Mitsubishi Electric links humanoid robot and CNC tool via physical AI
The system uses Maisart AI to turn natural-language instructions into machining tasks, with practical use targeted for 2030.
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced on October 21, 2026 that it has developed a machining system in which a humanoid robot and a CNC machine tool work together through physical AI, according to ascii.jp.
The system relies on Mitsubishi Electric's Maisart AI technology to connect the robot and the machine tool using natural-language instructions alone, removing the need to build a separate system for each robot model.
It consists of three parts: an AI machining task planner that parses instructions and generates and assigns tasks, a CNC machine tool that receives control information in natural language, and a general-purpose humanoid robot.
The company aims to put the system into practical use in 2030 and is advancing verification tests toward a fully unmanned factory.
Automating work that relies on human hands
Manufacturing sites face a serious labor shortage, creating demand to automate tasks such as material placement, machine cleaning and inspection that depend on human hands and movement. Conventional industrial robots required major equipment modification to take over such work, and introducing humanoid robots required separate communication and control programming to link them with machine tools.
Quick answers
When does Mitsubishi Electric aim to put the system into practical use?
The company is targeting practical use in 2030 and is advancing verification tests toward a fully unmanned factory.
What AI technology does the system use?
It uses Mitsubishi Electric's Maisart AI technology to link the humanoid robot and CNC machine tool through natural-language instructions.