ABB Adds AI Trainer to Robot Vision Software, Launches Two Precision Robots at CIIF 2026

ABB Robotics used the China International Industry Fair (CIIF) 2026 in Shanghai, held October 12 to 16, to announce an expansion of its machine-vision software and two new industrial robots, according to trade publications The Robot Report and Robotics 24/7.

The centerpiece is AI Robot Trainer, a new addition to ABB's existing OmniCore EyeMotion platform, which first launched in 2025. The tool is meant to let manufacturers and system integrators build, train and deploy AI-powered robot vision applications without needing specialists to develop AI models from scratch.

According to the reports, the software turns images captured on the shop floor into training data, combines them with synthetic image data and ABB's own industrial knowledge, and then generates robot motion paths using automatic collision-free path planning. ABB says the system works with cameras and sensors from other manufacturers, not only its own hardware.

ABB said the tool is aimed at tasks ranging from simple two-dimensional pick-and-place work to more complex jobs such as three-dimensional bin picking, quality inspection, sorting and assembly. The company claims it can cut commissioning time for new vision applications by up to 90% and reduce cycle times by up to 50%, though those figures are ABB's own estimates rather than independently verified benchmarks.

ABB Robotics president Marc Segura was quoted by the outlets as saying, "Physical AI fundamentally changes what robots can do, where they can operate and the value they can create."

Alongside the software update, ABB introduced two new compact robots, the IRB 1700 and IRB 1700ID, pitched at precision manufacturing work. The company said the new models cut cycle times by up to 20% compared with earlier comparable robots in its lineup.

The announcements reflect a broader push among industrial robot makers to add adaptive, AI-driven vision to factory automation, reducing how much specialized programming is needed when a product, lighting condition or production layout changes.