FEATURE Robotics
A MORE ACCESSIBLE PATH TO AUTOMATION
A MORE ACCESSIBLE PATH TO AUTOMATION
Oliver Selby, Head of Sales, FANUC UK, highlights three key robotic trends for 2026 that are set to take industrial automation to the next level...
T
he industrial automation landscape is rapidly evolving. Across manufacturing, a growing number of sectors are investing
consistent product quality, address labour shortages and enhance health and safety. As robot manufacturers such as FANUC work to make automation accessible to businesses of all sizes – from small-scale food producers to tier-one automotive suppliers – advanced technologies like AI are playing an increasingly important role. Against this backdrop, we highlight three key robotic trends for 2026:
1. AI-driven robotics
smarter, safer and faster to deploy. Through voice-controlled operation, adaptive motion control, safety-aware human-robot collaboration, and virtual commissioning via digital twins, AI is transforming industrial automation.
is its ability to accelerate deployment. By assisting with code generation, AI makes it easier and quicker for companies to implement robotic systems. Non-specialists can use natural language to programme robots to perform tasks, reducing the engineering burden on manufacturers and delivering a faster return on investment. AI-enabled robots will also allow existing the rollout of automation.
AI also expands opportunities for collaborative applications. With AI-driven voice control, robots can interpret spoken instructions and autonomously generate the code needed to execute tasks. This will human operators, adapting in real time to changing requirements. In addition, AI will enhance robot safety and enable closer human-robot collaboration. For example, integrated vision systems allow robots to detect obstacles in their environment. AI can then instantly recalculate
18 January 2026 | Automation
motion paths in three-dimensional space, people and equipment.
2. Smart and scalable automation Automation is becoming increasingly adaptable. Smart, scalable robotic solutions that can evolve alongside changing business needs are enabling manufacturers to de-risk automation investments without compromising on quality or reliability. Smaller, more agile automated systems
are also helping manufacturers address labour challenges, particularly for low-skill or repetitive tasks such as picking, placing and palletising. At the same time, suppliers are prioritising ease of deployment through voice control and intelligent technologies such as vision and force sensing. As a result, the path to automation is now faster and more accessible than ever before.
Alongside these technological advances, end-users’ attitudes towards return on investment are shifting. Rather than focusing solely on upfront purchase price, manufacturers are increasingly considering total cost of ownership (TCO), factoring in long-term considerations such as maintenance, downtime and energy consumption when making a purchasing decision. As a result, automation solutions are friendly than ever. These smart and scalable systems are set to help more manufacturers overcome labour shortages, enhance product quality and consistency, and drive meaningful gains in productivity.
3. Open ecosystems and partnerships The future of industrial automation is collaborative. Open platforms and
partnerships between hardware and software solutions that accelerate innovation and adoption. At FANUC, we are actively collaborating with leading technology partners bringing AI solutions to market, including NVIDIA, helping to unlock the potential of physical AI. A key step in this journey is our support for the open-source robotics platform ROS 2, which enables programming via Python. By lowering the barrier to entry, this allows developers, researchers and companies to build AI-driven robotics applications on FANUC’s proven industrial hardware.
a smoother transition from education into industry. ROS 2 and Python are widely taught in colleges and universities, and making these tools available on industrial equipment will allow more young engineers to apply familiar skills directly in real-world manufacturing and automation environments. More broadly, open platforms such as ROS 2 and Python will help to stimulate a new wave of innovation, enabling companies to build, customise and scale AI-augmented robotics solutions while leveraging their own software expertise on top of FANUC’s hardware and NVIDIA’s advanced simulation infrastructure. Join FANUC for ‘The Future of Precision Engineering’ to discover the automation innovations set to shape UK manufacturing. The Open House takes place on the 27- 29 January 2026 at FANUC UK, Ansty Park, Coventry. Register today at https://
ukopenhouse.fanuc.eu/#whats-on
FANUC
www.fanuc.eu/uk/en
automationmagazine.co.uk
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