ROS 2 Support
FANUC ROS 2 Driver
Connect FANUC CRX collaborative robots to ROS 2 with the official FANUC driver. Enable advanced automation, MoveIt integration, simulation, and real-time robot control.
Get Started with ROS 2
Physical AI for Industrial Robotics and Automation
Discover how open platforms and Physical AI can transform your automation strategy.
Building the Foundation for Physical AI
Three Pillars to Enable an Open Platform
Physical AI requires an open, connected ecosystem. FANUC's support for ROS 2, Python programming, and real-time motion control gives developers and manufacturers the tools they need to build intelligent, flexible automation solutions for the future.
Python Support
Python Programming
FANUC’s robot controllers can now execute Python programs directly, without the need for a PC. This enables robot control using AI developed with Python, a language widely used in AI development.
Learn About Python Support
Real-Time Motion Control
Stream Motion Implementation
Control robot position, speed, and torque in real time with Stream Motion. Industry-leading 1 ms communication enables high-speed trajectory execution and advanced automation.
Explore Stream Motion
Advancing Physical AI
How FANUC is Furthering Physical AI Through Strategic Partnerships
FANUC is advancing the real-world adoption of physical AI by building strong, strategic partnerships with leading global technology innovators that will drive industrial automation worldwide. Focused on a future where AI solves real-world challenges through physical action, FANUC continues to drive progress and shape transformation.
AI-Powered Robotics Innovation
Advancing Physical AI and Digital Twins Through Collaboration with NVIDIA
See how FANUC and NVIDIA are advancing Physical AI with real-time simulation, imitation learning, digital twins, and next-generation AI hardware for industrial robots.
Learn About FANUC + NVIDIA
Intuitive AI-Powered Automation
FANUC Further Realizes Physical AI Through Open Platform Initiatives with Google
Discover how FANUC and Google are using generative AI, Gemini, and advanced robotics software to make robot programming more intuitive, flexible, and accessible.
Explore FANUC + Google
ROS 2 Driver
Get Started with the FANUC ROS 2 Driver
The FANUC ROS 2 driver is available now for the CRX Collaborative Robot Series and several other models. Developers can access documentation, installation guides, and support via FANUC CORPORATION’s official GitHub repositories.
The Power of Open Platforms
Why Open Platforms Matter
One of the greatest advantages of an open platform is the flexibility to use computing resources from both cloud data centers and edge servers, all connected via next-generation high-speed communication. This means manufacturers can scale automation, optimize performance, and adapt quickly to changing production needs.
Open Platform Benefits
Benefits of Physical AI for Industrial Automation
Physical AI helps manufacturers move beyond traditional robot programming by combining robotics, artificial intelligence, real-time control, simulation, and open development platforms. With FANUC’s support for ROS 2, Python programming, Stream Motion, digital twins, and strategic AI partnerships, manufacturers can build more flexible, intelligent, and adaptive automation systems.
More Flexible Robot Programming
Use Python, ROS 2, generative AI, and natural language tools to create robot programs that are easier to build, modify, and scale.
Faster Development with Open Platforms
Connect FANUC robots with modern automation tools, AI models, simulation environments, and edge or cloud resources to speed development.
Improved Accuracy with Real-Time Robot Control
Enable precise control of robot position, speed, and torque to support adaptive motion, moving-part tracking, and high-speed trajectory execution.
Safer Human-Robot Collaboration
Use AI perception and real-time path adjustment to help robots work more intelligently around people and equipment.
Shorter Commissioning Times
Validate layouts, motion paths, cycle times, and robot behavior in simulation before deploying systems on the production floor.
Greater Scalability for Future Automation
Scale automation across cells, lines, and facilities using open platforms, connected systems, and adaptable AI-powered robotics.
Applications
Physical AI Applications
Physical AI enables robots to perceive, adapt, and act in real-world manufacturing environments. These applications highlight how FANUC robots can use AI, real-time control, natural language instructions, and simulation to perform complex automation tasks with greater flexibility and precision.
AI Robot Tracks Moving Parts and Tightens Screws
FANUC robots can identify and track workpieces moving in three dimensions, following them precisely in real time. This enables operations such as tightening screws on moving parts, a task that traditionally required precise fixturing or part stabilization. With 1 millisecond high‑speed tracking performance, high-speed 3D tracking ensures consistent accuracy even in dynamic environments.
AI Agent-Driven Kitting Operations
By issuing instructions in natural language to the AI agent for tasks like photographing order forms, recognizing text, and transporting trays and parts, a robot can execute the kitting of workpieces. By combining an AI agent—which understands natural language to control the robot and autonomously execute tasks—with a masterless AI recognition function that identifies objects based on natural language inputs, it becomes possible to modify operation logic, just as if instructing a human.
AI Robot with Dynamic Proximity Monitoring
FANUC robots equipped with AI-driven perception can detect nearby people and adjust their paths in real time without stopping production. Using the torque command input of the “Stream Motion” function, the force generated by the robot arm is limited within a safe operating range. If a human enters the robot’s working area, the robot automatically modifies its trajectory to avoid contact. Once the area is clear, the robot returns to its original path and continues the task. This enables safe, uninterrupted collaboration on the factory floor.
AI Controls Dual Arms to Install a Flexible Cable
Using Vision-Language-Action (VLA) foundation model, two FANUC robot arms can work together to imitate human tasks—like folding a t-shirt or performing highly dexterous wiring operations. The system detects cable tension in real time and manipulates soft, flexible cables with human-like sensitivity. Leveraging multi-axis articulation, the robots route cables across complex 3D paths—including height, depth, and tilt—while maintaining accurate handling and preventing damage.
Robot Programming by Voice with Generative AI
FANUC robots can recognize voice commands in multiple languages, automatically generate Python programs using generative AI, and execute the resulting tasks while perceiving their surroundings. Users provide instructions verbally, and the robot interprets the language, generates the appropriate program and carries out the requested action.
These capabilities also support complex tasks such as:
- Rolling a die and placing it in the correct location based on the number shown
- Stacking a die of a specific color on top of another
These tasks previously required specialized programming but can now be executed through intuitive voice commands.
Advanced Simulation and Digital‑Twin Support
FANUC supports advanced simulation and digital‑twin technologies that allow manufacturers to design, test, and validate robotic systems before deployment. Photorealistic virtual factory environments help teams model robot behavior, evaluate cell layouts, and optimize performance in a risk‑free setting. By using NVIDIA Isaac GR00T to train the robot motion and object behavior, the robots autonomously learn to handle previously “unseen” situations. FANUC robots are available in formats suitable for modern simulation platforms, enabling cycle‑time analysis, trajectory validation, and AI training data generation in virtual production workflows. These tools shorten commissioning time and improve overall system accuracy.
Enhanced Integration with FANUC Simulation Tools
FANUC’s simulation ecosystem—such as its offline programming tools—supports the exchange of trajectory and performance data with external simulation environments. This allows developers to model real robot behavior with greater fidelity and validate system performance earlier in the design process.
* ROS is a trademark of the Open Source Robotics Foundation. ** Python is a registered trademark of the Python Software Foundation. *** GitHub is a registered trademark of GitHub, Inc.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Physical AI
Physical AI is reshaping industrial automation by combining robotics, artificial intelligence, real-time control, simulation, and open development platforms. Explore answers to common questions about how FANUC supports Physical AI, how these technologies work together, and how manufacturers can use them to build more flexible, intelligent, and adaptive automation systems.
Physical AI refers to artificial intelligence that can perceive the real world, make decisions, and take physical action through machines such as industrial robots. In manufacturing, Physical AI enables robots to understand their environment, adapt to changing conditions, and perform complex tasks with greater autonomy.
Traditional industrial automation often relies on fixed programming, structured environments, and repeatable tasks. Physical AI adds perception, learning, simulation, real-time control, and adaptive decision-making, allowing robots to respond more intelligently to dynamic production environments.
FANUC supports Physical AI through open platform technologies such as ROS 2 support, Python programming, real-time motion control with Stream Motion, digital-twin simulation capabilities, and collaborations with global technology leaders. These tools help developers and manufacturers build intelligent automation systems that can perceive, adapt, and act.
FANUC is working with technology leaders such as NVIDIA and Google to advance Physical AI through areas such as digital twins, real-time simulation, imitation learning, generative AI, AI-powered robot programming, and advanced robotics software. These collaborations help make industrial robots more intelligent, adaptable, and easier to use.
ROS 2 is important because it provides a flexible framework for connecting robots, sensors, motion planning tools, simulation platforms, and AI applications. FANUC’s ROS 2 driver helps developers integrate FANUC robots into modern robotics workflows, including MoveIt, simulation, and advanced robot control.
Yes. FANUC robot controllers can execute Python programs directly, allowing users to apply AI models and automation logic developed in Python. This helps bridge the gap between AI development and industrial robot control.
Developers can get started by exploring the FANUC ROS 2 driver, robot description packages, Stream Motion capabilities, Python programming support, and FANUC’s simulation tools. These resources help teams connect FANUC robots with modern AI, robotics, and automation development environments.
Real-time motion control allows a robot’s position, speed, and torque to be adjusted with extremely fast communication. FANUC’s Stream Motion capability supports high-speed control, enabling applications such as trajectory tracking, adaptive movement, and AI-guided automation.
Digital twins allow manufacturers to create virtual models of robot systems, production cells, and factory environments. These simulations can be used to test robot behavior, optimize layouts, validate motion paths, generate AI training data, and reduce deployment risk before equipment is installed on the factory floor.
Examples of Physical AI applications include AI-guided screw tightening on moving parts, agent-driven kitting operations, dynamic proximity monitoring, dual-arm cable installation, voice-based robot programming, and digital-twin-based simulation for robot training and validation.
