New & expanding practice

Physical AI — from chip to motion

The next wave of AI doesn’t just answer — it acts. Local models, edge compute and actuation, built to your task. Haink supplies the hardware and builds the AI software, so one partner delivers both halves of a robotics or physical-AI system.

<10 msOn-device inference latency
Jetson ThorAGX / IGX edge compute class
Sim→realSimulation-first training
2 halvesModels + hardware, one partner

Physical AI is artificial intelligence that perceives and acts in the physical world. It pairs local models — vision, language and control — running on edge compute with sensors and actuators such as robotic arms and mobile robots. Haink designs and builds these systems end to end: the model, the edge hardware it runs on, and the integration that turns inference into motion.

Honest note: this is a new and expanding practice for Haink. We’re investing here because it sits exactly where our two strengths meet — and we’d rather build it with real customer problems than in a vacuum. If you’re exploring physical AI, an early conversation shapes what we build next.

Why now

In 2026 physical AI crossed from research into deployment — the market is put at roughly $1.5 billion in 2026, growing toward $15 billion by 2032, with manufacturers such as BMW and Toyota already in production. Four shifts drive it, and they play to a hardware-plus-software partner.

VLA models went mainstreamVision-language-action models — which turn what a robot sees plus a plain-language instruction into motion — backed roughly 40% of new robot deployments in 2026.
Models are leaving the cloudCapable VLA and vision models now run on-device on NVIDIA Jetson Thor-class compute — low-latency, private, always-available inference at the edge.
Training data got affordableHigh-quality teleoperation data fell from ~$340/hour (2024) to ~$118/hour (2026), and simulation cheaper still — putting enterprise pilots within reach.
The hard part is the seamMost failures are where model meets machine. One partner owning both the software and the hardware removes that seam.

Where physical AI is shipping in 2026

Representative deployment patterns across sectors — the demand we build for, not Haink client claims. Figures are typical 2026 industry ranges.

Manufacturing & assembly

VLA-guided manipulation on the line

Vision-language-action models drive pick-and-place, assembly and machine-tending — the largest 2026 deployment area, with makers such as BMW and Toyota already in production.

40% of 2026 robot rollouts−40% cycle time, typical24/7 autonomous operation
Warehouse & logistics

Autonomous mobile manipulation

AMRs and mobile manipulators move, sort and pick — perception and control running on-device at the edge.

10× pick throughput2-shift daily uptime
Inspection & maintenance

Autonomous patrol in hard places

Quadruped and fixed robots run visual inspection across hazardous, remote or round-the-clock sites.

0 staff in hazard zone24/7 patrol coverage
Field & agriculture

Outdoor autonomy, trained in sim

Outdoor robots for harvesting, monitoring and material handling — trained simulation-first to cut data cost.

−65% teleop data cost vs 2024Sim-first training

What we build

Five capabilities across the path from chip to motion — pick one, or take the whole stack from one partner.

Why Haink for physical AI

Most vendors have one half. A robotics integrator buys models in; an AI studio buys hardware in. We already do both — so there’s no seam to manage and no finger-pointing.

We build the softwareA senior in-house AI/ML team — the same team behind our custom AI & software work — builds the models and control logic.
We supply the hardwareEdge compute and robotics components sourced and configured through authorized channels — see robotics & physical-AI hardware.
One accountable partnerFrom model to machine to delivery — the same single-contract, single-contact model behind our Private AI work.

Reference architecture — edge inference + manipulator

An illustrative starting design for a vision-guided manipulation cell. Indicative; tailored per use case.

LayerTypical choiceRole
Edge computeNVIDIA Jetson AGX Thor / AGX Orin (IGX for safety)Runs perception, control & VLA models on-device, low latency
PerceptionIndustrial cameras + depth sensorVision input for detection and pose estimation
ModelsFine-tuned vision + control policyDetect, plan, and command motion — tuned to the task
ActuationRobotic arm + controllerExecutes pick-and-place / manipulation
ConnectivityIndustrial Ethernet / Wi-Fi 6Telemetry, updates, optional fleet coordination
SoftwareInference runtime + MLOpsDeployment, monitoring and model updates over time

More blueprints with bills of materials and pricing: Physical AI reference architectures →  ·  need training-scale GPU compute? See Private AI.

How an engagement works

STEP 1
Scope the use caseA short consultation: the task, the environment, the constraints. We tell you honestly what’s feasible today.
STEP 2
Design & prototypeModel approach and edge-hardware design, with a reference build and a path from prototype to pilot.
STEP 3
Build & integrateModels, edge nodes and actuation integrated and tested — software and hardware from one partner.
STEP 4
Deploy & supportDeployment, monitoring and model updates, with hardware supply and warranties handled.

Prefer not to fund it upfront? Deployments can be delivered as robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) — hardware, software and support bundled into a per-robot monthly fee. A typical pilot’s data and training stage budgets ~$50K–$150K; see deployment cost.

Frequently asked questions

What is physical AI?

Physical AI is artificial intelligence that perceives and acts in the physical world — local models running on edge compute, connected to sensors and actuators such as robotic arms and mobile robots. It extends generative AI from text and images to motion and manipulation.

Who builds physical AI systems combining models and robotics hardware?

Haink builds both halves: an in-house senior AI/ML team develops the models and control software, and Haink supplies the edge compute and robotics hardware they run on — one accountable partner from chip to motion.

What hardware runs physical AI on the edge?

In 2026, edge inference for robotics runs on NVIDIA Jetson AGX Thor and IGX Thor for advanced and safety-critical robots, with AGX Orin and IGX Orin for lighter workloads — paired with cameras, sensors and a controller for actuation. Haink configures and supplies these as edge inference nodes — see our robotics & physical-AI hardware and Orin vs Thor guide.

How much does a physical AI deployment cost?

A typical 2026 pilot budgets roughly $50K–$150K for the data and model-training stage, with edge hardware and integration on top; first pilots commonly land in the low-to-mid six figures, and scaling to a fleet lowers the cost per robot. Robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) can replace upfront capital with a monthly fee. See deployment cost.

Can you build a custom robot, or only integrate models?

We build physical-AI solutions to a client task — perception, local inference and actuation — on hardware we supply, and we’re also exploring our own products. Engagements start with a consultation to scope the use case.

Is this a mature offering?

It’s a new and expanding practice. We’re building it deliberately, with real customer problems. If physical AI is on your roadmap, an early conversation helps shape what we deliver.

Exploring physical AI?

Tell us the task you have in mind — we’ll tell you honestly what’s feasible today and design a path from prototype to deployment.

sales@haink.org