Today's Autonomy Pulse
China unveils ChatBearing, AI‑driven bearing design agent
Researchers at Chongqing University introduced ChatBearing, an AI system that combines large language models with a 4,500‑record bearing database to autonomously perform requirement analysis, load calculations, part selection, life prediction, strength verification and report generation. The platform slashes design cycles from two‑to‑three hours to under one hour, showcasing a rapid leap in autonomous engineering.
NASA Targets Lunar Trucks and Hopping Drones for First Permanent Moon Base
NASA unveiled three initial moon‑base missions this year that will deliver cargo, lunar trucks and hopping drones to the lunar south pole, marking a decisive shift from orbital Gateway to surface mobility. The plan, aimed at supporting the Artemis IV landing in 2028, pits the United States against a rapidly advancing Chinese lunar program.
Pony AI Posts 145% Revenue Surge, Expands Robotaxi Fleet Goal to 3,500 Vehicles
Pony AI announced Q1 2026 revenue of $34.3 million, up 145% year‑over‑year, and raised its robotaxi fleet target to 3,500 vehicles. The autonomous‑driving startup highlighted quadrupled robotaxi revenue, a 246% jump in intelligent‑solutions sales, and a cash pile of $1.4 billion.
Serve Robotics Posts 578% Revenue Surge as Autonomous Delivery Bots Scale
Serve Robotics reported a 578% year‑over‑year revenue increase to $3 million in Q1 2026, driven by its Gen3 autonomous delivery robots and the recent acquisition of Diligent. The growth underscores the rapid scaling of last‑mile logistics and highlights both market enthusiasm...
Robots Can’t Pass THIS Test #shorts
CAPTCHAs, designed to distinguish humans from automated bots, rely less on the visible click and more on hidden behavioral and contextual signals. Google's reCAPTCHA analyzes mouse movement patterns, timing, network data, cookies and browsing history to judge whether activity looks...
Green Berets Testing Glider Drones for Sneaky Resupply
U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) are evaluating low‑observable glider drones as a covert resupply method for troops operating in contested or remote environments. The prototypes, derived from hobby‑grade sailplane designs, can be launched from a small vehicle, glide silently,...
Underwater Robot Measures Ice Thickness
The video showcases a Zermatt test of an underwater robot designed to measure ice thickness from below, eliminating the need for personnel to step onto potentially hazardous ice surfaces. The robot, nicknamed Polaris, is housed in a torpedo‑shaped shell containing electronics,...
DARPA Launches Search for Robot Medics to Treat Battlefield Casualties
DARPA has issued a Small Business Innovation Research solicitation for autonomous, swarm‑capable robot medics that can drag wounded soldiers, administer lifesaving drugs, and form self‑assembling tourniquets. The robots must move casualties at least 10 meters, either individually or by linking...
A2Z Drone Delivery Partners with Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd. On Kazakhstan’s Next Generation Integrated Urban Air Mobility Project
A2Z Drone Delivery announced a partnership with Kazakhstan’s Alatau Advance Air Group to supply its AirDocks and Longtail multi‑mission drones for the UAM Test Center Eurasia, the hub of the Alatau City smart‑city project. The collaboration will demonstrate BVLOS operations,...
Overview of Test Permits for Autonomous Vehicles in Germany
As of February 11 2026, Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority has granted 236 test permits for autonomous‑vehicle trials, each covering a single vehicle. Of those, 153 permits apply to Level 3 driver‑assistance systems and 83 to Level 4 fully autonomous prototypes. The permits are...
I Spent a Week Recording Myself Doing Chores for Money. Who’s the Robot Now?
A Wired reporter spent a week wearing an iPhone on his forehead to film everyday chores for Luel, a platform that pays $6.60 per hour for egocentric video data used to teach humanoid robots. The gig demanded 1080p, head‑mounted, wide‑angle...
Waymo Driving Through a Flooded Street in Dallas
Waymo’s driverless sedan was captured navigating a Dallas street flooded with several inches of water, maintaining lane position as water surged around its wheels. The incident, recorded on video, sparked immediate discussion among industry observers about the vehicle’s sensor suite...
ECARX Partners with May Mobility to Expand AV Capabilities
ECARX Holdings and May Mobility have signed a framework agreement to integrate ECARX’s L4 central computing platform and sensor suite into May’s autonomous vehicle fleet, with initial deployment planned for 2027 and commercial scaling by 2028. The partnership targets delivery...
IntBot and Certis Group Partner to Scale Enterprise Physical AI Across Singapore
IntBot, a San Jose‑based developer of socially intelligent humanoid robots, has teamed up with Singapore’s Certis Group to bring enterprise‑ready Physical AI to high‑traffic public spaces. The partnership combines IntBot’s General Social Intelligence layer with Certis’ expertise in designing and...
WeRide and Renault Once Again Offer Autonomous Bus Service at Roland-Garros Tournament
WeRide, in partnership with Renault Group, is operating its autonomous Robobus at the Roland‑Garros French Open for the third consecutive year. The driverless shuttle runs a 2.8 km loop connecting three key venues, with 12‑minute trips and extended daytime and night‑time...
Pony AI Raises 2026 Robotaxi Revenue Target to 3.5 Times of 2025 Level
Chinese autonomous‑driving firm Pony AI announced it will aim for robotaxi revenue in 2026 that is more than 3.5 times its 2025 level, after reporting a 395% year‑on‑year jump to $8.6 million in the first quarter. The company also lifted its...
Cropr Introduces Autonomous Laser Weeder
Cropr, a spin‑off from H2L Robotics, launched the Cropr Weedr, an autonomous laser weeder equipped with ten laser modules and AI‑driven weed recognition. The machine, powered by a diesel generator, can run 24 hours a day and is priced at under...
Xiaomi EV Introduces World Model to Advance Autonomous Driving Tech
Xiaomi EV unveiled the Xiaomi Auto World Model, a unified 3D reconstruction and video‑generation framework for autonomous driving. The system combines the WorldRec reconstruction module and WorldGen generation engine, cutting scene‑reconstruction time to about 10 seconds for a 10‑second clip...
Xer Technologies Unveils X8 PRO & Expands Tactical Defence Solutions
Xer Technologies has introduced the X8 PRO, a European‑built hybrid‑electric unmanned aircraft that replaces the original X8 as the company’s sole production platform. The system can carry up to 10 kg, fly for three hours, and operate within a 50 km radius,...