EPSON

Epson's first collaborative robot arrives in Japan with Python support and a 900 mm reach

Epson's first collaborative robot has arrived on the Japanese market, bringing a 900 mm reach, 6 kg payload and Python programming to the factory floor. The AX6-A901S also features a lightweight carbon-fibre arm and a compact controller designed for integration with mobile robotic systems.

Epson might be best known for the printer sitting in the corner of the office, but the Japanese manufacturer has considerably bigger ambitions for moving things around. Its first collaborative robot, the AX6-A901S, is now available to order in Japan, complete with a carbon-fibre arm, Python programming and a compact controller that can be mounted on mobile robotic platforms.

According to Epson's Japanese announcement, orders opened on 29 October 2026. The robot originally made its debut in June 2025, so this is a commercial rollout rather than a brand-new unveiling.

The six-axis AX6-A901S offers a 900 mm reach and a maximum payload of 6 kg, with a repeatability rating of ±0.03 mm. Its carbon-fibre construction helps keep the robot's weight to approximately 18 kg. That is quite a lot of precision for a machine that weighs less than some suitcases.

As a collaborative robot, or cobot, the AX6-A901S is designed for applications where people and machines can work in closer proximity than in many traditional industrial installations. That doesn't give it an automatic invitation to join the workforce without supervision, however. Appropriate risk assessments and safety measures remain essential.

Programming the AX6-A901S needn't mean writing every instruction from scratch. Epson's AX Portal software supports Python alongside visual block-based programming, allowing users to build sequences through a graphical interface or work directly with code.

Epson's Japanese specifications put the RC-A101 controller at 5.5 kg, with support for both AC power and 48 V DC operation. That makes it suitable for integration with automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). So, rather than spending its working life rooted to one spot, the robotic arm could potentially travel between workstations as part of a suitably configured mobile system.

Mobility is only part of the picture. Epson lists ISO Class 5 cleanroom compatibility and IP54 protection, although it notes that both ratings are based on design evaluations rather than guaranteed performance at shipment. Its smooth exterior is designed to make cleaning easier, a useful consideration in pharmaceutical and medical-device manufacturing or laboratory automation.

Epson is no stranger to industrial robotics, having spent decades developing automation equipment. The AX6-A901S is Epson's first collaborative robot, bringing the company into a category designed around more flexible installations and closer working arrangements between people and machines.

The company has not published a fixed retail price, with prospective buyers directed to its sales channels for a quotation.

For now, the AX6-A901S is unlikely to be making an appearance beside anyone's home printer. Epson has found its first cobot a rather more interesting job than feeding paper through a tray.

Transform the possibilities within your manufacturing process with the AX6, part of the AX series of 6-axis collaborative robots. Built on four decades of experience implementing automation in our own production facilities, the AX series is designed to enhance worker interaction through power and force-limiting features—which, subject to an appropriate risk assessment, allow for operation without safety enclosures. Featuring a compact, lightweight carbon-fiber structure, the AX6 is ideal for collaborative applications where space is limited.

The AX6 provides a seamless operating environment for users of all experience levels, featuring user-friendly, no-code software and an intuitive user interface. Furthermore, the robot offers versatility and quality control, with benefits including a customizable Python development environment, industrial-grade kinematics, and a 3D simulator. Equipped with end-of-arm features—such as customizable multi-function user buttons, a multi-colored LED status ring, and simple connectors for tooling—this robot is perfectly suited for applications that require quick, easy setup and redeployment.

Power and force limiting: With an appropriate risk assessment, this feature facilitates greater worker interaction without the need for safety barriers.

User-friendly, no-code software: Program the robot using an intuitive interface that requires no prior programming experience.

Compact, lightweight, and robust design: The carbon-fiber structure enables a lightweight, space-efficient work cell, ideal for a wide range of collaborative applications. IP54 and ISO 5 cleanroom rating1

Customizable Python development environment: load your own libraries and modules to easily develop work cells for more complex robotic applications

Industrial kinematics: easily generate linear, curved, or joint-based movements in a no-code or Python-based environment

Multifunctional user buttons at the arm's end: includes three customizable buttons and two dedicated buttons; easily teach positions by manually moving the robot in free space and using the "Teach" buttons

Ethernet port and pneumatic connections at the arm's end: simplifies end-of-arm tooling for grippers, dispensers, and more

Compatible with various power sources: supports 100 V to 230 V AC and 48 V DC

Multicolor LED status ring at the arm's end: quickly assess the robot's status via color-coded indicator lights located at the end of the arm

3D simulator: test programs in a simulation environment before running them in the actual work cell

No-code software and development tools...Epson states that it designed the AX6 to provide a seamless operating environment for users of all skill levels, combining no-code software with an intuitive user interface. Together with the AX Portal—the company’s collaborative robot software—the robot offers a range of development tools designed to meet diverse automation needs.

For more advanced applications, a customizable Python development environment allows users to upload custom libraries and modules to develop more complex robotic work cells. Industrial-grade kinematics enable linear, curved, or jointed motion, whether controlled via the no-code environment or through Python-based programming.

The end-of-arm interface includes both dedicated and customizable buttons; operators can teach positions by manually moving the robot through free space and using these "teach" buttons. A 3D simulator allows users to test programs in a virtual environment before deploying them within an actual work cell.

Hardware design, ratings, and connections...The AX6 is built around a compact, lightweight carbon-fiber structure, which Epson notes helps create a space-efficient and low-weight work cell. The robot carries an IP54 rating and complies with ISO Class 5 cleanroom standards (ISO 14644-1). Epson highlights that this combination makes the AX6 well-suited for collaborative applications where space constraints and controlled environments are critical.

An Ethernet port and pneumatic connections at the end of the arm simplify the integration of end-of-arm tooling, such as grippers or dispensers. A multi-colored LED ring at the end of the arm provides visual feedback, allowing users to assess the robot's status through specific color-coded light signals. The AX6 supports multiple power sources, ranging from 100 V–240 V AC to 48 V DC. 

The robot described in that development announcement featured a 6 kg payload capacity and a 900 mm arm reach, weighing in at 17 kg—a design that Epson noted would allow for easy relocation and reconfiguration. Its controller measured 440 × 205 × 135 mm and weighed less than 6 kg; it was designed to be installed on mobile robotic platforms, such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

The design incorporated cleanroom-compatible transfer capabilities (meeting ISO 14644-1 Class 5 standards) and provided IP54-rated protection against dust and water splashes—though Epson noted at the time that this compliance was based on design evaluation and was not guaranteed at the time of shipment. Its smooth chassis, free of screw holes or sharp edges, was engineered to minimize dust accumulation and reduce the risk of contamination in cleanroom environments. The robot under development supported Python programming and was compatible with both 100–230 V AC and 48 V DC power sources.

by mundophone