Apera AI Launches Major Update to Forge Platform, Making Vision-Guided Robotics Easier & Faster

Apera AI has released a major update to its Forge platform, designed to simplify one of the most difficult parts of factory automation: setting up robots that can see and understand their environment. With new tools for camera setup, cell design, and training for complex tasks like de-racking, Forge now helps engineers get working systems up and running in a fraction of the time.

Forge is a no-code, browser-based platform that lets users create and test vision-guided robotic systems without needing to build anything physically. The newest version adds support for cameras mounted directly on the robot's arm, a smarter way to design robot cells, and new features focused on handling parts in racks, something especially useful in car manufacturing.

Better Camera Setup and Smarter Design Tools

The updated Forge now supports "eye-in-hand" vision, where the camera moves with the robot arm. This is especially helpful in tight spaces or when parts might shift during production. Engineers can now preview exactly what the camera will see at every step and make adjustments before the robot is ever built.

Forge also improves the design of robotic work cells. Users can upload CAD files, place bins and obstacles, and simulate robot movement right in the browser. There's even a tool to automatically test for collisions or blocked views. What used to take weeks can now be done in just a few hours.

Another major feature is the ability to simulate and train robots for de-racking tasks picking up car parts like doors or hoods from storage racks. These are challenging because of tight spacing and the need for high accuracy. Forge now lets users train AI models for these tasks with over 99.9% accuracy in simulation. Similar improvements are being applied to machine tending applications, where precision and cycle time are critical.

Fully Virtual, Real-World Ready

Everything in Forge runs without real hardware. Engineers can do all design, simulation, and training in software. Once ready, the AI vision models can be downloaded and used with Apera's execution software, Vue, to control real robots on the factory floor.

Sina Afrooze, Apera AI's CEO, says the update brings automation closer to being "predictable and accessible," making it easier for manufacturers to handle automation in-house. The company says six of North America's top OEMs and several Tier 1 suppliers especially in the automotive sector are already using its systems.

With this update, Apera AI is giving engineers more control, faster results, and fewer risks. By cutting out hardware and letting teams simulate everything in advance, Forge is helping move robotic vision from complex and costly to quick and practical.