ESAB ROBBI AI™ Cobot for MIG and TIG Welding Automation Brings Physical AI to the Shop Floor

New AI-powered cobot system makes real-time welding decisions, adapts to changing joint conditions and designed to learn from every weld.

NORTH BETHESDA, Md., October 22, 2026--ESAB introduces ROBBI AI™, a new cobot system that uses physical artificial intelligence (AI) to sense and respond to real-world welding conditions in MIG and TIG welding. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on predefined robot paths and weld sequences, ROBBI AI uses camera and laser sensing to assess the welding environment, make decisions in real time, and adjust welding motion and process parameters as conditions change. The system is designed to eliminate the need for the operator to manually teach weld paths, including when multiple parts are fixtured on a table.

ROBBI AI works with EWM Titan XQ, EWM Tetrix XQ or ESAB Aristo Edge power sources and is aimed at some of manufacturing's hardest welding jobs: high-quality work on low-volume, high-mix runs and applications where joint fit-up varies. These include pipe fabrication, TIG welding and other work that requires hard-to-find skilled welders and is difficult to automate.

"Physical AI brings intelligence directly into the welding process," says Dan Colvin, Vice President, Advanced Technology Solutions, ESAB. "Instead of programming every movement and anticipating every possible variation, ROBBI AI assesses the joint, determines how to proceed and can make adjustments while welding. It is also designed to learn from every weld, helping it recognize conditions that can lead to defects and respond by adjusting welding parameters or stopping the weld when needed."

From Programmed Paths to Real-Time Decisions

Physical AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can perceive, understand, make decisions about and interact with the physical world through machines, such as robots. Traditional robotic welding and other AI systems typically rely on programmed paths and consistent part fit-up. Even with seam tracking, larger variations in joint gaps or other conditions can require reprogramming, operator intervention or process adjustments. ROBBI AI takes a different approach. It generates the weld path itself, eliminating the need for manual path teaching. The operator positions the system at or near the joint, provides the welding procedure parameters from the applicable welding procedure specifications (WPS) including consumables, material type, weld type (butt, fillet, pipe, etc.) and then initiates the weld. The AI uses its sensing capabilities to evaluate the project, identify the expected joint and determine how to proceed within the parameters established for the application.