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The AI Accelerator features an embedded NVIDIA Jetson Orin box combined with PolyScope X. | Source: Universal Robots
During the recent NVIDIA GTC 2025 conference, Teradyne Robotics introduced an innovative range of AI-based tools developed in partnership with NVIDIA. This event marked the debut of the AI Accelerator in practical commercial contexts.
The AI Accelerator is a specialized toolkit designed by Universal Robots, a division of Teradyne Robotics, in collaboration with NVIDIA. This toolkit enhances UR’s PolyScope X software platform by integrating AI capabilities.
James Davidson, Teradyne Robotics’ chief AI officer, remarked on the transformative nature of what they refer to as “Physical AI,” which empowers robots to perceive their environments and respond to changing conditions. This level of intelligence allows them to tackle complex scenarios that were previously challenging or impossible. Rather than just following a set of programmed commands, AI-equipped robots can learn, adapt, and make decisions based on sensory inputs.
Davidson illustrated this point with examples from logistics and construction: “Imagine robots working in a warehouse where paths and barriers are constantly shifting, or on a construction site where they assist with assembly in unpredictable conditions. The AI Accelerator provides our collaborative robots with enhanced situational awareness, enabling them to plan smarter routes and execute tasks safely and effectively in environments that were previously deemed too challenging.”
Teradyne Robotics specializes in cutting-edge collaborative and mobile robot technologies. Through its subsidiaries, Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), the company aims to optimize operational efficiencies for businesses across various sectors. Teradyne itself is known as a frontrunner in automatic test equipment and industrial automation solutions.
The AI Accelerator project was initially launched by Universal Robots in October 2024.
Enhancements of the AI Accelerator
Ujjwal Kumar, group president of Teradyne Robotics, emphasized the platform’s potential for developers: “The AI Accelerator offers an adaptable framework that allows for building and mitigating risks associated with new applications, significantly shortening the time required for market readiness. The new partner applications that leverage the AI Accelerator effectively showcase Universal Robots as the go-to platform for physical AI, tackling previously insurmountable challenges in collaborative robotics.”
This toolkit operates via NVIDIA’s accelerated Isaac libraries and AI models on the advanced NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin system-on-module (SoM). The latest iteration of the AI Accelerator features enhancements from the recent release of NVIDIA Isaac ROS, particularly in the areas of pose estimation and path planning.
Notably, the upgraded AI Accelerator provides high-speed GMSL connectivity for vision sensors, replacing the previous USB3 interface, and is compatible with the newest version of PolyScope X (10.8).
Deepu Talla, vice president of robotics and edge AI at NVIDIA, noted the rapid advancements in robotics and physical AI, indicating that these developments are driven by progress in generative AI and simulation technologies facilitated by NVIDIA’s Isaac platform. He expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with Teradyne Robotics as a means to deliver cutting-edge technology to a broad network of developers and partners.
While the core focus of the AI Accelerator is on UR’s collaborative robots, the underlying AI technologies also benefit MiR, another subsidiary within Teradyne. For instance, the MiR1200 pallet jack utilizes 3D vision along with the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin module for precise pallet detection, allowing it to accurately identify, lift, and transport pallets amid complex surroundings.
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