Kawasaki Heavy partners with Nvidia on physical AI, opens US robotics centre
The Japanese industrial group will integrate Nvidia's chips and Isaac software platform into its factory-floor robots. The company also announced the opening of a robotics research centre in Dallas, Texas.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) said it signed a deal making Nvidia's Jetson AI chips and Isaac robotics software platform standard across KHI's industrial robot range. The agreement aims to position the Japan-based manufacturer in the global physical-AI race.
The company also announced the opening of a Kawasaki Robotics Research Center in Dallas, Texas. The centre will employ 200 engineers and produce advanced robotics solutions for semiconductor manufacturing, automotive assembly and logistics operations. The investment is estimated at approximately $450 million.
Nvidia's statement emphasised KHI's strategic value as a partner given its annual production capacity of 65,000 industrial robots. KHI shares closed up 6.8 percent on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Industry commentators said the agreement will accelerate the physical-AI revolution in Japan's manufacturing sector.
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