Collaborative automation, engineered in Europe

Multitech Insights

Signals shaping collaborative robotics.

Selected developments from across the robotics world, translated into practical questions for manufacturers.

Multiple Universal Robots cobots coordinated within one production cell at Vitesco TechnologiesImage: Universal Robots / Vitesco Technologies

Physical AI

Agentic AI is moving from one robot to the whole cell

A Universal Robots research demonstration used an AI agent to discover and coordinate four cobots through the Model Hardware Standard. The important signal is a possible common layer for orchestrating complete automation systems.

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Latest briefings

What changed, and why it matters.

Original summaries with a Multitech application perspective and links to the primary source.

A trainer demonstrates an industrial task to Hexagon Robotics' AEON humanoid in Schaeffler's Humanoid GymImage: Hexagon Robotics / Schaeffler

Deployment Strategy

Humanoid deployment starts with a training system

Schaeffler and Hexagon are building a dedicated environment to teach, validate and refine humanoid tasks before factory rollout - a useful model for any new form of flexible automation.

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A visitor interacting with LG humanoid robots at the LG Data Factory launch event in SeoulImage: LG Electronics

Physical AI

Robot learning is becoming a production capability

LG's new Data Factory shows that collecting, validating and improving robot data is becoming infrastructure in its own right - not merely an AI research activity.

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Participant coordinating with a collaborative robot during a continuous shared-control experimentPhotograph adapted from Figure 3: Biton, Cohen and Shoval / Frontiers in Robotics and AI, CC BY

Human-centred Automation

Better cobot feedback is designed around the task

New research shows that cobot feedback should be matched to the type of collaboration. More guidance can improve understanding and coordination, but the most effective interface depends on how closely the operator and robot work together.

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Mobile cobot workflow connecting transport and machine-tending operationsImage: Universal Robots / Mobile Industrial Robots

Application Watch

Mobile cobots turn hidden waiting into measurable flow

A new UR and MiR session reframes intralogistics as a production-system problem: parts should arrive ready for work, rather than wait between isolated processes.

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KUKA iiQKA robot platform and digital engineering interfaceImage: KUKA

Standards & Safety

Robot cybersecurity becomes a cell-design question

KUKA’s new security certification is a useful reminder that connected automation must be engineered for digital resilience as well as physical safety.

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Students working with a Universal Robots cobot in a university laboratoryImage: Universal Robots

Skills & Education

Robotics education is moving from programming to systems thinking

A new university-led curriculum shows why future automation skills must cover complete applications, data and responsible deployment - not only robot code.

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IFR chart showing United States industrial robot installation growthGraphic: International Federation of Robotics

Market Signals

Robot demand growth is spreading beyond automotive

New IFR figures show US installations returning to double-digit growth, with food and non-manufacturing sectors becoming more important automation buyers.

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FANUC Physical AI robot demonstration developed with GoogleImage: FANUC

AI & Robotics

Physical AI moves closer to the factory floor

FANUC’s collaboration with Google shows how natural-language instructions and adaptable robot behaviour are moving from research demonstrations toward industrial platforms.

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Compact FANUC CRX-3iA collaborative robotImage: FANUC

Application Watch

Portable cobots bring welding automation to the work

FANUC’s compact CRX-3iA reflects a shift from bringing every part to a fixed cell toward taking automation to large structures and changing work areas.

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Universal Robots imitation-learning demonstration at GTC 2026Image: Universal Robots

AI & Robotics

Imitation learning connects robot AI training to production hardware

Universal Robots and Scale AI are bringing force-aware demonstration data into the same industrial platform intended for deployment.

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