Kawasaki Accelerates Physical AI Development Through Collaboration with NVIDIA, Analog Devices, Microsoft, and Fujitsu, Opening New Center in Silicon Valley
Kawasaki Heavy Industries has opened the 'Kawasaki Physical AI Center San Jose' in Silicon Valley to promote the social implementation of Physical AI. Partnering with global leaders like NVIDIA and Microsoft, the center aims to integrate AI and robotics, initially focusing on the medical and nursing care sectors.
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- 📰 Published: May 22, 2026 at 23:10
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Kawasaki Heavy Industries has established the 'Kawasaki Physical AI Center San Jose' in Silicon Valley, USA, to accelerate Japan-US collaboration in the AI and semiconductor fields. The center will drive collaboration with global top-tier AI players, including NVIDIA, Analog Devices, Microsoft, and Fujitsu.
At the opening ceremony held on May 21, President Yasuhiko Hashimoto stated that the center will initially focus on healthcare and nursing care to address the global challenges of an aging population and labor shortages. By merging Physical AI with robotics, Kawasaki aims to establish 'Hospital One-stop Solutions' that support everything from hospital visits to postoperative care. The company also plans to apply these solutions to broader industries such as semiconductors, automobiles, and new mobility.
Hashimoto emphasized that the goal of Physical AI is not to replace humans but to safely and efficiently support human judgment and action. The center serves as a hub for global partnerships, bringing together experts from AI, semiconductors, software, academia, and industry.
Physical AI is defined as AI that autonomously perceives and judges in physical space and takes physical action through machines. This requires 'real-world' data for social implementation. Kawasaki leverages its vast amount of on-site data and expertise accumulated across aerospace, shipbuilding, and energy sectors to move beyond research and create new business domains.
The center will focus on integrating Physical AI with products such as the autonomous service robot (Nyokkey), indoor delivery robot (FORRO), surgical assistance robot (hinotori™), and robotic multi-legged vehicle (CORLEO).
Key collaboration themes include:
- NVIDIA: Creating new solutions merging AI and robotics in diverse fields, starting with healthcare.
- Analog Devices: Realizing robots capable of wide-ranging tasks by integrating AI, audio, and manipulation technologies.
- Microsoft: Accelerating the deployment of real-world solutions using a reliable and scalable cloud/AI platform.
At the opening ceremony held on May 21, President Yasuhiko Hashimoto stated that the center will initially focus on healthcare and nursing care to address the global challenges of an aging population and labor shortages. By merging Physical AI with robotics, Kawasaki aims to establish 'Hospital One-stop Solutions' that support everything from hospital visits to postoperative care. The company also plans to apply these solutions to broader industries such as semiconductors, automobiles, and new mobility.
Hashimoto emphasized that the goal of Physical AI is not to replace humans but to safely and efficiently support human judgment and action. The center serves as a hub for global partnerships, bringing together experts from AI, semiconductors, software, academia, and industry.
Physical AI is defined as AI that autonomously perceives and judges in physical space and takes physical action through machines. This requires 'real-world' data for social implementation. Kawasaki leverages its vast amount of on-site data and expertise accumulated across aerospace, shipbuilding, and energy sectors to move beyond research and create new business domains.
The center will focus on integrating Physical AI with products such as the autonomous service robot (Nyokkey), indoor delivery robot (FORRO), surgical assistance robot (hinotori™), and robotic multi-legged vehicle (CORLEO).
Key collaboration themes include:
- NVIDIA: Creating new solutions merging AI and robotics in diverse fields, starting with healthcare.
- Analog Devices: Realizing robots capable of wide-ranging tasks by integrating AI, audio, and manipulation technologies.
- Microsoft: Accelerating the deployment of real-world solutions using a reliable and scalable cloud/AI platform.
FAQ
Kawasaki Physical AI Center San Joseの主な目的は何ですか？
フィジカルAIの社会実装を加速させるため、世界的なテック企業やアカデミアと連携し、現実世界のデータに基づいたソリューションを創出することです。
このセンターで協業する主な企業はどこですか？
NVIDIA、Analog Devices、Microsoft、富士通などが挙げられています。
フィジカルAIとはどのような技術ですか？
現実空間で自律的に認識・判断し、機械を通じて物理的行動を起こすAIのことです。
最初に注力する具体的な分野はどこですか？
高齢化と労働力不足が課題となっている医療・介護分野にまず注力し、「病院ワンストップソリューション」の確立を目指します。
川崎重工のどのような製品にAIが搭載される予定ですか？
自律走行サービスロボット「Nyokkey」、屋内配送ロボット「FORRO」、手術支援ロボット「hinotori™」、ロボティック・マルチレッグド・ビークル「CORLEO」などが対象です。