Physical AI & robotics news
- · Product launches
FANUC Demonstrates AI Welding Agent
ITmedia reported that FANUC demonstrated an AI welding agent at the 2026 International Welding Show.
- · Product launches
Yaskawa Electric Demonstrates Arc Welding With AI Robot
Yaskawa Electric demonstrated arc welding with its AI robot, MOTOMAN NEXT, at the 2026 International Robot Exhibition.
- · Product launches
humanoid.guide introduces REEM C
humanoid.guide introduced PAL Robotics’ research humanoid, REEM C.
- · Deployment & production
Nikkei reports ZEALS’ humanoid robot mass-production strategy: ¥5 million, half the market price
Nikkei reported that ZEALS has a strategy to mass-produce humanoid robots for ¥5 million. The source is closer to an interview or opinion piece and does not cover specific remarks or technical specifications in the article text. The focus is not only on price but also on how to establish the conditions for mass production.
- · Deployment & production
Kawasaki Heavy Industries to mass-produce hospital delivery robots; report says 2,700 hours saved annually
The Nikkei reported on September 27 that Kawasaki Heavy Industries will mass-produce robots to transport blood and medicine in hospitals.
- · Product launches
Apptronik opens robot training hub, unveils Apollo 2
Apptronik announced on June 30, 2026, the launch of a robot training hub and the unveiling of its humanoid robot, Apollo 2. The primary source is a news report, and the article provides only limited information about detailed specifications and operating conditions. The announcement is notable for pairing the launch of a training environment with the unveiling of the robot.
- · Deployment & production
Tesla Targets Production of 1,000 Optimus Units per Week by Year-End
According to reports, Tesla is expanding production of its humanoid robot Optimus and aims to produce 1,000 units per week by year-end.
- · Policy & regulation
Robocurve Publishes Robot Evaluation Against Dangerous Instructions
Independent evaluation organization Robocurve published results from the RoboHarm benchmark on September 18, 2026.
- · Industry
Tier IV to hold open-source autonomous driving event at Miraikan
Tier IV will hold an experiential event for junior high and high school students at Miraikan on September 26, 2026. Centered on Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving, the program will use AI robots, a simulator and an AIRC car. The focus is not only the educational event itself, but also Tier IV’s positioning of Miraikan as a venue connecting research and development with real-world deployment.
- · Product launches
OmniHand wins 7 gold medals at robot games
leaderobot.com reported that OmniHand won 7 gold medals at the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games.
- · Product launches
NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin reported for on-site use in plug-and-play multicamera recognition
sankei.com reported on AI recognition using multiple cameras that brings NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin directly to worksites. The original is an interview/column, and this article does not delve into the remarks or the argument in detail. The report should be viewed in the context of publicly available information, with the original consulted for details.
- · Product launches
RT Corporation Unveils Quadruped Robot Prototype and Patrol Demo
RT Corporation announced that it has unveiled a prototype of a Japanese-made quadruped robot developed with NSK.
- · Deployment & production
Tesla Reportedly Faces Production Challenges With Optimus’ Hands
Investing.com reported production challenges involving the hands of Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus.
- · Industry
Report Says Humanoid Robot Rentals Cost More Overseas
leaderobot.com reported a gap in humanoid robot rental fees in Japan and overseas, citing examples from the United States and Japan.
- · Deployment & production
Tokyo Gas to Upgrade Robotic Inspections as LNG Facilities Age, Nikkei Reports
Tokyo Gas will upgrade robotic inspections to address the aging of its LNG facilities, Nikkei reported. The effort focuses on maintaining aging facility equipment, with robots set to replace or complement inspections that require workers to enter the facilities. The original report is needed for details on the specific methods and scope of deployment.
- · Product launches
bfl.ai Releases FLUX 3 Action, a 7B Open-Weight World Action Model
bfl.ai has released FLUX 3 Action, a 7B-scale open-weight world action model based on the multimodal FLUX 3 backbone. The company said it was pretrained on large-scale image, video and audio data. On RoboLab-120, it runs up to 3.95 times faster than the previous best open model, with fewer than half as many parameters, the company said.
- · Product launches
Black Forest Labs unveils ‘FLUX 3 Action’
Black Forest Labs announced the release of ‘FLUX 3 Action,’ a world action model for robot control.
- · Deployment & production
UBTECH discloses orders, production capacity and results
The outlet leaderobot.com reported that UBTECH made a series of announcements about orders, factory operations and results from Sept. 9 to 12.
- · Product launches
Mifengpai Announces Cloud Data Collection Platform
At a presentation on September 23, Mifengpai unveiled a system that lets members of the public record everyday tasks to support robot training.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Kindai University improves automated red sea bream juvenile sorting system with Panasonic Connect’s collaborative robot control service
Kindai University was reported to be conducting a trial introduction of Panasonic Connect’s collaborative robot control service, “Robo Sync for Cobot,” as it improves an automated sorting system for juvenile red sea bream.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Waymo, GO and Nihon Kotsu announce driverless taxi service in Tokyo in 2027, targeting 100 vehicles
Waymo, GO and Nihon Kotsu have formally announced plans to operate a fleet of about 100 Level 4 driverless taxis in Tokyo during 2027. The companies plan to accept ride requests through the GO app and the Waymo app. They said the launch date will be set after the necessary permits and approvals are obtained. The companies have been conducting test runs in seven Tokyo wards since 2025. Both operational planning for commercialization and the customer booking experience will be key issues.
- · Product launches
China Mobile Releases Open-Source Platform for Humanoid Control
Forbes reported that China Mobile has released open-source software designed to make humanoid robots move more smoothly.
- · Deployment & production
Nikkei Business reports on Komatsu’s “nearly unmanned” factory, with work time cut 90%
Nikkei Business Digital reported on Komatsu’s efforts in factory operations. The article says the effort includes a 90% reduction in work time. The original report should be consulted for details.
- · Deployment & production
YUASA Reports Humanoid Robot Trial in Auto Parts Processing, Eyes Sales to SMEs
YUASA is conducting a trial using humanoid robots in auto parts processing and exploring a rollout for small and midsize companies, The Nikkei reported. Public information provides few details about the processes covered by the trial or the operating conditions. The key question is how humanoid robots can be integrated into processing work on factory floors.
- · Deployment & production
Tesla's Optimus factory faces reliance on auto parts suppliers, Yahoo Finance reports
Yahoo Finance reported on September 24 that building a parts supply chain for Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, poses challenges for the factory plan. The focus is on the plan's reliance on auto parts suppliers and the significant adjustments needed to replace or repurpose their components. The central issue is not the factory plan itself, but whether a supply chain can be established for mass production.
- · Industry
Nikkei Business Reports on Tesla’s “Level 3” Factory
Nikkei Business Digital published an article about Tesla’s “Level 3” factory. The article covers Tesla’s ambitions and the impact on Japan. Readers should refer to the original article for details.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Nikkei Business Reports Collaboration Among Yaskawa, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and FANUC
Nikkei Business’ online edition reported on Sept. 24, 2026, that Yaskawa Electric, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and FANUC are working together. The focus is on securing and organizing data used in robotics. The development is seen as a factor that could shape the prospects for domestic AI models.
- · Industry
Nikkei Business Digital reports on challenges facing Chinese-made humanoid robots and Japan’s response
Nikkei Business Digital discussed the state of Chinese-made humanoid robots and Japan’s response. The issues were said to involve practical challenges such as smooth movement and precision. The article framed Japan as looking to “muscles” for an opportunity.
- · Research & technology
PFN and ACSL Reach Stage for Autonomous Flight-Route Generation Demo Under NEDO K Program
Preferred Networks and ACSL announced that they have reached a stage where they can demonstrate automatic flight-route generation under NEDO’s K Program project, “Research and Development of Autonomous and Distributed Control Technologies for Small Unmanned Aircraft.” The research has been underway since October 2025. In Phase 2, running from fiscal 2025 through fiscal 2027, the companies will develop an initial aircraft and technologies including flight-plan generation and obstacle avoidance. The focus is on using AI to automate part of route design, which has depended on operators, and on how to implement the technology in applications such as disaster response and infrastructure inspections.
- · Deployment & production
Tesla begins sourcing Chinese components for humanoid robots made in the U.S.
leaderobot.com reported on September 24 that Tesla had begun sourcing components from China for humanoid robots it produces in the U.S.