Japanese robotics developer ugo Inc. has unveiled ugo Nova, a new domestically produced semi-humanoid robot designed for warehouses and factories, with mass production targeted for 2027. The wheeled dual-arm platform was announced on September 16, 2026 at a Tokyo physical AI summit organized by the AI Robot Association (AIRoA) under a NEDO-commissioned program to build a general-purpose Japanese robot.
A dual-arm platform built for human work environments
ugo Nova is a semi-humanoid on a mobile base, equipped with two seven-axis arms and additional joints in the head and waist. That configuration lets it perform bimanual tasks in spaces designed for people — reaching shelves, operating equipment and manipulating objects — without needing full bipedal locomotion. Design and manufacturing are carried out entirely in Japan, which ugo says is critical for supply-chain resilience and certification in regulated environments.
Data engine for Japan’s physical AI push
Beyond the hardware, Nova is positioned as a data engine for physical AI. Every task performed on the robot can be converted into structured learning data, which AIRoA and its partners will use to train robot base models. The AIRoA consortium was created to develop a shared Japanese foundation model for embodied intelligence, echoing initiatives like Arm’s Total Design physical AI framework and NVIDIA’s Isaac stack.
Deployment plans and industry context
ugo said Nova will begin field trials with corporate customers ahead of a 2027 mass production start, focusing initially on factory and warehouse tasks. The launch adds a domestic competitor to a wave of Japanese physical AI hardware unveiled this week, and follows recent moves by rivals such as UBTech in the consumer humanoid segment and Tesla with Optimus on the industrial side.
Reporting based on coverage from ugo Inc., Robostart and Euronews.