AI that enables robots to navigate complex, obstacle-filled environments in real time—cutting travel time by half while ensuring safety, paving the way for wider adoption of robotics in warehouses, factories, and retail spaces.
NEC Corporation has unveiled an AI-based robot control technology that enables safe and efficient autonomous movement, even in cluttered environments filled with obstacles. Demonstrations show that robots using this technology complete tasks in half the time compared to conventional methods—potentially doubling productivity at worksites. NEC plans to commercialize the solution by fiscal 2026.
This addresses a growing challenge: while automation has accelerated in large warehouses and factories, adoption in smaller facilities and retail spaces has been limited. Narrow aisles, irregular layouts, and unpredictable obstacles often make robot navigation unreliable. Traditional systems struggle to balance fast path prediction with safety, slowing down real-time decision-making and hindering practical deployment.
The catch lies in a proprietary AI that learns from multiple AI systems and simultaneously generates several potential travel paths. Unlike conventional navigation, which relies on predefined rules or requires multiple AIs that increase processing time, this system delivers real-time, optimized routes that are both safe and efficient.
This allows robots to navigate irregularly placed shelves, products, or machinery with agility, overcoming limitations that once prevented their use in small- and mid-sized warehouses or retail stores. The technology eliminates the trade-off between speed and safety by delivering accurate path predictions without delay.
In the test course, robots using this AI reduced travel times by up to 50% compared to reinforcement learning-based conventional methods. For operators, this translates into significant productivity improvements, reduced operational bottlenecks, and the ability to deploy robots in previously unsuitable environments.
By enabling robots to move seamlessly in dynamic, obstacle-rich spaces, the technology not only addresses labor shortages but also opens the door to broader adoption of automation across industries. With commercialization on the horizon, NEC is positioning this innovation as a critical step toward safer, smarter, and more efficient workplaces.
