ABB teams up with Nvidia to improve factory robot training (updated)

Abb

09/03/2026 12:07

Project aims to narrow simulation to real gap

Will reduce costs and time to launch products

Pilot scheme underway with Foxconn

Adds details, executive comment, background

By John Revill

ZURICH, March 9 (Reuters) - ABB's ABBN.S robotics business has partnered with Nvidia NVDA.O to narrow the gap between how industrial robots perform in virtual simulations and how they behave on factory floors, the companies said on Monday.

Swiss-based ABB will use Nvidia's Omniverse libraries of simulated data to make its training environments more realistic by incorporating details such as lighting, shadows, and textures.

ABB Robotics President Marc Segura said robots often have limited information about the world around them, which can undermine accuracy, repeatability and speed.

Segura cited the example of a factory robot working close to a stamping machine, which created massive vibrations which reduced the robot's performance.

Over time the robot could learn or be programmed how to deal with the vibration, but the technology meant it will already be trained virtually and "know from day one," Segura told Reuters. "This will save companies a lot of time and money."

The development is part of a growing trend where companies run more of their production planning and robot setup in digital simulations to spot problems before equipment starts operating.

ABB said the system, delivered via its robot control software, could cut costs and speed time to market by reducing the need for physical prototypes of products and assembly lines.

The technology, due for launch in the second half of 2026, is expected to serve customers in sectors including automotive and consumer electronics.

Electronics contract manufacturer Foxconn 2354.TW is already piloting the technology to install side buttons into consumer electronics, a task ABB said was previously difficult because shadows hindered robot vision.

"The industrial sector needs physically accurate simulation to bridge the gap between virtual training and the real-world deployment of AI-driven robotics at scale," said Deepu Talla, vice president of robotics and edge AI at Nvidia.

 (Reporting by John Revill, editing by Dave Graham)

 ((John.Revill@thomsonreuters.com; +41 41 528 36 37; Reuters Messaging: john.revill.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))