Robotics & Automation News

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robotics and automation

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

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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’

Appetronix acquires Cibotica to expand robotic foodservice automation beyond pizza

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Appetronix, a developer of robotic kitchen systems, has acquired food robotics company Cibotica in a move aimed at expanding its automation platform into additional food categories beyond pizza. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition brings Cibotica’s automated ingredient dispensing and portioning technology into the Appetronix portfolio, including the company’s Remy robotic bowl and salad assembly system.

Appetronix says the technology will help accelerate the development of robotic kitchen concepts for a wider range of cuisines and foodservice applications. [Read more…] about Appetronix acquires Cibotica to expand robotic foodservice automation beyond pizza

Genesis AI launches simulation platform to accelerate robotics development

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Genesis AI has launched Genesis World 1.0, a new robotics simulation platform designed to dramatically reduce the time required to develop, test, and evaluate robotic AI systems.

The company says the platform can compress robotics evaluation cycles from days to minutes by enabling large-scale testing in photorealistic virtual environments rather than relying solely on physical robots.

According to Genesis AI, a robotics foundation model evaluation that would typically require nearly a week of continuous testing on real hardware can be completed in approximately 30 minutes using Genesis World 1.0 running on GPU infrastructure. [Read more…] about Genesis AI launches simulation platform to accelerate robotics development

Inbolt to launch vision-enabled robot programming at Automate event

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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

Japan promotes Osaka as a gateway for robotics and technology investment

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Japan is stepping up efforts to attract overseas technology companies and investors to Osaka, positioning the city as an alternative gateway to the Japanese market and a potential hub for innovation in sectors such as robotics, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.

The initiative is being led by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), a government-backed agency that promotes trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world.

Following Expo 2025 Osaka, JETRO is highlighting a range of programs designed to help foreign companies establish operations in the Osaka and Kansai region. [Read more…] about Japan promotes Osaka as a gateway for robotics and technology investment

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

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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

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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

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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

Schindler expands elevator installation robot fleet as demand for construction automation grows

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Schindler is expanding its global fleet of elevator installation robots as construction companies increasingly turn to automation to improve productivity, safety, and project delivery times.

The company has added two new units of its Robotic Installation System for Elevators (RISE), bringing its global fleet to seven robots operating across multiple international markets.

Since its launch five years ago, Schindler RISE has been deployed at 36 construction sites worldwide, installing approximately 50,000 anchor bolts while delivering time savings of up to 40 percent during elevator shaft preparation and installation.

[Read more…] about Schindler expands elevator installation robot fleet as demand for construction automation grows

Locus Robotics expands European headquarters with new automation demo and customer hub

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Locus Robotics, a provider of warehouse automation technologies, has embarked on the next phase of its European growth with plans to relocate its European headquarters operations to Logistics Campus Aalsmeer.

The increased footprint will provide significantly more space for Locus Robotics’ European teams, warehouse operations, customer demonstrations, solution training, partner engagement, and regional robot lifecycle support.

The move builds on several years of regional growth, with Locus Robotics now serving 160+ customers across more than 20 countries and supporting more than 17,000 robots in the field. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics expands European headquarters with new automation demo and customer hub