Yaskawa Electrical is offering a cellular manipulator, and SoftBank is offering connectivity and AI to develop workplace robots. Supply: SoftBank
SoftBank Corp., which has a historical past of working with service robots and humanoids, yesterday stated it has agreed to collaborate with Yaskawa Electrical Corp., a number one supplier of business automation. The companions stated they plan to develop bodily AI for social and workplace robotics.
SoftBank outlined bodily AI as “expertise that permits robots to research and interpret information from sensors, cameras, and exterior programs by way of AI, permitting them to carry out versatile and sophisticated bodily actions primarily based on AI-driven choices.”
“Standard robots have been designed to carry out particular duties and haven’t been able to dealing with a number of duties concurrently,” stated SoftBank. Robots utilizing bodily AI may carry out a wider vary of duties, permitting a single unit to tackle a number of roles, the Tokyo-based firm added.
Japanese corporations deal with demographic challenges
As Japan‘s workforce shrinks due to an growing older inhabitants, many industries are turning to automation, famous SoftBank. Nonetheless, advanced environments equivalent to places of work, hospitals, faculties, and shops require versatile decision-making, it stated.
SoftBank and Yaskawa Electrical stated they plan to handle these challenges with homegrown applied sciences. Kitakyushu, Japan-based Yaskawa stated its MOTOMAN NEXT robotic arm, launched final yr, is constructed on its expertise in movement management and its dedication to excessive security requirements.
SoftBank’s AI-RAN gives a communications infrastructure with AI and radio entry networks. By integrating constructing administration programs and utilizing multi-access edge computing (MEC), massive volumes of environmental information may be captured by cameras and sensors.
These applied sciences allow the low-latency evaluation of this various information, stated Yaskawa. AI may assess conditions and supply robots optimum directions from an “exterior perspective,” the businesses defined.
Companions to begin with bodily AI in workplace buildings
The companions stated they’ve developed an workplace use case for bodily AI robots utilizing their mixed applied sciences. The businesses constructed a digital constructing administration system for testing and demonstrations. It centrally manages data equivalent to facility information, office-supply inventories, and the operational standing of robots.
SoftBank supplied AI-RAN and the MEC atmosphere. It additionally developed a vision-language mannequin (VLM) to generate process directions by referring to sensor information and different data.
Yaskawa supplied the cellular manipulator and the vision-language-action (VLA) mannequin that generates particular robotic actions primarily based on directions from the VLM.
“This use case represents extra than simply an evolution of business robots,” stated SoftBank. “By integrating AI and communication applied sciences into robotics, it envisions a future during which a single robotic can tackle a number of roles, attaining what may be described as ‘multi-skilled performance.’”
The MOTOMAN NEXT robotic will obtain directions primarily based on sensing, AI, and the constructing administration system. Supply: SoftBank
SoftBank continues R&D, Yaskawa to point out at iREX
SoftBank’s Analysis Institute of Superior Know-how promotes superior applied sciences that help next-generation social infrastructure, together with AI-RAN and Past 5G/6G, in addition to telecommunications, AI, computing, quantum applied sciences, and applied sciences within the area and power sectors. The institute works with universities, analysis establishments, and associate corporations.
SoftBank not too long ago introduced its intention to purchase ABB Robotics from ABB Group for $5.3 billion.
Yaskawa Electrical and SoftBank are demonstrating the brand new robotic on the 2025 Worldwide Robotic Exhibition (iREX) this week in Tokyo. Yaskawa additionally plans to point out programs for sorting medical devices, choosing and packaging, welding, palletizing, and extra.
