SoftBank and Yaskawa Join Forces to Develop Advanced Office Robots

SoftBank and Yaskawa Electric have entered into a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the development of innovative “Physical AI” robots designed for office environments. This partnership aims to leverage SoftBank’s AI-RAN initiative alongside Yaskawa’s robotics and motion-control technologies to create a new class of robots that combine sophisticated decision-making capabilities with versatile physical functions.

The collaboration addresses Japan’s pressing need for enhanced automation amid labour shortages and demographic changes. The companies’ joint efforts focus on the “social implementation” of Physical AI, which is crucial as businesses face increasingly complex operational demands. As a first initiative, SoftBank and Yaskawa have developed a prototype office robot that integrates seamlessly with building management systems and utilizes AI operating on a Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) platform.

Revolutionizing Office Robotics

Conventional robots typically perform limited tasks, but the new system developed by SoftBank and Yaskawa allows for real-time integration of various data streams. This advancement enables robots to execute a broader range of functions with what the companies refer to as “multi-skilled functionality.” A demonstration of this innovative technology is scheduled for the upcoming 2025 International Robot Exhibition (iREX 2025), taking place at Tokyo Big Sight from December 3 to 6.

The partnership is framed within the context of Japan’s urgent need for increased automation in environments where humans and machines co-exist, such as offices, schools, hospitals, and retail spaces. The press release emphasizes that these settings require “complex decision-making and flexible responses to unpredictable situations,” presenting challenges for traditional automation methods. By integrating SoftBank’s AI-RAN with Yaskawa’s robotics, the two companies aim to foster a domestically developed AI infrastructure and create new solutions in the realm of Physical AI.

Innovative Technologies and System Design

Yaskawa Electric brings its extensive expertise in precision motion control and industrial robotics to the project. The company is in the process of developing an autonomous robot, known as Motoman Next, which is designed to utilize AI for improved decision-making and operational flexibility. SoftBank contributes by providing the MEC environment and AI-RAN capabilities, enabling low-latency processing of large data volumes from sensors and cameras. This creates what SoftBank describes as an “external perspective” that helps robots interpret their surroundings effectively.

In addition, SoftBank has developed a Vision-Language Model (VLM) that serves as the AI responsible for generating tasks within the MEC framework. Complementarily, Yaskawa has created a Vision-Language Action (VLA) system that functions as Robot AI, translating the VLM’s instructions into specific robotic movements. The integrated system architecture comprises a next-generation building management system, a MEC AI layer, and Robot AI, all working together to facilitate real-time decision-making. This setup allows robots to perform tasks such as identifying and retrieving specific items from office spaces while also responding adeptly to unexpected events.

The collaboration is described as extending beyond conventional automation and digitalization frameworks by merging robotics with advanced communication infrastructure. SoftBank and Yaskawa plan to demonstrate how a single robot can undertake multiple roles traditionally requiring various specialized machines. The use case will be showcased at Yaskawa’s booth during the iREX 2025 exhibition. Both companies are committed to developing technologies that enable safe and collaborative interaction between humans and robots in shared environments, supported by AI and communication technologies that broaden the range of tasks these robots can perform.