Robotics meets ultrafast lasers: Could a new generation of tools transform manufacturing?

Industrial robotics is experiencing a remarkable surge in investment and innovation. As artificial intelligence accelerates automation across industries, manufacturers are increasingly looking beyond traditional robotic tasks such as gripping, assembly and packaging. A new frontier is emerging: combining advanced robotics with ultrafast laser technology to perform highly precise manufacturing operations that were previously difficult or uneconomic to automate.

According to Lithuanian laser manufacturer LITILIT, one of the key technologies that could unlock this next phase of industrial automation is the femtosecond laser, an ultrafast laser capable of processing materials with extraordinary precision while minimising heat damage to surrounding structures. The challenge is that many femtosecond lasers remain too large and complex to be integrated directly onto robotic systems. That may now be changing.

A robotics market experiencing ‘explosive’ growth

Investor enthusiasm for robotics continues to increase. According to calculations reported by Crunchbase, investments in robotics reached $47.4 billion during the first half of 2026, representing an 80 percent increase compared with the same period the previous year. Market analysts increasingly expect the robotics sector to grow dramatically over the coming decade, driven by labour shortages, productivity demands and advances in artificial intelligence.

Forecasts from organisations such as Crunchbase and insights reported by Barclays indicate that humanoid robotics alone could become a multi-billion-dollar market, finding applications across manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, healthcare and other sectors.

Yet despite these advances, many industrial robots continue to perform relatively straightforward mechanical tasks. According to Nikolajus Gavrilinas, co-founder and chief executive of LITILIT, in a communication sent to Digital Journal, the growing sophistication of industrial robotics creates an opportunity to move into much higher-value applications. “Most industrial robots today are used with tools for gripping, screwdriving, bolting, drilling, packing, or similar tasks,” Gavrilinas explains.

The next step may involve equipping robots with precision tools capable of performing advanced manufacturing functions traditionally carried out using specialised stationary equipment. “Once you equip the same machine with an advanced laser, it can move into a different category of work: precision manufacturing. That means processing materials with much higher accuracy and creating more value from the same automated platform,” Gavrilinas finds. The implications could be significant for industries where precision and repeatability are critical.

What makes femtosecond lasers different?

Unlike conventional industrial lasers, femtosecond lasers generate pulses that last only quadrillionths of a second. Because the pulses are so brief, they transfer energy extremely rapidly, enabling material processing with minimal heat transfer into the surrounding area. This phenomenon is often referred to as “cold” laser processing. The result is the ability to cut, drill, mark or machine delicate materials while reducing thermal damage, cracking or distortion.

According to information from SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics, femtosecond lasers are increasingly used in applications such as semiconductor manufacturing, medical device production, and microelectronics fabrication. When combined with robotic mobility, these capabilities could potentially expand even further.

Robotic systems fitted with femtosecond lasers could perform precision manufacturing tasks that are difficult to automate using conventional tooling. Examples cited by LITILIT include drilling through-glass vias used in semiconductor interposers and cutting complex curved glass components for foldable devices. Such processes require exceptional positional accuracy and material control. Even minor thermal effects can compromise component performance.

As semiconductor manufacturers continue to push miniaturisation and advanced packaging technologies, demand for high-precision material processing tools is expected to increase. Industry organisations such as SEMI continue to highlight the growing importance of advanced manufacturing technologies capable of supporting increasingly sophisticated chip architectures.

Why size matters

Despite their technical advantages, femtosecond lasers have historically faced a practical limitation. Many systems originated within scientific and research environments, where size, complexity and maintenance requirements were less restrictive than in industrial production settings. As a result, mounting such systems directly on robotic arms has often been impractical.

According to Gavrilinas, reducing the physical footprint of the laser was a deliberate design objective for LITILIT:  “Most femtosecond lasers historically came from scientific systems. They can deliver strong performance, but they are often large, complex, and require periodic maintenance.”

The company states that its systems are approximately 1.5 to 2 times smaller than many conventional femtosecond laser platforms. This reduction could make direct robotic integration more feasible, particularly in high-throughput manufacturing environments where flexibility and workspace efficiency are critical.

The move towards industrial adoption also requires greater manufacturing capacity. Here, LITILIT has announced plans to begin production at a new laser manufacturing facility in Vilnius, Lithuania, in October 2026. According to the company, the factory is being designed to support production of up to 3,000 femtosecond lasers annually over the coming years. The broader objective is to make femtosecond laser technology more affordable and easier to integrate into industrial systems.