Yaskawa Electric Corporation (Headquarters: Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture; Representative Director, Chairman and President: Hiroshi Ogasawara) have jointly developed AI-powered autonomous robot production technology with GAZOO Racing (GR). GR is the motorsports division of Toyota Motor Corporation (Headquarters: Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture; President and Representative Director: Kenta Kon). The technology was introduced at the “Gamagori GR KART Workshop” in September 2026.

This technology builds on the knowledge gained from the jointly developed arc welding technology, the “SFA (Sequence Freezing Arc Welding) Process”*1. It enables robots to autonomously perform the entire welding process, from recognizing and determining welding conditions to quality inspection and correction. The technology has been put into practical use in the GR KART frame manufacturing process. It improves productivity and quality consistency while also helping reduce production costs.

*1 A new arc welding process developed jointly by GR and Yaskawa.

Yaskawa has worked with GR to advance high-quality welding technology for motorsports applications. As part of this effort, the two companies jointly developed a new arc welding technology, the SFA Process, in 2024 to improve productivity and quality in the production of roll cages for race vehicles. The SFA Process reduced the roll cage production lead time from two to three weeks to three days. It also improved welding quality and strength while contributing to weight reduction. In addition, the process has been adopted for Super Taikyu Series competing vehicles.

Building on the welding expertise gained through the project, Yaskawa has combined its long-established robotics, motion control, and AI technologies to further advance manufacturing operations. This development expands the knowledge obtained through the SFA Process. By combining GR’s manufacturing expertise with Yaskawa’s robot, welding, and AI technologies, the companies achieved high-quality robotic welding and enhanced pipe-frame welding processes that had previously been difficult to automate.

With the newly developed autonomous robot production technology, the robot performs welding while recognizing the condition of the pipe frame. It also autonomously carries out post-weld quality inspection and correction. In addition to visual inspection images, AI analyzes welding sounds and various process data. As a result, the technology improves both quality consistency and productivity. This approach automates processes that previously depended on the experience and skills of highly skilled welders.

The technology uses the AI robot “MOTOMAN NEXT,” which is equipped with a GPU and AI capabilities. Using MOTOMAN NEXT’s recognition and decision-making capabilities together with robot control technology, the robot determines the optimal action for each situation based on pipe-frame assembly conditions, joint gaps, and post-weld results. It autonomously completes the entire welding process, including the quality inspection and correction tasks traditionally performed by expert welders. This project goes beyond the verification and evaluation stage. It is a practical example of deploying MOTOMAN NEXT on a customer’s actual production line and creates value for customers.

Yaskawa will apply the technologies developed through this initiative to a wide range of manufacturing sites and continue developing automation solutions beyond welding processes. Going forward, Yaskawa will accelerate technology development that combines AI and robotics. Yaskawa will also expand the market deployment of MOTOMAN NEXT to help customers improve productivity, stabilize quality, and address labor shortages.

Reference

October 28, 2026:GAZOO Racing press release related to this matter

https://toyotagazooracing.com/pressrelease/2026/1028-01/

For inquires, contact:

Corporate Communications Dept.

YASKAWA Electric Corporation

E-mail: pr@yaskawa.co.jp