Food factories love visible progress. A new robot arm. A cleaner packaging cell. A faster conveyor. A vision system that spots defects before a human operator would even notice them.

But a surprising amount of automation performance is decided before any of that equipment touches the product.

It starts in the mix tank, the formulation room, the chilling step, the coating drum, the dough sheet, the marinade, the binder, the stabilizer, and the moisture level. The boring stuff, basically. The stuff that doesn’t photograph well at trade shows. [Read more…] about The Hidden Ingredient Layer Behind Automated Food Processing

Factory Automation Requires Precision Parts: How Robotics OEMs Are Qualifying Chinese CNC Suppliers in 2026

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A collaborative robot arm contains hundreds of custom machined components. Actuator housings, gearbox flanges, joint brackets, and end-effector mounts each carry tight dimensional tolerances that determine whether the assembly performs to specification or introduces compounding error across the kinematic chain.

For robotics OEMs scaling from prototype to production volume, finding a CNC supplier that can consistently hold those tolerances is not a sourcing exercise – it is an engineering qualification process.

In 2026, a growing share of that qualification work is being directed at Chinese CNC manufacturers. The combination of machining capacity, material range, and unit economics makes China’s manufacturing base attractive for robotics hardware – and a new generation of structured platforms offering access to a verified CNC machining supplier network, where factories are pre-screened for equipment capability, tolerance range, and certification status before any RFQ is released, is changing how OEMs approach the search. [Read more…] about Factory Automation Requires Precision Parts: How Robotics OEMs Are Qualifying Chinese CNC Suppliers in 2026

Flex and Teradyne Robotics expand partnership to scale intelligent automation across global manufacturing

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Flex – one of the world’s largest contract manufacturers – and Teradyne Robotics are expanding their collaboration to accelerate intelligent automation across global manufacturing.

Under the expanded relationship, Flex plays a dual role by deploying Teradyne Robotics solutions within its own production facilities while manufacturing key robotics components that enable scalable automation deployments for Teradyne Robotics customers worldwide.

Teradyne Robotics brands Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots play a central role in the partnership. Flex manufactures key components for UR while deploying its collaborative industrial robots (cobots) and MiR autonomous mobile robots in Flex production environments. [Read more…] about Flex and Teradyne Robotics expand partnership to scale intelligent automation across global manufacturing

Path Robotics unveils mobile robotic welding system combining AI and quadruped mobility

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Path Robotics, a developer of physical AI for manufacturing, has announced the launch of Rove, a mobile robotic welding system that pairs the company’s Obsidian physical AI model with a quadruped robot.

The launch marks a major expansion for Path Robotics – where Obsidian already delivers autonomous, adaptive welding inside fixed cells, Rove extends that capability to the field, bringing intelligent welding to the part rather than the part to the workpiece.

Shipbuilding, heavy construction, and large-scale fabrication face a shared constraint: massive assemblies, inconsistent fit-up, and workpieces that cannot be moved, let alone fixtured inside of a welding cell. [Read more…] about Path Robotics unveils mobile robotic welding system combining AI and quadruped mobility

Snack sector shifts drive rethink of end-of-line automation strategies

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The global snack industry is undergoing a structural shift that is forcing manufacturers to rethink how production lines are designed, particularly at the end-of-line stage where packaging and case handling take place.

While the sector continues to grow, industry observers say the more significant change lies in the increasing complexity of production. A proliferation of product formats – from single-serve packs to multipacks and e-commerce-ready cartons – is driving a sharp rise in SKU counts, placing new demands on manufacturing systems.

Production environments that were once optimized for long, stable runs are now required to handle near-continuous changeovers. [Read more…] about Snack sector shifts drive rethink of end-of-line automation strategies

Reducing Time-to-Market in Robotics with Digital Manufacturing Platforms

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The growing pressure on robotics teams to move faster

Robotics companies are under more pressure than ever to accelerate development timelines. Whether building industrial automation systems, autonomous platforms, or next-generation robotic hardware, teams are expected to move from concept to production faster – without compromising reliability or performance.

At the same time, hardware development is becoming more complex. Mechanical systems, electronics, and software must all come together seamlessly, and each iteration requires physical validation. That’s where many teams run into trouble.

According to Fictiv’s 2026 State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Report, nearly half of manufacturing leaders say they are struggling to do more with fewer resources, while still navigating supply chain disruptions and rising costs. For robotics teams, those pressures show up most clearly in one place: prototyping. [Read more…] about Reducing Time-to-Market in Robotics with Digital Manufacturing Platforms

Google commits $10 million to train 40,000 US manufacturing workers in AI skills

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Google.org has announced $10 million in funding to support workforce training in artificial intelligence for the US manufacturing sector, with a target of reaching 40,000 current and future workers.

The funding will be directed to the Manufacturing Institute (MI), which will develop new training programs and expand apprenticeship opportunities across the country.

According to the announcement, the initiative is intended to help prepare the workforce for what Google describes as “a new era of industrial innovation”. [Read more…] about Google commits $10 million to train 40,000 US manufacturing workers in AI skills

Brick Making Machines: Guide for Efficient and Scalable Production

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Most people who get into brick production already know the basics, but it’s the details that determine whether your operation runs smoothly or constantly falls behind.

Getting the right brick making machine for your setup is one of those decisions that ripples through everything else, from how consistent your output is to how much you’re spending on labor each month.

This guide breaks down what today’s machines can actually do, what to look for when choosing one, and how to scale production without running into the common pitfalls. [Read more…] about Brick Making Machines: Guide for Efficient and Scalable Production