ABB Launches Breakthrough “Hand-Eye Coordination” Technology in Shanghai

Robots Move from “Seeing” to “Understanding”

At the 25th China International Industry Fair in Shanghai, ABB unveiled EyeMotion, its new vision and real-time path-planning system. This technology gives robots advanced hand-eye coordination so they can not only “see” but also “understand” complex environments and act autonomously.

Autonomy and Versatility as the New Standard

ABB’s global robotics head, Sami Atiya, said the industry has reached a turning point where artificial intelligence and industrial robotics converge. Robots equipped with ABB’s OmniCore platform and EyeMotion can use any camera or sensor to map their surroundings, plan optimal routes around moving obstacles, and complete tasks such as picking and placing without human intervention.

Built for Flexible Manufacturing in China

The company also introduced several new models at the fair, including the PoWa collaborative robot, the new-generation IRB 1200, and the IRB 1100 Lite+ series. Designed especially for China’s electronics and flexible manufacturing sectors, these robots switch smoothly between different tasks to meet the growing demand for intelligent, adaptable production.

Extending Automation Beyond the Factory

ABB demonstrated an automated laboratory system where a single-arm robot performs weighing, transferring, dissolving, and titrating chemicals with no human assistance. The robot reads test results and determines its next step on its own—showing how automation can move from “dark factories” to “dark laboratories.”

Local Production, Global Impact

More than 90% of ABB robots for Chinese customers are produced locally, many at its Shanghai “super factory.” By covering research, manufacturing, and service entirely within China, ABB strengthens its ability to support the country’s shift toward advanced manufacturing and positions itself as a leader in the world’s largest robotics market.