The European industrial automation calendar in 2025 has been dense with significant product reveals, but few carry the strategic weight of what Doosan Robotics has planned for Automatica. The South Korean manufacturer, which has carved out a substantial position in the collaborative robot segment, is preparing to demonstrate a new artificial intelligence-driven solution at the Munich trade fair. The centerpiece of this demonstration is what the company calls its "sim to real" solution, a technical approach that leverages NVIDIA's Isaac Sim and cuRobo platforms to bridge the gap between virtual training environments and physical robot operation.
Automatica, held at Messe München, has long served as a barometer for where the industry is heading, and this year's edition appears to be no exception. The event takes place against a backdrop of accelerating interest in AI-powered robotics across Europe, particularly in Germany's automotive heartland and manufacturing clusters in France and Italy. The broader context is one of labor shortages, productivity pressures, and a push toward sustainable economic growth through automation. European institutions have signaled strong support for this direction, with coordinated efforts from the European Commission and a substantial investment initiative reported in the range of $200 billion aimed at positioning the continent at the forefront of industrial AI adoption.
Doosan Robotics' participation at Automatica 2025 is therefore not merely a product showcase but a statement about the company's trajectory. The firm has been explicit about its focus on AI robotic solutions, and the "sim to real" demonstration is intended to show how tasks can be transferred from simulation environments to physical robots with a high degree of fidelity. The applications span a wide range, from manufacturing floors to service industry settings, suggesting that Doosan sees this technology as broadly applicable rather than niche.
The technical foundation of this solution rests on NVIDIA's Isaac Sim, a simulation platform designed for robotics development, and cuRobo, a library for GPU-accelerated robot motion planning. By combining these tools, Doosan aims to address one of the persistent challenges in robotics: the gap between what can be modeled in software and what actually happens when a robot operates in the physical world. Simulation has long been used in robotics for training and validation, but the transfer of learned behaviors from simulation to reality—often referred to as "sim to real" transfer—has been notoriously difficult to execute reliably. Doosan's claim is that its solution can make this transfer seamless, which would represent a meaningful step forward for the industry.
The timing of this announcement is notable. Automatica 2025 comes at a moment when the robotics industry is increasingly focused on the integration of AI into real-world applications, not just in controlled laboratory settings. Humanoid robots and collaborative systems that incorporate AI are being developed by a range of companies, and the European market is seen as a key battleground for these technologies. Doosan's decision to highlight its AI capabilities at this particular event suggests a strategic bet on the European market's appetite for advanced automation solutions.
Product and availability details
While the company has confirmed its participation and the general nature of its "sim to real" demonstration, specific product details remain limited at the time of this writing. What is known is that Doosan Robotics will showcase its newest innovations with a focus on advancing automation across the aerospace, construction, and automotive sectors. These are industries where precision, repeatability, and the ability to handle complex tasks are paramount, and where the payoff from successful sim-to-real transfer could be substantial.
One of the notable products on display will be the Scan & Go AI Robotics Solution, which has already received industry recognition. The system was named a "Best of Innovation" winner in the Artificial Intelligence category and received an honoree distinction in Robotics at CES. Developed in partnership with Maple Advanced Robotics Inc. (MARI), Scan & Go is described as the world's first unmanned AI system designed for large-scale composite repairs. This is a significant claim, as composite materials are increasingly used in aerospace and other high-performance applications, and their repair has traditionally required skilled human intervention. An unmanned system capable of handling such repairs at scale could address both quality consistency and labor availability concerns.
The partnership with MARI is worth noting, as it illustrates Doosan's approach of collaborating with specialized firms to bring integrated solutions to market rather than developing every component in-house. This strategy appears to be paying dividends, at least in terms of industry recognition, as evidenced by the CES awards.
Beyond the Automatica showcase, Doosan has outlined plans for CES 2026, where the company intends to unveil energy solutions that it describes as essential for AI infrastructure, as well as AI-integrated autonomous worksite innovations. This forward-looking announcement suggests that the Automatica demonstration is part of a broader product roadmap that extends well into 2026. The mention of energy solutions for AI infrastructure is particularly interesting, as it hints at Doosan's ambitions beyond traditional robot arms and into the broader ecosystem of AI-driven industrial operations.
The company's parent organization, Doosan Group, has also been active in related areas. Doosan Bobcat, a subsidiary, will showcase next-generation operator experiences and technologies that bring AI out of the cloud and directly onto jobsites. These innovations are designed to deliver real-time guidance, simplify complex tasks, and enhance precision for operators. The focus on making operation easier for the next generation of workers while helping experienced operators boost productivity suggests a dual audience: younger workers who may be less familiar with traditional equipment, and veterans who can benefit from AI-assisted precision. Bobcat will reveal its newest concept machine and advanced technologies during its CES Media Days presentation, indicating that the group is treating these AI initiatives as major strategic priorities.
For potential buyers and integrators, the availability details for the "sim to real" solution are not fully disclosed in the available information. The company has not specified release dates, pricing, or the specific robot models that will support the new AI capabilities. What is clear is that the solution is being positioned for immediate relevance across multiple sectors, and the Automatica demonstration is intended to provide visitors with a firsthand look at what the technology can do.
It is also worth noting that Doosan Robotics operates in a competitive landscape that includes major players such as FANUC, KUKA, Yaskawa Electric, Universal Robots, and others. The company's emphasis on AI and simulation-based approaches may represent a differentiation strategy, focusing on software and intelligence rather than purely on hardware specifications. This is a trend that has been visible across the industry, as the value in robotics shifts increasingly toward the software and AI layers that enable robots to perform more complex and adaptable tasks.
What it means for buyers
For buyers evaluating robotic automation solutions, the implications of Doosan's "sim to real" approach are potentially significant, though several questions remain unanswered. The core value proposition is straightforward: if tasks can be developed and validated in simulation, then transferred to physical robots with minimal friction, the time and cost associated with deploying new automation applications could be substantially reduced. This is particularly relevant for small and medium-sized enterprises that may not have the in-house expertise to program and tune robots for complex tasks through traditional methods.
The aerospace, construction, and automotive sectors are specifically called out as target industries for Doosan's newest innovations. These are all sectors where the cost of downtime is high, where precision is critical, and where the complexity of tasks has historically limited the scope of automation. If the "sim to real" solution delivers on its promise, it could enable automation of tasks that were previously considered too complex or cost-prohibitive for traditional position-based systems. This language echoes similar claims made by other companies in the adaptive robotics space, such as Flexiv, which unveiled its latest adaptive robot technology at Automatica 2025 with a similar message about automating tasks that were previously out of reach.
The Scan & Go system for composite repairs is a concrete example of how this technology might translate into buyer value. Large-scale composite repair is a specialized, labor-intensive process that requires significant skill. An unmanned AI system that can handle this at scale could offer buyers in aerospace and related industries a way to increase throughput, improve consistency, and reduce dependence on scarce skilled labor. The fact that it has already won awards at CES suggests that independent evaluators have found merit in the approach, though the practical details of deployment, maintenance, and total cost of ownership are not yet public.
However, buyers should be aware of what is not disclosed. The available information does not specify the performance characteristics of the "sim to real" solution in terms of cycle times, success rates, or the range of tasks it can handle. There are no published specifications for the Scan & Go system's repair speed, quality metrics, or operational footprint. The company has not provided details on how the solution integrates with existing manufacturing execution systems, nor has it clarified the hardware requirements for running the simulation and control software. Questions about training requirements for staff, ongoing software updates, and the total cost of ownership remain open.
It is also important to note that the "sim to real" concept, while promising, has inherent challenges. Simulation environments, no matter how sophisticated, cannot perfectly replicate the physical world. Variations in lighting, material properties, friction, and wear can all affect real-world performance. The claim of "seamless" transfer is ambitious, and buyers would be well advised to seek demonstration data and case studies before making procurement decisions. The Automatica showcase will provide an opportunity for potential buyers to see the technology in action, but a trade show demonstration is not the same as a long-term reliability assessment.
The broader industry context is also relevant for buyers. The European market is seeing significant investment in AI-powered robotics, supported by government initiatives and private capital. This suggests that the technology will continue to evolve rapidly, and buyers may want to consider how any investment in Doosan's solutions will fit into their longer-term automation strategies. The company's roadmap, which includes CES 2026 announcements about energy solutions for AI infrastructure and autonomous worksite innovations, indicates that Doosan is thinking beyond the immediate product cycle.
For buyers in the service industry, the mention of applications ranging from manufacturing to service industries suggests that Doosan sees its AI solutions as applicable beyond traditional factory settings. Service robotics has different requirements than industrial automation, often involving more unstructured environments and interaction with humans. Whether the "sim to real" solution can effectively address these use cases remains to be seen, but the company's explicit mention of service applications indicates an intention to pursue this market.
In terms of competitive positioning, buyers have a range of options. The robotic arm market includes established players like FANUC, KUKA, Yaskawa, and Universal Robots, as well as newer entrants and specialized firms. The recent collaboration between Accenture and Schaeffler AG, announced in April 2025, which focuses on integrating physical AI and robotics for industrial automation, is another sign that the industry is moving toward more intelligent, simulation-driven approaches. At Hannover Messe 2025, these companies demonstrated how to optimize work scenarios ranging from human-centric operations to full automation, utilizing simulation, AI, and data technologies from NVIDIA and Microsoft. This suggests that the tools and approaches Doosan is using are becoming industry standards, which could reduce integration risk for buyers.
One specific data point from the broader market is worth noting for context: PalletizHD+, a solution that uses SwiftMove motion optimization, can process up to 11 boxes per minute with automated stacking setup. This illustrates the performance levels that are achievable in specific applications and provides a reference point for evaluating claims about AI-enhanced robotics. However, this is not a Doosan product, and no direct comparison should be inferred.
Buyers should also consider the partnership aspect of Doosan's strategy. The collaboration with Maple Advanced Robotics for the Scan & Go solution suggests that Doosan is willing to work with specialized partners to deliver integrated solutions. This can be advantageous for buyers who prefer a single point of responsibility, but it also means that the long-term support and evolution of the product may depend on the health of the partnership.
In summary, Doosan Robotics' announcement at Automatica 2025 represents a significant statement of intent in the AI robotics space. The "sim to real" solution, powered by NVIDIA's Isaac Sim and cuRobo, addresses a real industry challenge and could offer meaningful benefits for buyers in terms of deployment speed and task complexity. The Scan & Go system for composite repairs is a concrete product with industry recognition. However, the lack of detailed specifications, pricing, and availability information means that buyers should approach with appropriate caution and seek additional data before making commitments. The Automatica showcase will be an important opportunity to evaluate the technology firsthand, and the company's roadmap through CES 2026 suggests that this is just the beginning of a broader push into AI-integrated automation.
Sources
Doosan Robotics to unveil new AI robot solution at Automatica 2025
Published by Vigla Media OÜ (Estonia).