FANUC is collaborating with NVIDIA to integrate AI computing and simulation frameworks into its industrial robot portfolio. The partnership will utilise NVIDIA’s Jetson edge modules and Isaac Sim to create digital twins for factory training and deployment.

The collaboration focuses on “physical AI”, allowing robots to see, reason, and adapt to dynamic environments rather than following rigid, pre-programmed paths. FANUC has released an official ROS 2 driver and now supports Python as standard across its robot range, which spans payloads from 3kg to 2.3 tonnes.

“By collaborating with NVIDIA, we’re giving manufacturers the tools to deploy intelligent robotics faster and align virtual design with real-world production,” said Mike Cicco, President and CEO of FANUC America. The company is also using AI to enable robots to interpret voice commands and automatically generate Python code, reducing the need for specialised programming skills.

The strategy includes several technical integrations:

• High-speed streaming motion for precise control of robot joints.
• Integration of ROBOGUIDE simulation software with NVIDIA Omniverse.
• Real-time AI inference for tasks in automotive, logistics, and food processing.
• Availability of FANUC robots as SimReady assets in the Isaac Sim framework.

The company stated these tools are designed to help manufacturers overcome skilled labour shortages by allowing for rapid reconfiguration of production workflows through verbal instructions and virtual validation.