50 articles found
Robot Talk Episode 163 features an interview with Aaron Edsinger, CEO and Co-Founder of Hello Robot, discussing the company's Stretch robots designed to help people with mobility issues achieve greater independence. Edsinger, formerly Robotics Director at Google, founded the company to develop practical, safe, and accessible robots for consumer, manufacturing, healthcare, and research markets.
China's robotics strategy, detailed through its Five-Year Plans, positions embodied AI and humanoid robotics as core drivers for industrial dominance and economic power. The country leverages state planning mechanisms like the 13th and 14th Five-Year Plans alongside initiatives such as Made in China 2025 to build a sovereign high-tech manufacturing sector, combining public demonstrations of robot capabilities with long-term investment in robotics infrastructure and talent acquisition.
While GPT-6 dominates headlines and agents escape digital containment, a quieter crisis is unfolding in robotics hardware. The gap between America's software prowess and its manufacturing reality reveals an uncomfortable truth about building physical systems in an increasingly adversarial world.
The United States leads the world in robotics research and AI breakthroughs, but a critical manufacturing gap means the hardware gets built elsewhere. This disconnect between innovation and production reveals a strategic vulnerability that goes beyond economics.
This article discusses the United States' robotics strategy and challenges, highlighting the country's leadership in R&D and innovation (exemplified by Boston Dynamics' Atlas and AI breakthroughs) while noting a critical gap in domestic manufacturing and hardware production. It examines how free-market dynamics and DoD funding have driven robotics innovation, but argues that without coordinated government-industry-academic efforts to scale domestic production, the U.S. risks losing economic competitiveness despite pioneering the technology.
While headlines chase humanoid robots and AI price wars, a quieter transformation is unfolding in American manufacturing: collaborative welding robots are being deployed by the dozens, not the ones. The story of how a single company installed 58 cobot welders reveals what mass robotics adoption actually looks like.
Four decades since the Chernobyl meltdown, specialized robots continue to evolve for nuclear disaster response—yet recent developments in defense and space manufacturing show far more urgency and funding. What does it say about our priorities when billion-dollar defense contracts dwarf investment in technology that could save lives during the next nuclear crisis?
RoboBusiness 2024 will host a State of Humanoids panel on October 20-21 in Santa Clara featuring experts from Agility Robotics, Apptronik, Persona AI, and PSYONIC discussing the current capabilities and challenges of humanoid robots. The discussion will address real-world deployment, safety, standards, economics, and the milestones needed for widespread adoption in manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics.
The robotics industry is experiencing a quiet inversion: software companies are increasingly driving hardware innovation, while traditional manufacturing plays catch-up. From OpenAI's enterprise AI deployment to autonomous trucking milestones, the people writing code are now dictating what machines get built.
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) reported that North American robot orders reached 8,940 units valued at $622 million in Q2 2026, representing 4.3% growth in units and 21.3% growth in revenue year-over-year. While automotive OEM orders declined 25%, growth in semiconductors (+35%), life sciences (+32%), automotive components (+24%), and food/consumer goods (+17%) offset the slowdown, with non-automotive customers now accounting for 56% of robot orders.
This article discusses the importance and role of robotics roadmaps developed by various countries and organizations worldwide, including examples from the US, EU, and China. It explains how these strategic planning documents help consolidate research visions, guide government investment, incentivize industry innovation, and address societal needs through robotics and AI development across manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and transportation sectors.
Three major deals this week signal something bigger than routine automation purchases: U.S. industrial giants are treating robotics as critical national infrastructure. From Navy shipyards to aerospace factories, the message is clear — automation is no longer optional.
Cambridge Aerospace, a defense drone developer founded in 2024, raised $300 million in Series C funding at a $3.4 billion valuation to expand manufacturing and develop air defense systems. The company's Skyhammer product is a drone-based interceptor system with autonomous threat detection and neutralization capabilities, with a next-generation product called Starhammer planned for 2027 launch.
Zackory Erickson, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, has been awarded an NSF CAREER Award to develop generative simulation methods for physical human-robot interaction. The project aims to create a framework that uses virtually unlimited AI-generated, physically realistic training scenarios to help robots safely learn to interact with humans, with applications in assistive robotics, healthcare, and collaborative manufacturing.
Hadrian Automation has raised $1.37 billion in Series D funding to accelerate its AI-powered, highly automated factory network for U.S. defense and aerospace manufacturing. The company, valued at $7.87 billion, plans to expand its manufacturing footprint using robotics, machine learning, and process engineering to rebuild domestic production capacity for mission-critical systems including munitions and autonomous systems.
Hirebotics announced that Tate Inc. has deployed 58 of its Cobot Welder robotic welding systems across manufacturing facilities in Arkansas, Virginia, and Kentucky. Since implementation in 2023, Tate has achieved a 12x increase in per-welder throughput on structural assemblies while eliminating rework variability through Hirebotics' cloud-based Beacon Pro control platform.
A report examines the growing market for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), which is projected to expand from $5 billion in 2024 to $14 billion by 2030, driven by labor costs, operational flexibility needs, and technological advances. Recent improvements in AMRs are enabled by computer vision, sensor fusion, machine learning, and AI-powered fleet management, with applications expanding into manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors beyond traditional warehouse logistics.
RoboBusiness 2026 will feature a keynote panel with robotics leaders Rodney Brooks (Robust AI), Jonathan Hurst (Agility Robotics), and Ken Goldberg (UC Berkeley) discussing the evolution and future of robotics across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and other sectors over the next 20 years. The discussion will cover breakthroughs in humanoid robots, AI, mobility, and dexterity as robots increasingly integrate into everyday industrial and commercial environments.
Tacta Systems launched TactaBot, a dexterous robotic hand system featuring proprietary fluidic tendon actuation, high-resolution tactile sensors, and an AI model designed for high-skilled manufacturing tasks. The company also introduced a data-capture glove that enables robots to learn complex manipulation skills by recording human demonstrations, addressing the critical data shortage in physical AI training.
KUKA has deployed its Automation Management Platform (AMP) at its Toledo Production Operations facility in Ohio, combining industrial automation with AI-driven decision-making to enhance manufacturer productivity and operational flexibility. The platform enables integration of AI models with existing automation infrastructure across the facility's 285 robots and 60,000+ connected devices, creating a scalable foundation for what KUKA calls 'physical AI' in manufacturing.
Avatar Robotics raised $6.5 million in seed funding led by AlleyCorp to scale deployment of semi-humanoid robots for logistics, manufacturing, and warehouse operations. The startup uses a human-in-the-loop model where remote operators teleoperate robots while machine learning collects operational data to gradually increase autonomy, and has already processed over 900,000 products in customer facilities.
GAM Enterprises acquired intellectual property and manufacturing assets for Schaeffler's PSC precision gear reducer product, forming a new subsidiary GAM-Melior GmbH in Germany to produce the technology. The acquisition enables GAM to vertically integrate its supply chain and expand its precision motion control capabilities for automation and robotics customers.
Holiday Robotics, a Seoul-based startup, raised $105 million in Series A funding to develop FRIDAY, a wheeled humanoid robot designed for industrial manufacturing tasks. FRIDAY features 64 degrees of freedom with 40 dedicated to dexterous hands, safety-focused hardware design, and a vision-language-skill (VLS) approach to AI that combines perception, learning, and real-world deployment for reliable operation alongside human workers.
Reimagine Robotics, founded by former Google DeepMind leaders, emerged from stealth with technology enabling robots to learn on-the-job through human instruction rather than requiring specialist programmers. The startup has already deployed robots in advanced manufacturing and electronics disassembly facilities, reducing prototype testing time from one day to 10 minutes, and is now seeking Series A funding to scale operations.
The article examines five foundational physical AI infrastructure platforms shaping robotics development in 2026, including NVIDIA's accelerated computing and simulation ecosystem (Isaac, Newton), and Applied Intuition's validation engineering for autonomous systems. These platforms represent critical layers in the emerging physical AI stack, addressing bottlenecks in robot perception, reasoning, action, and real-world deployment across industries like automotive, manufacturing, and autonomous vehicles.
Halliday, a smart glasses startup, is preparing to launch its second-generation glasses after its 2025 debut was universally panned by critics. The new Halliday G2 addresses key failures of the original model by switching from a microLED display to waveguides for better readability, improving build quality and manufacturing processes, and focusing on reliability over feature bloat. The company has rebuilt its engineering team and invested in better quality assurance testing to regain consumer trust.
Teradyne Robotics reported $100 million in Q2 2026 revenue, a 33% year-over-year increase driven primarily by AI-related demand in semiconductor and data center sectors. The company, which owns Universal Robots (collaborative robot manufacturer) and MiR (mobile robot provider), plans to open a new manufacturing center in Michigan to meet growing U.S. demand.
Kraken Technology Group raised $175 million in Series B funding, reaching a $1 billion valuation, to accelerate production and deployment of autonomous maritime vessels for defense applications. The UK-based company develops uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and subsurface vessels (USSVs) for NATO and allied forces, with backing from DTCP, NATO Innovation Fund, and strategic manufacturing partnerships with Rheinmetall, Anduril, and others.
Samsung has established a new robotics division called RX (Robotics eXperience) headed by Dongkun Lee, formerly of Hyundai, with oversight from CEO TM Roh. The company plans to build robotics research hubs globally and aims to begin manufacturing humanoid robots this year, backed by a $13 billion investment in manufacturing facilities in South Korea.
MISUMI Americas has examined reshoring of U.S. manufacturing and supported legislation to send workers overseas for training. The post MISUMI Americas releases reshoring report, supports manufacturing...
AGIBOT unveiled four embodied AI products at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026, including the A3 Ultra humanoid robot, G2 Max heavy-payload industrial task robot, OmniHand 3 Ultra-M dexterous hand, and X2 Edu educational platform. The Shanghai-based company, founded in 2023, emphasized moving beyond impressive demonstrations to focus on manufacturing, deployment, and reliable integration of robots into real operating environments, having produced 15,000 robots to date.
Carnegie Mellon University showcased a number of exciting new partnerships, technologies and research during the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit. The event, hosted by U.S. Sen. David M...
Researchers at Kanazawa University developed a novel robotic hand capable of switching between multiple grippers using a single motor, introducing a "MaGDri mechanism" that leverages gravity to switch torque paths instead of requiring complex control systems or additional actuators. The innovation reduces weight, cost, and complexity while enabling robots to handle diverse objects of varying shapes and sizes, with potential applications in manufacturing, logistics, and service industries.
Lockheed Martin's decision to qualify Machina Labs' robotic metal-forming system for missile production marks a pivotal moment in defense manufacturing. As military contractors embrace automation for mission-critical components, the implications extend far beyond faster production lines—they signal a fundamental shift in how America thinks about manufacturing capacity, supply chain resilience, and national security.
Machina Labs has secured a qualification contract from Lockheed Martin to produce components for the JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) program using its RoboForming technology, marking the first time the company's robotic metal-forming system has qualified for a U.S. defense missile system. The company is opening Factory 3, a 200,000-sq.-ft. facility dedicated to defense manufacturing, equipped with up to 50 RoboCraftsman robotic cells designed to compress production timelines from months to days.
Hyundai is reportedly acquiring SoftBank's remaining 20% stake in Boston Dynamics for approximately $325 million, which would give the Korean automaker full ownership of the robotics company. Hyundai plans to accelerate commercialization of Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot, with production beginning in Georgia in 2028 and targeting 30,000 units annually, starting with logistics and welding tasks before moving to complex manufacturing by 2030.
Fujitsu, Nvidia, and Japan's leading robotics manufacturers (Fanuc, Yaskawa, Kawasaki Heavy Industries) announced a major collaboration to develop "physical AI" — autonomous robots that can think independently and work alongside humans in factories, homes, and hospitals. The initiative aims to address Japan's labor shortage by combining Nvidia's AI technology with Japanese manufacturing excellence, with the first phase of collaboration expected later in 2026.
Walden Robotics emerged from stealth with $300 million in funding at a $1.1 billion valuation, launching general-purpose robots designed to continuously learn while performing real work in manufacturing. Led by MIT professor Russ Tedrake (former Toyota Research Institute executive), the company is deploying semi-humanoid robots with two arms and a wheeled base at Toyota plants for tasks like machine tending and assembly, combining large behavior models with real-world operations.
Agility Robotics CEO Peggy Johnson outlined six policy recommendations for the U.S. government to strengthen the humanoid robotics industry, including building domestic component manufacturing capacity, developing a coordinated national strategy, establishing industry-led safety standards, supporting workforce development, and lowering adoption barriers for small manufacturers. Johnson emphasized the need for deliberate action to maintain technological leadership against international competition, particularly from China.
Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Foundry, and leading U.S. drone manufacturers have launched the Autonomous Systems Manufacturing Platform (ASMP), leveraging over $50 million in CMU investments to strengthen America's drone manufacturing base. The initiative brings together CMU's National Robotics Engineering Center with industry partners to advance autonomous systems manufacturing capabilities.
NVIDIA founder Jensen Huang visited Japan to showcase the company's AI and robotics ecosystem, highlighting how Japan's manufacturing expertise combined with AI can drive innovation in robotics and intelligent manufacturing. The visit included a Build-a-Claw event where developers used NVIDIA's platform to build robotic systems, and meetings with Japan's supply chain and technology leaders to discuss AI's potential to address labor shortages and create new economic opportunities.
Path Robotics uses AI-driven vision guidance and torch path identification to optimize robotic welding operations in manufacturing environments, with the company also deploying Boston Dynamics Spot robots for mobile welding applications in shipbuilding. The article features an interview with Path Robotics CEO Andy Lonsberry discussing how physical AI addresses setup and operational challenges in robotic welding, alongside research perspectives from UC San Diego's Michael Yip on data-efficient robot control and reinforcement learning applications.
AI² Robotics raised $735 million at a $2.8 billion valuation to develop wheeled humanoid robots with five-fingered manipulators and a proprietary Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model called Alpha Brain. The Shenzhen-based company is targeting industrial applications in logistics, manufacturing, and biotech, positioning wheeled bases as more practical and cost-effective than bipedal locomotion for near-term deployment.
Harvard researchers have developed a silicon chip that can synthesize 64 different DNA sequences simultaneously using electrical currents and water-based enzymes, marking a significant advancement in enzymatic DNA manufacturing. This breakthrough offers a cleaner, safer alternative to conventional chemical DNA synthesis methods and could enable portable DNA-writing devices and DNA-based data storage systems in the future.
ENCY Software announced a partnership with Stäubli Robotics to integrate ENCY Robot offline programming and simulation software with Stäubli's industrial robots for manufacturing tasks like milling, grinding, and deburring. The collaboration aims to simplify robot programming by unifying CAD/CAM design with AI-driven offline and real-time robot control, enabling manufacturers to reduce downtime and move more confidently from digital preparation to production.
Apple's program to invest in US manufacturing sees it spend $30 billion on Broadcom chips.
ABB Robotics launched the Flexley Stack F712, an autonomous forklift equipped with vSLAM (visual simultaneous localization and mapping) navigation technology for warehouse and manufacturing operations. The F712 can handle loads up to 2,000 kg and uses AI-enabled 3D vision for navigation without requiring pre-installed infrastructure, integrating with ABB's growing fleet of collaborative autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, is reportedly developing its own inference chips to reduce reliance on third-party providers like NVIDIA and Huawei. The company is hiring engineers and engaging with manufacturing partners as part of its expansion strategy in the competitive Chinese AI market.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have developed a novel color-changing tactile sensor that enables robots to 'see' and sense touch in real-time by transforming pressure into dynamic color patterns readable by a standard camera. The technology, published in Science Advances, eliminates the need for complex reconstruction algorithms and enables high-resolution contact and pressure mapping with applications in precision manufacturing, prosthetics, and surgical systems.
This podcast recap covers Automate 2026, highlighting the robotics industry's shift from humanoid hype toward practical physical AI deployment in manufacturing. Key topics include software orchestration, digital twins, edge computing, and advancements from major players like Boston Dynamics, FANUC, ABB, and Rockwell Automation in solving labor shortages and automating complex tasks like picking, palletizing, and assembly.
