Kawasaki Robotics to debut RL030N physical AI platform at Automate
Kawasaki Robotics says its 8-DoF robot, Pulseboard inspection tech, and other systems will show its vision for intelligent automation. The post Kawasaki Robotics to debut RL030N physical AI platform at Automate appeared first on The Robot Report.
Kawasaki Robotics to debut RL030N physical AI platform at Automate
Overview
Kawasaki will show the MXP360L robot for heavy-duty material handling in Chicago. Source: Kawasaki Robotics
Kawasaki Robotics plans to unveil several systems next week at Automate in Chicago. The company said they will show how robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, vision systems, and real-time control are transforming industrial automation.
“At Kawasaki Robotics, we believe the future of automation will be defined by robotic systems that seamlessly integrate perception, motion, and decision-making,” stated Seiji Amazawa, president of, Kawasaki Robotics. “Automate 2026 marks an important milestone as we introduce technologies designed to support emerging physical AI applications while continuing to deliver the industrial reliability manufacturers depend on.”
Since 1969, Kawasaki Robotics has supplied industrial automation and robotics for a range of sectors and applications. The Tokyo-based company said it continues to innovate in physical AI, intelligent inspection, collaborative robotics, controllers, and autonomous systems.
“We’re a global manufacturer of vehicles, from planes and trains to recreational vehicles, so we’re more focused on outcomes than the latest AI platform or humanoid,” said Paul Marcovecchio, director of general industries at Kawasaki Robotics. “Our tried-and-true robots build millions of products a year, so we take a realistic approach to the transition to AI and full automation.”
At Booth S-2201 in Chicago’s McCormick Place, Kawasaki will show its new RL030N eight degree-of- freedom (DoF) platform designed for physical AI applications. It will also demonstrate its patented Pulseboard inspection technology.
In addition, Kawasaki will introduce the MXP360L and BA013L industrial robots. The company said its booth will showcase systems for advanced motion control and flexible manufacturing.
RL030N built for manipulation in confined spaces
Kawasaki Robotics, whose U.S. headquarters are in Wixom, Mich., claimed that the RL030N combines high-speed motion, enhanced dexterity, lightweight construction, and real-time external orchestration capabilities for dynamic and confined environments.
“Startups were really good at developing the motion-planning software, but traditional robots didn’t have the dexterity or had latency,” Marcovecchio told The Robot Report. “We’re bridging the gap between traditional robotics programming and the dexterity needed for physical AI.”
The RL030N is designed to support AI-driven applications. Source: Kawasaki Robotics
Unlike conventional industrial robots optimized for repetitive tasks, the RL030N supports AI-driven applications requiring adaptive motion, obstacle avoidance, confined-space manipulation, and complex motion planning, said Kawasaki. Its additional articulation axis offers greater dexterity and flexibility than traditional six-axis robots, the company asserted.
“We took what we call a ‘diving board’ — when you look at the 8 DoF, you’ll see that one of the axes kind of looks like a diving board — for a further extension,” recalled Marcovecchio. “We put it on a traditional robot, and that eliminated a lot of the lack of accessibility due to something called singularity, where there’s more than one solution to reach a position.”
“It also gave full range of payload — a lot of times, when a robot is stretched out, you’re compromised with payload,” he explained. “You’ve got to limit it a little bit, just the inverse kinematics and the dynamic loads, just make it shake a little bit, or whatever the case is.”
“So then when these companies started controlling our robots with this extra axes, they where like, ‘We would love if you can tailor this to our application,'” Marcovecchio said. “We saw the need of it, too, and so we built a lighter, faster, but a little less accurate system. It’s like when you go to pick up a coffee cup — it’s not precise; your fingers might brush the edge first before you grab it.”
The RL030N uses Kawasaki’s open KRNX real-time application programming interface (API). This enables external AI software, ROS environments, machine learning systems, vision platforms, and third-party orchestration systems to directly control the robot in real time.
Details
From palletizing to humanoids, the KRNX API future-proofs applications by being controller-agnostic, said Marcovecchio.
Submit your session idea for the 2026 RoboBusinessPatented Pulseboard tech enables faster weld inspection
Kawasaki Robotics will also demonstrate its patented Tool Tip Displacement Output Function technology, known as Pulseboard, integrated into an advanced robotic weld inspection system developed with partner Fives DyAG Corp. The system combines a Kawasaki RS013N robot, a laser 3D profile camera, and Kawasaki’s high-speed motion-synchronization technology to improve inspection performance for complex weld geometries and curved surfaces.
Unlike conventional inspection systems that require robots to stop repeatedly for static image capture, Pulseboard continuously synchronizes image acquisition in real time with the robot’s tool-tip displacement. This enables high-resolution imaging even during acceleration and deceleration, resulting in up to 10x faster weld inspection, reduced setup requirements, and precise defect localization while preserving accuracy.
“Pulseboard allows the robot to work at full speed without compromising, stretching out, or blurring the image,” noted Marcovecchio. “It’s going to also improve traceability so that you can do smaller batches of recalls rather than have to recall 10 million vehicles.”
“The solution developed in partnership with Kawasaki using the pulseboard delivers real value to our customers,” said Wade Rickard, CEO of Fives DyAG. “It accelerates inspections, identifies defects, and maintains the highest level of quality without slowing or sacrificing production time.”
The Pulseboard welding inspection system can inspect while moving. Source: Kawasaki Robotics
Kawasaki Robotics and Coherix to demo closed-loop dispensing
Kawasaki Robotics will also show the BU015X seven-axis robot in a closed-loop adhesive dispensing and inspection demonstration developed with Coherix. Designed to simulate a real-world automotive production environment, the system will apply sealant to a Ford F-150 door skin while continuously measuring and automatically adjusting adhesive bead placement at speeds of up to 400 times per second.
“When you stamp sheet metal, the fact is that geometry has to be consistent,” Marcovecchio said. “We had a hard time when adhesive had to be a certain bead. You couldn’t have a gap in it, especially if it was weatherproofing. The big challenge was, how do we maintain the perfect bead based on the profile that we’re following? How do we know that the bead was there, and more importantly, if there was an air bubble or the bead was compromised, where was it? So we can go back and fix it?”
Combining Kawasaki Robotics’ hollow-arm robot design with Coherix’s 3D laser-based Adaptive Process Control technology, the system uses machine learning and real-time optimization to help manufacturers reduce defects, material waste, labor costs, and rework while maintaining full production-line speeds.
The demo at Automate will feature a BU015X following the geometry of an object, as well as detect gaps and return to the exact position to fill them.
Steven Pagalos, Coherix technical account manager, configures Coherix’s 3D adhesive inspection technology on a door skin. Source: Coherix
BA013L and MXP360L robots expand automation portfolio
The BA013L 13 kg (28.6 lb.) arc-welding robot will debut inside a compact workcell designed for high-performance welding applications. The cell will feature the BA013L robot, a Kawasaki PST500-L2 dual-axis positioner, Rollon Glider RTU, Strong Hand welding table, and Miller power source to demonstrate flexible, high-precision automation.
Built for demanding production environments, the robot features a redesigned architecture with a 50 mm (1.9 in.) hollow wrist for internal cable routing, along with support for high-current welding torches, reduced cable wear, and improved accessibility. High-speed axis performance reaching 730°/s and an extended 2,093 mm (82.4 in.) reach help improve cycle times while maintaining weld quality, said Kawasaki Robotics.
“We’re showing with our arc-welding package the modularity of the positioners,” said Marcovecchio. “We’re selling to the smaller fabricators that need to make a few thousand widgets a year, and they’re doing it manually. Fabricators of all sizes are in a challenging spot right now, whether they’re building data center racks, for which we used to be able to get cheaper metal parts from overseas. Right now, they’re all at capacity.”
The MXP360L features a 360 kg (793.6 lb.) payload capacity, extended reach, and advanced vibration-control technology for heavy-duty material handling applications. At Automate 2026, the robot will be displayed handling a Kawasaki Z125S motorcycle on a Rollon RTU linear axis.
Kawasaki Robotics will also feature cobot demonstrations, including CL Series welding carts and a sanding application using a FerRobotics sanding tool.
The BA013L arc welding cell with integrated systems. Source: Kawasaki Robotics
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