Physical AI & robotics news
- · Industry
Germany’s Wilo Establishes Japanese Subsidiary, Targets Data Center Market
German pump manufacturer Wilo is making a full-scale entry into Japan and targeting the data center market. It has established Wilo Japan as its Japanese subsidiary.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Exa launches ship maintenance automation as it builds physical AI platform
Exa said it is stepping up development of a physical AI platform aimed at reducing hazardous work and addressing labor shortages, starting with automation of ship maintenance and inspection.
- · Product launches
Mitsubishi Electric to Exhibit at CEATEC 2026
Mitsubishi Electric announced that it will exhibit as the Mitsubishi Electric Group at CEATEC 2026, which will be held at Makuhari Messe from Oct. 13 to 16.
- · Industry
Report on Humanoid Robots Featured
OFweek Robotics featured a report by Roland Berger.
- · Product launches
congatec Announces COM-HPC Module Powered by AMD Ryzen AI Embedded X100
congatec announced a COM-HPC Client module powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded X100 series.
- · Industry
Harmonic Drive Systems to Increase AI Robot Parts Sales Sevenfold in Five Years, Expand U.S. Production
Nikkei Xtech reported that Harmonic Drive Systems plans to increase sales of parts for AI robots sevenfold in fiscal 2030 compared with fiscal 2025.
- · Research & technology
HKU and others unveil method for training quadruped robots to pass through narrow openings
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong and the Oxford Robotics Institute said they developed a training method that enables quadruped robots to quickly pass through narrow gates.
- · Product launches
Torch Launches “Lab Automation Starter Kit” Starting at ¥250,000 per Month, Adopting ROKAE Collaborative Robot as OEM Model
The kit is available starting at ¥250,000 per month and uses an OEM model based on a ROKAE collaborative robot. A working unit will be exhibited at JASIS 2026.
- · Industry
Hitachi creates president-led FDE team to integrate businesses through physical AI
Hitachi has created an FDE team reporting directly to its president to drive business integration around physical AI.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Nissan and Honda Agree to Jointly Develop In-Vehicle OS and Other Technologies for Next-Generation SDVs
Nissan Motor and Honda have agreed to jointly develop the architecture for an in-vehicle OS and other technologies for next-generation SDVs.
- · Policy & regulation
Japan’s transport ministry seeks ¥83.5 billion to address transportation gaps
In its FY2027 budget request, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism sought ¥83.5 billion for measures to address “transportation gaps” in areas underserved by trains and buses.
- · Deployment & production
Meta Reportedly Testing Data Center Maintenance Robots
Meta is reportedly testing robots for maintenance work at AI data centers.
- · Product launches
Yukai Engineering to Unveil New Robot Developed at Makerthon at Maker Faire Tokyo 2026
Yukai Engineering announced that it will unveil a new-concept robot developed at its internal “Makerthon” event at Maker Faire Tokyo 2026, to be held Sept. 5-6, 2026.
- · Industry
China Robot Games competition data released
According to the Nikkei, about 2,500 hours of competition data from the China Robot Games have been made available free of charge.
- · Product launches
TECHNOA to Exhibit at Design and Manufacturing Solutions Expo
TECHNOA Inc. announced that it will exhibit at a trade show to be held in Osaka in October 2026.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Arum to Form Consortium With About 20 Companies to Commercialize Physical AI
Software developer Arum announced it will form a consortium with about 20 companies, including Kobe Steel and Kyocera.
- · Product launches
Loona Deskmate begins advance sales in Japan
Sankei Shimbun reported that Loona Inc.’s desktop AI partner, Loona Deskmate, has begun advance sales in Japan.
- · Deployment & production
MIXI to Announce Results of ‘Romi’ Trial for Older Adults Living Alone in Osaka on Respect for the Aged Day
MIXI will hold an experience and sales event for its conversational AI robot ‘Romi’ in Umeda, Osaka, on September 19 and 20, and release results from a one-month trial involving 10 older adults living alone.
- · Industry
NSK and THK Draw Attention in Actuator Market for Humanoid Robots
Nikkei XTECH reported on trends in actuators for humanoid robots, saying NSK and THK are accelerating their efforts in the field.
- · Deployment & production
SB C&S Launches Automated Warehouse With 160 Robots and 65,000 Bins, Handling Logistics for 500,000 Diverse Items
SB C&S installed an automated warehouse system from Norway’s AutoStore at the ESR Inagi Distribution Center, which began operations in January 2026. The facility has 160 robots, 65,000 containers (bins) and 28 ports, and is designed to handle logistics for about 500,000 diverse items.
- · Industry
Nikkei XTECH Says Excessive Wariness Toward Foreign Capital Is Eroding Physical AI Competitiveness
On August 31, 2026, Nikkei XTECH reported an opinion piece arguing that domestic physical AI will lose competitiveness because of excessive wariness toward foreign capital.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Donut Robotics and Charm Care Form Capital and Business Alliance to Promote Humanoid Deployment in Care Facilities
Donut Robotics and Charm Care Corporation announced a capital and business alliance.
- · Industry
Silicon Studio Establishes Public Sector Business Promotion Office to Expand Digital Twin Technology for Defense, Disaster Prevention and Space
Silicon Studio will establish a Public Sector Business Promotion Office effective Sept. 1, 2026. It will strengthen the deployment of digital twin and simulation technologies in areas including defense, disaster prevention and space. The company will promote solutions for government agencies based on its game engine technology.
- · Funding
A3 Highlights Funding Trends in Robotics, Automation and Physical AI
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) published an article rounding up this week's major funding deals in robotics, automation and physical AI.
- · Deployment & production
Mercedes to Test Humanoid Robot
Mercedes-Benz announced a pilot deployment of a humanoid robot.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Telexistence joins global initiative, seeks to make humanoids convenience store clerks through physical AI
Nikkei BizGate reported on August 31, 2026, on Telexistence’s efforts to develop physical AI.
- · Funding
Motion Raises $2 Million to Commercialize Humanoids
Brussels-based Motion raised $2 million in a pre-seed round led by Extantia Capital, with participation from Norrsken Evolve.
- · Deployment & production
Mercedes-Benz to Launch Level 4 Robotaxi Service in Abu Dhabi With Next-Generation S-Class
Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to partner with Chinese autonomous-driving company Momenta and UAE taxi operator Lumo to begin commercial operations of Level 4 robotaxis based on the next-generation S-Class in Abu Dhabi in 2026. The service is said to be the world’s first commercial Level 4 service using a luxury sedan.
- · Industry
Panasonic Holdings to Establish AI and Robotics R&D Division
Panasonic Holdings announced Aug. 28, 2026, that it will reorganize its technology division effective Oct. 1 and establish an AI and Robotics R&D Division. Group CAIO Sakakibara will lead the new division. The existing DX and CPS Division will be renamed the Business Development Division.
- · Industry
Thinker Director Speaks at AI Robotics Study Session, Presents Solutions to Contact Challenges
A Thinker director spoke at an AI robotics study session, outlining efforts to address contact-related challenges for robot hands.