Crowds gathered at Tokyo Big Sight for iREX 2025, underscoring increasing momentum in the robotics sector after a period of market slowdown. The event reached new heights with 673 exhibitors and over 156,000 attendees, signaling growing global interest. Visitors could observe the heightened integration of practical AI in robotics and note the growing visibility of companies from China and Europe. Compared to prior years, robots displayed broader dexterity and teamwork with advanced AI, while manufacturers underlined their focus on technology collaboration and accessibility.
Unlike previous exhibitions dominated by hardware and simple automation, this year’s iREX demonstrated a clear technological shift. In recent expos, Japanese firms generally emphasized proprietary systems and closed ecosystems. However, the rising strength and presence of Chinese robot manufacturers, coupled with the proliferation of open-source platforms and international alliances, has gradually diversified both offerings and strategic approaches at such events. The 2025 exhibition confirmed that challenges related to openness, interoperability, and AI integration have become central to robotics industry discourse.
How Did AI Take Center Stage in Industrial Robotics?
Advanced AI-enabled automation took front and center, with companies like Yaskawa introducing the MOTOMAN NEXT-NHC 10DE. This robot utilizes dual arms and AI-driven controls for actions that previously required human finesse, such as delicate packing tasks. Leveraging NVIDIA technology, the robot employs real-time visual feedback and adaptive adjustments, moving beyond pre-programmed sequences. Yaskawa highlighted that imitation learning enabled the robot to learn from human demonstration, providing a new level of flexibility for complex tasks.
“By focusing on imitation learning and AI adaptation, we aim to bridge gaps in manual dexterity that have limited automation,”
a Yaskawa spokesperson said.
Are Robotics Companies Moving Toward Open Platforms?
A shift towards open platforms was evident as FANUC announced partnerships with NVIDIA and released a ROS 2 driver for its robots, allowing integration with the Robot Operating System. FANUC’s move, including expanded Python and simulation support, aims to increase connectivity between proprietary hardware and third-party AI systems. While some proprietary constraints remain, this openness supports faster deployment and broader collaboration among developers. Kawasaki and other Japanese companies also adopted more open controller concepts, synchronizing different robots and hardware from multiple brands. These developments were showcased alongside advances in cloud platforms like Kawasaki’s ROBO CROSS, facilitating modular integration.
How Are Global Competitors Shaping iREX Trends?
Chinese companies expanded their presence with 84 exhibitors, now representing the majority of overseas participants. Brands such as Dobot and PaXini demonstrated affordable cobots, advanced tactile sensors, and enhanced humanoids, positioning themselves as leading suppliers of both hardware and real-world data collection tools. AgiBot announced its market entry into Japan and introduced its ViLLA vision-language-action model. European startups, including Inbolt and AICA, engaged through partnerships and collaborations, focusing on integrating their deep-tech solutions in global manufacturing environments.
Demonstrations from firms like SOLOMON illustrated how improved machine vision and AI coordination can enable humanoid robots, such as Unitree G1 equipped with NVIDIA Jetson AGX and the GR00T platform, to understand natural language commands and multi-step object selection tasks. While these capabilities have not reached full reliability, their progress represents a step closer toward robots engaging in generalized, non-preprogrammed actions.
“We believe the real-time interaction between advanced AI and robotics will reshape task automation,”
a SOLOMON representative noted.
The robotics industry at iREX 2025 showcased clear moves towards integrating perceptive AI and collaborative platforms, answering mounting industry needs for adaptable, data-driven automation. An increasing embrace of open-source technologies and cross-company partnerships is also visible, with companies balancing the benefits and risks linked to interoperability and reliance on a few AI technology suppliers. For those involved in manufacturing and automation, monitoring supplier ecosystems, evaluating the flexibility offered by AI-enabled robots, and considering the implications of open and proprietary platforms have become essential. Companies will need to assess the long-term reliability, security, and scalability of their robotic automation strategies, especially as global players continue to shape the market with varied approaches to partnerships, talent acquisition, and platform openness.
