by Gary Mintchell | Jul 15, 2026 | Robots
Visitors at Automate witnessed some advances in robotic dexterity. ABB showed off an example.
ABB Robotics is collaborating with California bionics company, PSYONIC, to advance robotic gripping and dexterity using a new approach that utilizes real-world manipulation data from human prosthetic use. By combining the PSYONIC Ability Hand with an ABB GoFa cobot, the collaboration will explore how touch and motion data generated by human prosthetic use can be used to train robots to perform delicate, variable tasks that have traditionally been difficult to automate.
“Human dexterity and the instinctive understanding of how to handle different objects is one of the most difficult things to replicate in industrial-grade robotics, but it’s a fundamental need for truly autonomous and versatile robots,” said Marc Segura, President, ABB Robotics. “As we develop the next generation physical AI, robots will learn and understand the world as we do. This collaboration with PSYONIC will help to close the long-standing gap between human and robot dexterity, opening up new possibilities for a wide range of industries.”
Grasping and dexterity are central to Autonomous Versatile Robotics (AVR) – ABB Robotic’s vision for robots that can sense, reason, move and handle objects with precision in dynamic environments. They are also critical to advancing physical AI in industry: robotic systems that can learn from real-world interaction and apply that intelligence with industrial-grade reliability. The collaboration will explore new applications across numerous industries, including automotive, aerospace, packaging and logistics, and life sciences. By enabling robots to take on tasks that are repetitive, ergonomically challenging or difficult to perform consistently at scale, ABB Robotics and PSYONIC can help people and robots to work together more effectively, while improving productivity, flexibility and workplace safety.
PSYONIC is working closely with ABB Robotics’ R&D team on integration and development, exploring how touch-enabled manipulation can support next-generation autonomous robotics applications.
Revolutionizing robotic dexterity with human-generated data
Originally developed for prosthetic use, the PSYONIC Ability Hand combines myoelectric control, touch sensing and compliant mechanics in a lightweight, multi-articulating design. Its pressure sensors and vibration feedback system enable users to detect contact, grip force and release, while flexible fingers conform naturally to irregular and deformable objects.
“Dexterous manipulation is ultimately a data challenge as much as a hardware challenge,” said Dr. Aadeel Akhtar, Founder and CEO of PSYONIC. “By using the same Ability Hand on people and on robots, we can capture high-fidelity real-world data on movement, contact and grip force, then use that to train robotic systems more effectively. Integrating with ABB Robotics’ robotics platform allows us to expand into more environments and unlock the level of dexterity needed to take on the hardest challenges in automation.”
To support this work, ABB Robotics’ GoFa provides the accuracy and repeatability required for industrial-grade deployment, ensuring that subtle variations in grip force, finger positioning and movement can be consistently executed and evaluated. This level of precision is critical for translating human-derived manipulation data into reliable robotic performance across complex, variable tasks.
The collaboration will evaluate how this combined capability can be applied across industrial use cases where traditional gripping technologies struggle with variability, fragility or complexity – such as handling irregular or delicate objects. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), advanced gripping and digital integration can reduce engineering time by up to 30%, underlining the importance of end-of-arm tooling in accelerating deployment and improving automation ROI.
It also reflects ABB Robotics’ broader strategic approach of working with partners across its ecosystem to overcome long-standing barriers to automation. By combining robotics, AI and real-world manipulation data generated through human prosthetic use, ABB Robotics is advancing physical AI and enabling more capable, adaptable robots to operate reliably in real-world environments.
by Gary Mintchell | Jul 15, 2026 | Robots
Most of what I saw at Automate related to robotics. This news from Kawasaki.
New RL030N 8DoF robot platform for Physical AI applications, patented Pulseboard inspection technology, and next-generation automation systems highlight company’s vision for intelligent industrial automation.
Featured innovations include the debut of the new RL030N 8 Degree of Freedom (DoF) robot platform designed for Physical AI applications, Kawasaki Robotics’ patented Pulseboard inspection technology demonstrated in a live robotic weld inspection system developed with Fives DyAG, and the introduction of the new MXP360L and BA013L industrial robots. Demonstrated throughout Kawasaki Robotics’ booth (S-2201), these technologies showcase intelligent automation systems capable of advanced motion control, precision inspection, and flexible manufacturing.
RL030N robot is the industry’s first 8-axis robot designed specifically for Physical AI applications. It combines high-speed motion, enhanced dexterity, lightweight construction, and real-time external orchestration capabilities for dynamic and confined environments.
Unlike conventional industrial robots optimized for repetitive tasks, the RL030N supports AI-driven applications requiring adaptive motion, obstacle avoidance, confined-space manipulation, and complex motion planning. Its unique 8DoF architecture adds an additional articulation axis, providing greater dexterity and flexibility than traditional 6-axis robots.
The RL030N is powered by Kawasaki Robotics’ open KRNX real-time control API, enabling external AI software, ROS environments, machine learning systems, vision platforms, and third-party orchestration systems to directly control the robot in real time.
Kawasaki Robotics will also demonstrate its patented Tool Tip Displacement Output Function technology, known as Pulseboard, integrated into an advanced robotic weld inspection solution developed with partner Fives DyAG. The system combines a Kawasaki RS013N robot, a laser 3D profile camera, and Kawasaki’s high-speed motion synchronization technology to improve inspection performance for complex weld geometries and curved surfaces.
Unlike conventional inspection systems that require robots to stop repeatedly for image capture, Pulseboard continuously synchronizes image acquisition in real time with the robot’s tool-tip displacement. This enables high-resolution imaging even during acceleration and deceleration, resulting in a robotic inspection system capable of up to 10x faster weld inspection, reduced setup requirements, precise defect localization, and high-speed inspection without sacrificing accuracy.
Kawasaki Robotics will also showcase the BU015X 7-axis robot in an adhesive dispensing and inspection demonstration developed with Coherix. Designed to simulate a real-world automotive production environment, the system applies sealant to a Ford F-150 door skin while continuously measuring and automatically adjusting adhesive bead placement in real time at speeds of up to 400 times per second.
Combining Kawasaki Robotics’ hollow-arm robot design with Coherix’s 3D laser-based Adaptive Process Control technology, the system uses machine learning and real-time process optimization to help manufacturers reduce defects, material waste, labor costs, and rework while maintaining full production-line speeds.
The BA013L 13 kg arc welding robot will make its debut inside a compact welding cell designed for high-performance welding applications. The cell features the BA013L robot, Kawasaki PST500-L2 dual-axis positioner, Rollon Glider RTU, Strong Hand welding table, and Miller welding power source to demonstrate flexible, high-precision automation.
Built for demanding production environments, the robot features a redesigned architecture with a 50 mm hollow wrist for internal cable routing along with support for high-current welding torches, reduced cable wear, and improved accessibility. High-speed axis performance reaching 730°/s and an extended 2,093 mm reach help improve cycle times while maintaining weld quality.
The MXP360L features a 360 kg payload capacity, extended reach, and advanced vibration-control technology for heavy-duty material handling applications. At Automate 2026, the robot will be displayed handling a Kawasaki Z125S motorcycle on a Rollon RTU linear axis. Kawasaki Robotics will also feature collaborative robot demonstrations, including CL Series welding carts and a sanding application using a FerRobotics sanding tool.
by Gary Mintchell | Jul 13, 2026 | Robots
Get used to it—robots are now physical AI. I didn’t even like that part of marketing when I practiced it. Anyway, new applications from Teradyne.
Teradyne Robotics, the company behind Universal Robots (UR) and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), demonstrated how physical AI is transforming industrial automation at Automate 2026 in Chicago, June 22-25.
“Physical AI is on full display across our robotic solutions at Automate,” said Jean-Pierre Hathout, President of the Teradyne Robotics Group. “The demos we are presenting are real and deployable. Manufacturers can purchase the physical AI‑enabled applications we have on display, including our first physical AI-product the MiR1200 Pallet Jack, today – delivered through our global ecosystem of system integrators and partners – to automate tasks that have traditionally been difficult or impractical for robots, including those in dynamic and unstructured environments.”
The foundational layer for physical AI advancements is PolyScope X, UR’s next-generation software platform: PolyScope X still relies on the powerful motion-control foundation that has defined UR for decades, while modernizing the operator experience on a state-of-the-art technology stack. This includes modern web technologies, containerized applications and native ROS 2 support, which allow developers and engineers to program automation applications the way they are most comfortable.
PolyScope X also introduces Logic Programs, continuously running, multi-threaded programs that execute in parallel with the main robot program. This native, PLC-style background logic lets programmers coordinate and control multiple work cell components, exchange data, and, in many deployments, reduce or replace external PLCs, running independently of safeguard stops, program pauses, and robot power state.
Teradyne Robotics’ booth highlights the company’s strategic focus on the infrastructure of the future, specifically addressing the needs of electronics manufacturers and AI data centers:
- The UR AI Trainer: Developed with Scale AI, UR’s imitation learning platform allows users to physically guide a UR robot through tasks like smartphone packaging, capturing high-fidelity, force-aware data to train sophisticated Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models for direct factory deployment. The AI Trainer also supports integration with cloud services, with examples of how users can take data from the Trainer to train the NVIDIA GR00T open VLA model or use the NVIDIA Isaac Sim open simulation framework to validate and test robot behavior.
- Generalist: Two UR12e robots running autonomously on Generalist’s GEN-1 model, showcasing complex dexterous manipulation capabilities. Shown here leveraging the high-quality motion and reliability of the Universal Robots platform, GEN-1 is a class of general-purpose robotic foundation models delivering general intelligence from the physical world at levels of speed and reliability that demonstrate traction toward the practical thresholds required for real deployments.
- Cambrian: Directly supporting the global build-out of AI infrastructure, this demo uses dual-arm UR7e robots and Cambrian’s AI vision system to identify and insert copper cables into high-density server racks, a process traditionally plagued by manual errors and labor shortages.
- On-the-fly learning: Physical AI in action
- The booth features a diverse range of demos from ecosystem partners leveraging UR robots and MiR AMRs to perceive and react to the “messy reality” of the industrial world:
- AICA: Showcases how a UR7e robot executes learned trajectories from human demonstrations that are both adaptive and force-sensing. The robot picks up a metal part and buffs it against a polishing wheel, matching the speed and applied force of an operator with only a single demonstration.
- beRobox (PALTZ) + MiR Mobility: The PALTZ palletizer utilizes AI vision to redirect a UR20 robot on the fly, picking up boxes even if they have shifted orientation. In the demo, the AI-enabled Pallet Jack and the MiR600 operate directly alongside the beRobox palletizer, retrieving pallets, exchanging positions, and returning them to their original locations to clearly showcase coordinated material flow. Together, this creates a flexible, mobile system that moves between tasks and locations without fixed infrastructure, providing a practical, end-to-end alternative to humanoid robots.
- Mobile cobot + ROEQ: A similar alternative to humanoids is showcased next to the beRobox demo where a MiR250 equipped with an ROEQ conveyor topper transfers a box to a conveyor. The conveyor then moves the box to the end of the line, where the MC250 mobile cobot picks it up, transports it back to the MiR250, and places it for the process to repeat.
- Maple Advanced Robotics Inc.: An Autonomous Spot Sanding Solution that requires no CAD models or manual teaching; an operator simply marks defects, and the system, powered by a UR8L robot, automatically scans and applies the correct finishing recipe.
- Trener Robotics: Acteris is an AI-native platform with a conversational interface that allows operators to deploy robotic machine tending jobs via simple chat input in any language, setting up new tasks handled by a UR7e robot in just 1–2 minutes.
- Vention: The Rapid Operator AI is a bin picking solution achieving a 99% first-pick success rate, configured in minutes with zero programming. The system uses a UR12e robot and 3D vision to handle unstructured parts for real-time identification.
by Gary Mintchell | Jul 13, 2026 | Robots
I have been a bit under the weather with some good-old Midwest summer allergies. Add that to an overdose of World Cup soccer, and I have been out.
Time to catch up.
A decade ago, I would have declared robot end-of-arm-tooling a mature, unexciting technology. That plus manufacturing employment discussions in America—what with going overseas thanks to the beancounters.
Caught up with Matthew Bush, CEO of Hirebotics, at Automate last month. Hirebotics manufacturers robotic end-of-arm tooling with a newly released product. Mostly we discussed the shortage of workers and how we will need more tooling and automation in order to produce what we as a society will be needing in the future.
As for new products announced at the show, check out this Cobot painter produced with FANUC.
Hirebotics, a leading provider of collaborative robot (cobot) solutions for metal fabrication, announced the first explosion-proof cobot solution built using its no-code Beacon platform and the FANUC CRX-10iA/L Paint hardware. Hirebotics’ Cobot Painter is available now, offering metal fabricators and manufacturers a practical, high-mix, low-volume alternative to manual spraying and complex automated lines.
In the past, fabrication shops and other manufacturers had to outsource coating work, as traditional automation lines were too costly and complex. This resulted in a loss of control over lead times, quality, and profit margins. Compared to traditional automated paint systems that require dedicated cells and major exhaust or conveyor infrastructure overhauls, the portable, lightweight Cobot Painter works inside a manufacturer’s existing manual spray environment. This means the solution can be deployed and working within days rather than months.
“The Cobot Painter eliminates the need for dedicated paint cells and complex programming,” said Matt Bush, co-founder and CEO of Hirebotics. ”By combining FANUC’s world-class, explosion-proof hardware with our intuitive, no-code Beacon platform, we’ve created an affordable, flexible finishing solution. Shops can now bring their coating in-house, deploy automation in days inside their existing booths, and deliver the flawless finishes their customers expect. And they can do it all without a single robotics specialist on staff.”
Hirebotics’ Cobot Painter brings robotic spray painting to manufacturers who need a flexible, affordable alternative to traditional paint booths and manual spraying to handle liquid paint and powder coating with repeatable precision. (Image from Hirebotics)
FANUC CRX-10iA/L Paint cobot is the first explosion-proof collaborative paint robot on the market approved for liquid painting, powder coating, and gel coating applications in hazardous environments. Featuring a 55.82-inch reach, the cobot handles large and complex parts with repeatable precision, delivering a consistent coat every time while significantly reducing paint waste and overspray.
Like Hirebotics’ welding and cutting solutions, the Cobot Painter is designed to be fully accessible to operators without robotics or programming experience. Using the Beacon interface on any tablet or phone, operators can simply use “click-and-teach” paths to guide the robot through the motions once. The cobot then flawlessly repeats the exact speed, distance, and angle for every cycle.
“Built on the CRX-10iA/L Paint cobot, the system brings the safety and precision of explosion-proof automation into standard manual coating environments,” said Dave Wagenhauser, Manager of Paint Robot Sales, FANUC America. “The CRX Paint series is designed to deliver consistent, high-quality performance in painting and finishing applications, combining collaborative safety features, ease of deployment, and FANUC’s proven reliability for manufacturers seeking flexible automation. Our collaboration with Hirebotics and its Beacon platform further streamlines setup and programming, helping reduce integration complexity and enabling faster deployment in high-mix, low-volume production environments.”
Hirebotics’ Cobot Painter currently supports stationary painting, with parts placed in a paint booth where robots perform all spraying operations. Future versions will support line tracking, with the robot tracking and painting parts while in continuous motion along a production line.
by Gary Mintchell | Jun 2, 2026 | Robots, Software, Technology
Manufacturers have lots of data. Every day brings new technologies for gathering and storing it. The right question probes into what specific problem can be solved. I sat in the world’s shortest press conference (not complaining, even though they blew off my question) with a company I don’t know who asked the question—how can we better integrate the myriad details required to build the best robotic workcell.
The company is called Robotiq. Based in Quebec City, Canada, introduced IQ, an AI-enabled platform designed to make robotic Workcell integration faster, more predictable, and easier to scale. 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.
“AI” can be a generic marketing buzzword. I asked for a definition, but the press conference closed before they got to it. Reading through the press release, the definition apparently involves machine learning algorithms. Fair enough.
“Automation does not scale when integration remains manual,” said Samuel Bouchard, CEO of Robotiq. “With IQ, we are moving from manually engineering robotic systems one project at a time to automatically generating Workcells from real customer inputs, Robotiq components, AI, and proven know-how from thousands of past projects. For manufacturers, this means a clearer path to automation: fewer surprises, faster decisions, more predictable performance, and better financial justification, including in many 1-shift operations.”
Robotic Workcell integration depends on thousands of small details. Customer requirements, production constraints, factory floor layouts, site measurements, throughput targets, product variants, and local installation realities all affect whether a project succeeds. When that data is incomplete, fragmented or siloed, engineering teams experience project delays during the discovery and design revision phases.
The IQ solution includes:
- Automated data capture: Extract technical requirements via voice notes, legacy file uploads, and 3D site scanning.
- AI-enabled project coordination: Machine-learning models align manufacturer specifications, partner capabilities, and Robotiq application engineering expertise.
- Simulation and design validation: 3D environment scans are converted into digital twin models, matching customer cycle times and application data against standardized engineering rules to validate Workcell performance before physical deployment.
IQ is available today for robotic palletizing applications, where Robotiq has already standardized the hardware components, software workflows, and deployment knowledge needed to generate validated Workcell designs. Over time, Robotiq plans to extend the same Automatic Integration model to additional robotic applications.
To commission robotic systems successfully, manufacturers need local system integration support, application expertise, and reliable service. Robotiq partners play that role. IQ provides partners with a repeatable digital workflow to capture project information, apply Robotiq deployment expertise, collaborate with customers and Robotiq experts, and support Workcells more consistently after installation.
“IQ does not replace partner expertise,” Bouchard added. “It amplifies this expertise to accelerate and scale projects. Manufacturers need local partners who understand their production reality and can provide the installation capacity and support needed to keep lines running. IQ gives those partners better information, better coordination, and a clearer path from opportunity to running system.”
by Gary Mintchell | May 18, 2026 | Automation, Events, Robots
Few trade show/conferences exist in our market anymore. I attend only a few of them. I will be at Automate at Chicago’s McCormick Place next month. If you’d like to meet for a coffee and chat while I’m there, send me a note.
I will see Keegan (didn’t get the proper spelling). I walk into a Starbucks in Elgin, IL Thursday for my doppio espresso with cinnamon and spot a guy wearing a Cognex shirt. Turns out he works for them and will be at Automate. They have lots of new products to show, he told me. Stop by and say hi (not a paid announcement).
Jeff Burnstein, President, Association for Advancing Automation (A3), agreed to talk with me about the upcoming show.
As an aside, you should get used to the term “physical AI” replacing the old term “robotics.” I’m hearing that often.
The first thing Burnstein promoted for the show was humanoid robots. Check out the pavilion and forum that Nvidia sponsoring. A3 have an annual conference on humanoids. There will be much to discuss.
I asked about applications. I talked with the general manager of a company division designing and building humanoids. I asked him why. His reply, “These are build for bench assembly tasks, and existing benches are designed for humans. Rather than rebuild an assembly station, just buy a robot built to human dimensions.”
Back to Burnstein, “Companies are putting the technology out there hoping for customers to find applications.” I may have written recently this idea concerning the AI LLM product mindset—instead of searching for a customer need and designing a solution, we produce a solution and hope that customers will discover applications. I’m interested in pursuing these inquiries during my time at the show.
Burnstein further commented, “AI is moving more rapidly than we expected.”
He told me that A3, the organization, is doing a lot with government, testifying before Congress and working with agencies. An official of the US Dept. Of Commerce will be speaking at Automate. A3 are pushing for a government central strategy for development and application of robots, to incentivize adoption. This should be a national priority since right now China dwarfs us in the manufacture and application of robots. Further, government also as a major user, lots of applications. Part of the personal initiatives is sales. Government can also stimulate companies to build robots here.
Why the push on robots? Major shortage of workers. Burnstein told me currently the number is 438K. Analysts state the shortage could be 1.38M by 2033.
A3 encourages government to invest in university and private research. This was an interesting comment given I’d just read a blog post by Kevin Meyer regarding the current administration efforts to cut such funding.
He concluded with a request for people to accelerate robotic safety standards for humanoids.
Automate 2026 At-a-Glance
- North America’s largest robotics and automation event
- June 22-25 at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
- Free to the public (ages 12 and up)
- 50,000+ attendees, 1,000 exhibitors, 450,000 sq. ft. show floor
- Automate brings together automation professionals from around the world to explore the latest technologies in robotics, artificial intelligence, machine vision, motion control, and industrial automation.
- For more information and to register for Automate 2026, visit automateshow.com.
Facts about A3:
For more than five decades, the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), AIA-Advancing Vision + Imaging (AIA), and the Motion Control and Motors Association (MCMA), along with A3 Mexico, have played a key role in helping automation technologies become among the most critical tools of the 21st Century. As these technologies have converged, our association has had a convergence of its own. We are now the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), one trade group for the entire automation ecosystem.
