Today's Autonomy Pulse
Volkswagen to Deploy Full-Domain AI Agents in New Models by H2 2026
Volkswagen announced that its Agentic AI for All roadmap will see full deployment in vehicles built on the CEA architecture starting in the second half of 2026. The locally trained large-language-model system moves beyond passive assistants to proactively manage parking, route adjustments and cabin preferences while keeping all data inside the vehicle.
WeRide and Lenovo Announce Ambition to Deploy 200,000 Autonomous Vehicles by 2031
WeRide and Lenovo have expanded their partnership to target the deployment of 200,000 Level‑4 autonomous vehicles worldwide by 2031, beginning in 2026. The plan includes robotaxis, autonomous minibuses and sanitation vehicles, leveraging Lenovo’s AD1 domain controller and Nvidia’s Drive AGX Thor chip. Their joint HPC 3.0 platform promises over 2,000 TOPS of AI performance while cutting hardware costs by half and reducing total cost of ownership by 84%. The collaboration aims to create a global, scalable autonomous‑driving ecosystem that bridges cloud computing, vehicle hardware and supply‑chain logistics.
Anduril Shows Copperhead-500M Autonomous Underwater Munition’s Testing
On April 25, 2026, Anduril released the first public video of its Copperhead-500M autonomous underwater munition, a 21‑inch, 13‑foot heavyweight AUV that broke internal speed records and performed agile maneuvers in high seas. The Copperhead family, including the smaller 100M...
WeRide Expands WRD 3.0 Across Multiple Chip Platforms
WeRide announced that its WRD 3.0 advanced driver assistance system is now compatible with multiple chip platforms, including NVIDIA DRIVE, Qualcomm Snapdragon and SiEngine’s StarLight AD1000. The expansion enables automakers to deploy L2++ ADAS across a range of computing power—from...
America Is Fighting the Wrong Drone War
The article argues that the United States is prepared for high‑end, precision drone warfare but is ill‑equipped for the emerging conflict of cheap, mass‑produced drones that overwhelm defenses through sheer volume. It cites Iran’s $20,000 Shahed‑136, Ukraine’s daily launches of...
Komatsu Mining Signs New Shuttle Car Deal with Contractor TMC Bringing Total to over 50 in India
Komatsu Mining India has signed a contract with TMC Mineral Resources to deliver two new Joy 10SC32 shuttle cars, bringing its fleet in the country to more than 50 units. TMC, a certified underground contractor, operates several coal mines for...
JAL, GMO to Test Using Humanoid Robots for Airport Ground Operations
Japan Airlines (JAL) and GMO Internet Group will launch a demonstration using humanoid robots to move passenger luggage at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport starting in May 2026. The trial, running through 2028, aims to assess labor‑efficiency gains amid rising travel demand...
Urban Autonomy in America: What’s Real & What’s Next (Curbivore 2026)
The Curbivore 2026 panel, hosted by Forbes senior editor Alan Oensman, examined the current state and future hurdles of autonomous vehicle (AV) deployment in the U.S., covering robotaxis, delivery bots, and data infrastructure. Participants included Aaron from Korean robot‑delivery startup...
Meet Dot: DoorDash’s Accelerated Autonomous Local Commerce Solution (Curbivore 2026)
In this Curbivore 2026 fireside chat, DoorDash’s Harrison, head of DoorDash Labs, unveils DOT – an autonomous, four‑wheel delivery vehicle designed like an e‑bike that can travel up to 20 mph, fit through standard doors, and operate on bike lanes, roads,...
U.S. Navy Drills in At-Sea USV Fueling Ahead of CSG Deployment
The U.S. Navy successfully demonstrated at‑sea refueling of the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) Seahawk using the fleet oiler USNS Guadalupe off Southern California. The test clears a key logistical hurdle for the upcoming deployment of the Seahawk with the...
Leiden’s Sensor-Free Microrobots Move Like Living Organisms
Researchers at Leiden University have created soft, chain‑like microrobots that move and adapt without sensors, software, or external control. Each 5 µm segment is linked by 0.5 µm joints and powered solely by an electric field, allowing the robot’s shape to dictate...
Waymo Says Avoiding Bike Lanes Is Unrealistic as Customers Demand Drop‑offs There
Waymo told cycling advocates that expecting its robo‑taxis to stay out of bike lanes is "too high a bar" because riders want to be dropped off there. The comment follows a 2024 lawsuit alleging a Waymo vehicle blocked a bike...
Focal Point Positioning to Showcase Precise+ High-Precision GNSS Technology at ENC 2026
UK‑based GNSS software firm Focal Point Positioning will unveil its Precise+ high‑precision technology at the European Navigation Conference in Vienna, April 28‑30, 2026. Precise+ applies the company’s patented Supercorrelation method to carrier‑phase measurements, delivering centimeter‑level positioning even in signal‑obstructed environments. Principal engineer...
Tesla Admits HW3 Can't Deliver Unsupervised FSD, Sparking Bull‑bear Clash
On April 23, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told investors that the Hardware 3 computer installed in millions of vehicles lacks the memory bandwidth needed for unsupervised Full Self‑Driving. The admission triggered a split among analysts and investors as the company...
EPG & Locus Robotics Announce Strategic Partnership
Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) has forged a strategic partnership with Locus Robotics, fully integrating Locus’s autonomous mobile robot (AMR) fulfillment solution into EPG’s ONE warehouse management system (WMS). The combined offering is now demonstrated at EPG’s Logistics Solution Center in...
Sereact Secures $110 Million Series B to Accelerate Predictive Robotics Software
German robotics AI firm Sereact announced a $110 million Series B funding round led by Headline, with participation from Bullhound Capital, Felix Capital and Daphni. The capital will be used to develop its predictive‑robotics platform that aims to make industrial robots...
Your Factory Floor Is Ready for AI, but Is Your Network?
Manufacturers are moving fast on AI, with 61% already in active deployment and many adopting agentic AI that autonomously manages production, supply‑chain, and quality tasks. The shift to edge computing means 75% of enterprise data will be processed at the...
Article Intro - Open-H to Support Foundation Models in Surgical Robotics
The Open-H-Embodiment Consortium, coordinated by NVIDIA and Johns Hopkins, released the largest open dataset of medical‑robotic video paired with synchronized kinematics. Spanning more than 49 institutions and six robot platforms—including da Vinci, Versius, and MIRA—the collection covers surgical manipulation, ultrasound, and...
From Slogan to Standard: How the Pentagon Should Define Affordable Mass
The Pentagon’s "affordable mass" concept, first coined in 2021, now underpins a $54 billion FY27 request to expand autonomous drone warfare. Mike Benitez argues the term lacks a concrete standard, proposing that affordable mass means a force can replace combat losses...
Early Tesla AI Drives Us, Hinting Future Safety
These pictures and video thanks to AI from Tesla. My friend and I had my robot drive us from San Jose to Angel Camp. It wasn’t perfect. It is an eight year old robot working with old model on a shitty computer. But...
The UK Has ‘Significant Opportunity’ to Lead Next Wave of Robotics Innovation
TechUK’s new "Seizing the Robotics Opportunity" report argues the United Kingdom can become a global leader in the next wave of robotics, provided it acts now. The paper highlights converging advances in AI, sensing, computing power and materials that are...
Geely’s Caocao Plans 100,000 Purpose-Built Robotaxis by 2030
Geely’s ride‑hailing unit Caocao unveiled a plan to field 100,000 purpose‑built robotaxis by 2030, with the first Eva Cab units rolling out in 2027. The Eva Cab is designed from scratch for driverless service, stripping non‑essential features to lower purchase...
Tocaro Blue Unveils ApolloCore™ AI Software for Maritime Perception
US‑based Tocaro Blue has launched ApolloCore™, an AI‑driven perception software that converts commercial PTZ marine cameras into high‑performance sensors for autonomous and defense vessels. The solution provides real‑time object detection, ranging, persistent tracking and fuses camera data with the company’s...
When AI Agents Take the Lead in Decision-Making, Who Answers when They Mess Up?
The article stresses that AI agents themselves are not accountable for mistakes; responsibility rests with the people who train, design, and deploy them. It cites real‑world cases such as biased loan approvals, gender‑discriminatory hiring tools, and pricing algorithms that favor...
Partnership to Advance Automated Inspection in Smart Manufacturing
3D Infotech and Doosan Robotics announced a strategic partnership to deliver a fully integrated, AI‑driven inspection system for smart factories. Doosan will provide its collaborative robot platforms while 3D Infotech contributes its metrology automation software, creating a turnkey solution that...
Zoox Feels Futuristic but Still Limited Like Waymo Beta
I took Zoox a few times and it reminds me of Waymo’s public beta The car feels futuristic (+ USB-C, wireless charging), plenty of legroom, no steering wheel But you can’t change destination, pickups are far/slow, driving + braking can get janky Can’t...
China Rolls Out Robot Cashiers in 20 Stores
🇨🇳 China has started gradually replacing cashiers with robots. Reportedly so far 20 such stores have opened across 7 cities. https://t.co/NMetFCulZn #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Robot #Robotics #PhysicalAI #store #RetailInvestor @sonu_monika @enilev @Jagersbergknut @TysonLester @chidambara09 @labordeolivier @BetaMoroney @tlloydjones @Nicochan33 @jeancayeux @RLDI_Lamy @pierrepinna...
PwC Unveils ‘Factory of the Future’ Blueprint Leveraging AI, IoT and Google Cloud
PwC released a thought‑leadership report titled “Factory of the Future with AI, IoT and Google Cloud,” outlining concrete technology roadmaps for manufacturers. The report cites its 2026 Global Industrial Manufacturing Sector Outlook, which projects the share of firms planning high‑level...
Humanoid Robot Reads Emotions, Reacts Like Human
AI Q: The Emotion-Reading Humanoid #Robot That Reacts Like a Real Being via @XRoboHub #Robots #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology #Tech https://t.co/DHMw3OoLBM
Skild Brain Teams with Jetson Thor for Advanced Robotics
Skild Brain Pairs With Jetson Thor to Power Next-Gen #Robotics Intelligence by @CyberRobooo #Robot #Engineering #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/6tVH6PoYzn
HERE Technologies Unveils Level 2++ Navigation Suite for Global Autonomous Driving
HERE Technologies introduced a Level 2++ Navigation on Autopilot suite at Auto China 2026, featuring live map intelligence, lane‑level guidance and a Predictive Signal Timing service. The launch targets automakers seeking consistent assisted‑driving performance across disparate road networks, and it is...
Tesla Still Learning Robotaxi Pickup/Dropoff, Thanks Josh
Tesla seems to have quite a lot to still learn on the robotaxi pudo (pickup/dropoff) side of things Thanks Josh for reporting both sides of the stories. 100% builds trust in your reporting
Tesla Showcases Optimus, Cybertruck, FSD at Danish Festival
Tesla is expanding its presence beyond just auto shows... because it has more technology to offer & introduce to all. In Denmark, Tesla was present with Optimus, Cybertruck and FSD ride-alongs at the Gamebox Festival in Herning Messecenter all weekend https://t.co/oNC0XVGd3O
Waymo's Fleet Swells Past 800 Vehicles, Expanding Autonomous Presence in U.S. Cities
Waymo has grown its robotaxi fleet to more than 800 autonomous vehicles in the San Francisco Bay Area, while deploying hundreds of additional units in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta and Austin. The expansion reinforces Waymo’s position as the dominant U.S. commercial...
Europe's Top Tesla FSD Users Log Thousands of Miles
Top 5 Tesla Self-Driving users in Europe on @fsd_database 1. @TSLA_inside_ — 1,477 miles 2. @ronald_termaat — 731 miles 3. @Sleijser — 622 miles 4. @EpicHaddock310 — 440 miles 5. @tvanschadewijk — 250 miles 6. Willy — 27 miles https://t.co/eMRsQOSjZQ
Dreaming of Nationwide Driverless Tesla Robotaxis
I have a dream that one day there will be driverless Tesla Robotaxis anywhere you could go in the United States
Innovating at the Tactical Edge: Red Hat at Exercise: HEIMDALL
Red Hat participated in NATO’s Exercise HEIMDALL in Norway, a three‑week cold‑weather drill that brought together 13 defense departments and 26 industry partners. The company showcased its open‑source portfolio, including OpenShift, Device Edge and Edge Manager, to run AI‑driven mission planning and...
Tesla's Self-Driving Goes App-Only, No Car Needed
Up until now, if you wanted to use Tesla Self-Driving you had to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a Tesla first, have a place to charge, etc. Now with Robotaxi, you just download an app from the App...
Chinese Automakers Have Long Outpaced Tesla in Robotaxi Race
Chinese carmakers take on Tesla in race for robotaxi supremacy No kidding, they have been doing it for years.... https://t.co/doyHIKfYPz
Vietnam: UAV Technology to Power Smart Aerial Economy
Vietnam has unveiled a national UAV strategy to build a low‑altitude economy below 1,000 metres, positioning Hanoi as a testbed for smart governance, regulatory sandboxes, and eVTOL trials. The roadmap focuses on four pillars: transport, dual‑use civilian‑defence applications, domestic design...
Self‑Flipping Drone Takes Off Directly From Water
This #Drone Can Flip Itself Over and Take Off From Water by @Fabriziobustama #EmergingTech #Innovation #Technology #Tech https://t.co/7mssKfEIjV
Humanoid Robots Set to Transform Elder Care
ROBOTGYM Reveals the Future of Humanoid Elderly Assistance via @Robo_Tuo #Robotics #Tech #Technology #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/zjRD7hYqdC
Saronic to Collaborate with Korea on ASVs
Saronic Technologies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Taiwan’s National Chung‑Shan Institute of Science and Technology to develop AI‑enabled maritime capabilities, including autonomous surface vessels (ASVs). The partnership will focus on AI‑driven command‑and‑control software, systems integration, and the use...
TRON 1 Gains 3D Perception for Smarter Navigation
TRON 1 Upgraded with #3D Perception Kit for Smarter Navigation and Terrain Mastery by @CyberRobooo #Robotics #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #RPA #ML #MI https://t.co/nx17WnTSvj
Robots Achieve Realistic 15-DoF Faces with Live Tracking
When #Robots Feel Real: Mornine’s 15-DoF Face with Live Human Tracking by @CyberRobooo #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation #Tech https://t.co/YGnChAc5i4
China Uses Robots for Live High‑voltage Electrical Work
China Deploys #Robotic Electricians for Live High-Voltage Operations by @XueJia24682 #Robotics #Engineering #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/cK3fXhUWhQ
Tesla's Mad Max Mode Beats Traffic, Outshines Competitors
Tesla Self-Driving Mad Max mode is so fucking sick It doesn't waste your time. Watch how it goes around slow cars on its own like a pro. I've never seen any other self-driving system do anything remotely close at 1:00 it even...
Questioning Damage Distribution in Waymo Collision
If that’s what happened, how did the back of the Waymo and the front of the other cars get damaged?
If You Must Use Your Phone, Let AI Drive
Don’t use your phone, but if you absolutely insist please let the AI drive your car
Beijing Startup TARS Unveils Dual Humanoid Robots for Manufacturing
Beijing Startup TARS Debuts Two Humanoid #Robots for Precision Manufacturing and General-Purpose Tasks by @CyberRobooo #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/ZJ0b3LghMz
Robots Likely in Homes by 2030, Scarce Industrially
Forecasters think there's a ~60% chance that by 2030 "robots exist that can navigate homes and perform basic tasks" or better, but only 17 million are used industrially by 2040. Seems insane. https://t.co/SgVhz1xW6C