What’s New in Robotics Technology?

Manufacturers continue to see the value of automation and robotic technologies as industrial sectors outside of automotive look towards these solutions in 2025 and 2026 to bolster efficiency and fill much needed workforce gaps. AMRs, cobots and next-gen vision systems highlight the latest robotic and automation solutions.

Kassow Robots Introduces Sensitive Arm Technology for Enhanced Collaborative Robotics

Kassow Robots, a manufacturer of 7-axis collaborative robots, recently announced its Sensitive Arm technology across its complete range of 7-axis collaborative robots. Introduced at Automate 2025 in Detroit, MI, this advanced force control system integrates high-resolution torque sensors into all seven joints of each robot, enabling manufacturers to automate delicate and contact-sensitive tasks with greater precision, safety and flexibility.

The Sensitive Arm system provides real-time, low-latency force feedback while utilizing integrated torque sensors across all joints. With a sensor resolution of up to 0.024 Nm/bit and a control frequency of 30 kHz, the system enables compliant and nuanced motions essential for complex tasks such as assembly, surface finishing, inspection and delicate handling.

“The Sensitive Arm is transforming how manufacturers approach automation of complex assembly and finishing operations,” said Dieter Pletscher, global sales manager at Kassow Robots. “Our customers are seeing immediate benefits in applications requiring controlled contact forces from precision assembly to surface finishing while maintaining the industrial strength and flexibility that Kassow Robots’ 7-axis design is known for.”

Operators can fine-tune how the robot responds to external forces using a dedicated interface that makes it easy to adjust parameters such as stiffness, damping and end-effector compliance. The system also enables one of the smoothest and most responsive hand-guiding experiences on the market, with minimal resistance and high sensitivity, enabling fast and intuitive programming by demonstration. This significantly reduces the time and complexity involved in deploying new applications.

By eliminating the need for external force and torque sensors, the Sensitive Arm simplifies system integration while improving feedback accuracy. It also improves collaborative safety by enabling faster, more reliable detection of impacts or unexpected contact, creating safer conditions for human-robot interaction on the factory floor.

The Sensitive Arm is available across Kassow Robots’ entire 7-axis collaborative robot portfolio, including new high-payload models, expanding automation possibilities for complex and sensitive tasks. Kassow Robots‘ expanded lineup now offers significantly greater payload capacities while maintaining precision and safety.

kassowrobots.com

Boston Dynamics and LG Innotek Collaborate on Next-Gen Vision System 

Boston Dynamics recently announced a new partnership with LG Innotek, the South Korean materials and electronic components manufacturing company. This strategic alignment will enable Boston Dynamics to install LG Innotek’s new vision sensing components into Atlas, Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot (pictured top). 

The collaboration brings together Boston Dynamics’ and LG Innotek’s research teams to develop new vision sensing systems to address some of robotics hardest to solve problems. The new vision sensing solution will integrate various sensing components and allow robots to detect and perceive their surroundings, including during times of low visibility or poor weather conditions, and in dark environments.

“We’re excited to partner with LG Innotek to drive innovation and redefine the development of robot eyes,” said Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics. “Robots should be able to see, process and perceive the world as well as humans. It is my hope that by working together, we will develop groundbreaking vision systems that are as advanced as the cameras in our mobile phones.” 

CEO Moon Hyuksoo of LG Innotek said, “By collaborating with Boston Dynamics, a world leader in robotics, LG Innotek will gain an advantage in the robotics components market.” He added, “We will continue to introduce core components for robots that will set the standard in the era of robotics and secure a leading position for us in the market.”

The new partnership with LG Innotek comes on the heels of other research collaborations with organizations including Toyota Research Institute, Google Deepmind, NVIDIA and Boston Dynamics’ sister organization, RAI, all to move the robotics industry forward and to develop the world’s most advanced robots.

bostondynamics.com

ABB Offers Next Generation IRB 1200

ABB Robotics’ IRB 1200 high performance small robot family is evolving into a new generation that is faster and more precise, improving productivity and efficiency for a wide range of applications.

“With rising demand from SMEs, the need for adaptable and efficient small automation solutions has never been greater,” said Marc Segura, president ABB Robotics. “The new IRB 1200 takes efficiency and productivity even further in the most precise automation tasks.”

The new generation IRB 1200 family comes in four variants — 5, 7, 8, and 9 kg — the latter offering best-in-class payload, making it ideal for handling larger or heavier parts. 

Powered by ABB’s OmniCore controller, the new robots achieve class-leading motion control, with path accuracy to just 0.6 mm and pose repeatability down to 0.011 mm, even for multiple robots at high speeds of up to 1,600 mm/s.

A five percent faster cycle time ensures that the new IRB 1200 family delivers this precision with even greater productivity, making it ideal for high throughput, complex applications such as surface finishing, assembly, and dispensing, designed for electronics, general industries, automotive electronics, and consumer industries.

Through its leaner design, the new IRB 1200 enables more compact and efficient installation, boosting throughput and efficiency without increasing production footprint. At the same time, it is 20 percent lighter than the previous generation, reducing pedestal mounting and energy consumption.

Thanks to OmniCore, the new generation IRB 1200 family also offers ease of use, through full access to ABB’s expanding suite of AI-powered software, such as RobotStudio, RobotStudio AI Assistant, and AppStudio. 

go.abb/robotics

Kuka Showcases Latest Robotic Technology at CMTS 2025

Canadian Manufacturers will experience the future of automated manufacturing as Kuka Robotics brings the latest robotic solutions for automated machine tool tending, AMR-based intralogistics, and robotic additive manufacturing to the Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show (CMTS) from September 29 - October 2 at the Toronto Congress Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

In Booth #729, Kuka will illustrate how robots drive productivity in today’s machine shops by automating the feeding of machine tools and the flow of materials between machines. The mini factory in the booth consists of two lathes, each fed by a different Kuka robot in System Partner Waybo’s pre-engineered cells. A KMP 600P AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) moves materials and tools between the cells as required by the production schedule. In addition to the mini factory, a Kuka robot in System Partner Dyze Design’s additive manufacturing cell leverages its high precision and reach to 3D print plastic parts.

Visitors to Kuka’s booth will see Waybo’s turnkey CyberDrawer automated drawer feeding system that uses a KR Cybertech industrial robot to load and unload a Nakamura-Tome CNC lathe from Elliott Matsuura Canada in a pre-engineered cell. The CyberDrawer is compatible with most machine tools, is quick to install, and allows shops to easily move it from machine to machine, providing more than eight hours of autonomous operation for lights-out production. The KR Cybertech series offers high-performance industrial robots designed for handling, assembly and machining applications with exceptional speed, precision and flexibility. Featuring compact designs and high payload capacities, these robots are optimized for space-saving operation in various manufacturing environments.

The other Waybo pre-engineered cell is the compact PartNR that uses a KR Agilus industrial robot to feed a Siemens-controlled lathe. The uniqueness of this cell is that the Siemens 828D controller controls both the lathe and the robot via Kuka's mxAutomation and Siemens' Run MyRobot / Handling, providing factory personnel with a single and familiar interface, not just for operation, but also for programming and diagnostics.

The third component of the mini factory is the KMP 600P mobile platform for autonomous material handling that transports parts and tooling between the CyberDrawer and the PartNR cells. The KMP 600P is Kuka’s most compact high-performance AMR, is ideal for confined production spaces and offers a 600-kg payload for efficient material transport, process linking and reliable point-to-point delivery. This autonomous mobile robot provides an excellent performance-to-price ratio and is capable of 24/7 operation with extended battery life. 

Kuka System Partner Dyze Design’s additive manufacturing cell will feature a KR Cybertech-2 robot in live plastic part printing demonstrations. The partner's advanced Typhoon high-flow filament extruder integrated with the KR Cybertech-2 ensures precise, fast and consistent material deposition results. The six-axis KR Cybertech models are rated for payloads ranging from 8 to 22 kg with reaches of 1,612 to 2,013 mm while providing repeatability of ±0.04 mm. They are a compact, multi-function robot with optimized controller structures that make for smooth and sensitive motion characteristics on the path and in positioning. With the ability to be mounted in virtually any position – floor, ceiling, wall or angle – and its streamlined design, the KR Cybertech is ideally suited to space-saving cell designs.

kuka.com