Automate 2026: Kawasaki 8-DOF Robot, ABB Physical AI Launch

Automate 2026 is underway in Chicago, showcasing current industrial automation technology. This year's event is the largest in its 50-year history, with over 50,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors. Opening day features two major product premieres. Kawasaki Robotics is unveiling the RL030N, an 8-axis robot designed for Physical AI applications. This robot's extra joints allow it to reach into confined spaces and maintain full payload capacity. Kawasaki is also introducing the MXP360L material handling arm and the BA013L welding robot. ABB Robotics is presenting its complete Physical AI Toolchain, a software stack for robot AI models. This toolchain complements ABB's partnership with NVIDIA, which created the RobotStudio HyperReality simulation environment. The bottom line is these new developments are pushing the boundaries of what robots can do in manufacturing right now.