FANUC Partners with NVIDIA to Advance Physical AI in Robotics

Mike Cicco, President & CEO of FANUC America

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Physical AI is the next major step for artificial intelligence, and FANUC’s new collaboration with NVIDIA shows how that will look on the factory floor.

Mike Cicco, President and CEO of FANUC America, joins Matt on The TechEd Podcast to discuss what this partnership means for industry and education.

The partnership has two major applications: digital and physical. On the digital side, FANUC robots can be brought into NVIDIA Omniverse and Isaac Sim for simulation, virtual commissioning, and digital-twin development. Paired with FANUC’s ROBOGUIDE software, these tools allow manufacturers to model larger factory systems, validate robot behavior, evaluate cycle times, generate synthetic data, and reduce risk before the physical system is built.

On the physical side, NVIDIA’s computing capabilities, ROS 2, open-source development, and AI-enabled perception are creating new ways for robots to respond intelligently in real manufacturing environments. Robots can interpret sensor data, adjust motion in real time, avoid people, track moving parts, coordinate dual-arm tasks, and perform work that once required rigid programming, precise fixturing, or specialized development.

So how does this change how manufacturers deploy robots and how educators prepare students for careers in automation?

For manufacturers, Physical AI will expand what automation can handle, especially in dynamic or less predictable applications. But many mid-size companies still have major opportunities to automate simpler processes first, from machine tending and welding to painting, assembly, and pick-and-place. For educators and workforce leaders, as generative AI and open-source tools accelerate robot programming, the next generation still needs strong fundamentals in robot programming and motion, safety, controls, and the “why” behind how robots move.

Listen to learn

The physical and digital aspects of the new FANUC-NVIDIA partnership
How Isaac Sim and Omniverse could change virtual commissioning for manufacturers
What ROS 2 makes possible for open-source robotics development
Where small and midsize manufacturers should start before jumping into advanced AI robotics
What these developments mean for educators teaching automation & robotics courses

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube

3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:

1. Manufacturers now have the ability to do full virtual commissioning before investing in a new automation cell. NVIDIA's Isaac Sim and Omniverse create a way to bring multiple assets together (like FANUC robots, Rockwell Automation PLCs, sensors, conveyors, etc.) into one photorealistic virtual factory, where manufacturers can simulate robot behavior, factory layouts, workflow changes, synthetic parts, and commissioning scenarios before building the physical system.

2. Physical AI is making robot programming more flexible and responsive to real-time environmental changes. Through NVIDIA’s computing capabilities, ROS 2, open-source development on GitHub, and AI-enabled perception, robots can begin responding to changing factory conditions in real time. That includes tracking moving parts in 3D, adjusting motion around people, coordinating dual-arm tasks, handling flexible materials, and using generative AI to create robot programs from voice commands.

3. Industry will still need individuals who understand the fundamentals of robot motion and programming. AI and open-source code can accelerate robot programming, but they can't replace the need to understand motion, safety, controls, acceleration, position, and how robots actually behave in production. Manufacturers and educators still need to build strong technical foundations so people can judge, refine, troubleshoot, and safely deploy these systems.

Resources in this Episode:

Press release - Advancing Physical AI and Digital Twins Through Collaboration with NVIDIA

Learn more about FANUC America & FANUC's Education Programs

Other resources mentioned:

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