ABB Robotics is integrating NVIDIA Omniverse libraries into RobotStudio to boost robotic simulation and streamline real-world deployments. The potential can be launched because the subscription-based RobotStudio HyperReality within the second half of 2026.
ABB mentioned RobotStudio is utilized by greater than 60,000 robotics engineers worldwide to design robotic cells, program robots offline, and simulate manufacturing processes. The businesses mentioned improved simulation and AI coaching workflows may make automation extra sensible for small and mid-sized producers.
With the brand new integration, robotic cells, together with robots, sensors, components, and lighting, could be exported to Omniverse environments for physics-based simulation and rendering. ABB mentioned the improved simulation, mixed with its Absolute Accuracy calibration expertise, can cut back robotic positioning errors to round 0.5 mm in calibrated programs. It added that this helps keep consistency between simulation and deployed functions.
“RobotStudio HyperReality makes industrial-grade bodily AI prepared for real-world deployment at scale,” mentioned Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics. “It might probably considerably speed up product improvement, slicing setup instances by as much as 80%, lowering prices by 40%, and enabling concurrent engineering with out bodily prototypes—finally rushing time-to-market by round 50% for advanced merchandise.”
ABB’s digital controller runs the identical firmware as its bodily robotic controllers, permitting builders to check movement packages and automation workflows in simulation earlier than deploying them to manufacturing programs. ABB claims it’s the solely robotic producer with a digital controller operating the identical firmware because the {hardware}. Segura mentioned this makes the partnership with NVIDIA distinctive in comparison with NVIDIA’s offers with different robotic arms makers resembling Fanuc, Common Robots, Yaskawa and others.
ABB plans to supply RobotStudio HyperReality as a subscription alongside the present RobotStudio tiers. The platform at the moment features a free model and a paid RobotStudio Premium providing utilized by industrial clients.
ABB is promoting its robotics group to Softbank for $5.375 billion. The deal was introduced in October 2025 and is predicted to shut in mid-to-late 2026. SoftBank is shopping for ABB’s robotics enterprise to broaden its robotics and AI capabilities. Segura mentioned right this moment’s take care of NVIDIA had nothing to do with the pending sale to Softbank.
“[The partnership with NVIDIA] aligns very properly with our future technique, however this improvement truly stems from a protracted‑standing collaboration with NVIDIA,” he mentioned. “NVIDIA is powering our autonomous cell robots for visible SLAM and autonomous navigation, and we’ve been discussing this integration for a while. Two applied sciences are lastly maturing: simulation expertise and generative AI. While you convey these collectively, it makes good sense to speed up.”
Industrial robots have historically been deployed in high-volume manufacturing environments, the place the price of programming and commissioning programs could be unfold throughout massive manufacturing runs. In high-mix manufacturing environments, the engineering effort required to program robots typically limits adoption. The businesses mentioned RobotStudio HyperReality may cut back setup time and engineering effort for brand new functions.
NVIDIA mentioned ABB can also be exploring the combination of the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platform into its Omnicore controller to allow actual‑time inference.
Segura mentioned Foxconn is piloting the expertise for client electronics meeting, the place robots should deal with small elements and frequent product modifications. One other early person is Workr, Segura mentioned, which develops automation programs for small and mid-sized producers.
“Precision is every little thing in client electronics manufacturing and till now, this degree of accuracy and constancy simply wasn’t potential in simulation and digital twins,” mentioned Dr. Zhe Shi, chief digital officer of Foxconn. “We’re extremely excited by the potential of ABB Robotics and NVIDIA’s collaboration, which permits parallel engineering for higher designs, sooner manufacturing ramp‑up and better product evolution by way of superior AI inference and understanding.”
ABB mentioned it is usually exploring using language and vision-language fashions inside RobotStudio to simplify robotic improvement. The corporate mentioned these instruments may enable customers to instruct robots by way of prompts relatively than conventional programming, with duties validated in simulation earlier than deployment.
“The aim is to maneuver past conventional programming. A proof of that’s that inside RobotStudio, we’re already utilizing language fashions so you’ll be able to immediate robots as an alternative of manually programming them. Our goal is to reveal the advantages of AI not solely in what robots can do, but additionally in how individuals use them,” Segura mentioned. “Over time, the RobotStudio interface will leverage language fashions so customers can transfer from programming robots to easily instructing them. You simulate the robots, and as soon as coaching is full, you push the outcomes to the bodily robotic. With the brand new RobotStudio HyperReality product, we’re taking a big step towards making robots extra accessible and simpler to deploy.”
And, after all, no robotics press convention is full with out at the very least one reporter asking the unavoidable query: “When are you constructing a humanoid?”
“We have already got greater than 150 totally different shapes and dimension of robots. And it’s not simply because we like complexity. It’s as a result of industrial clients require optimization. If you wish to deploy at scale, every little thing should be optimized. So you’ll be able to anticipate from us, after all, cell manipulation embodiments. Will that be within the form of a humanoid or a canine? Prospects will inform us. It’s going to be a response to their request for optimum options.”
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