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.
Voluntary Safety Assessment by Einride AB Published for Cab-Less Autonomous Heavy-Duty Trucks
Swedish logistics firm Einride AB has become the first operator of SAE Level 4 cab‑less heavy‑duty trucks to release a Voluntary Safety Self‑Assessment (VSSA). The document details the company’s safety case, covering design, testing, redundancy, and compliance with standards such as UL 4600, ISO 26262 and ISO/PAS 21448. Einride’s autonomous platform combines its Saga AI optimization software with the Einride Driver system, supported by a redundant sensor suite and an aviation‑inspired safety management system. The VSSA also addresses cybersecurity, crashworthiness and a fleet‑wide grounding policy to aid regulatory engagement.
Antofagasta PLC – Copper Growth Delivery Going Hand in Hand with Innovation
Antofagasta PLC highlighted how its 2025 innovation program is driving copper growth and operational efficiency. Deployments include autonomous truck fleets at Centinela, AI‑powered SIRO platforms boosting SAG mill availability to 94.4% and recoveries, and a trolley‑assist trial with Komatsu and...
Heavy Equipment Manufacturers Are Using Robotics to Change Crane Trucks
Heavy equipment makers are embedding robotics‑driven assistance into truck‑mounted crane systems, shifting operators from direct control to supervisory roles. Integrated control units now fuse sensor data to monitor boom position, load weight, and vehicle stability in real time, delivering safety...
FEATURE*: Muhammad Nauman Nasir of Mercedes-Benz on Building Safe, AI-Driven, Human-Centered Autonomous Systems
Mercedes‑Benz ADAS lead Muhammad Nauman Nasir stresses that autonomous vehicle development must prioritize safety over flashy features, treating every line of code as a moral responsibility. He outlines how ISO 26262‑compliant architectures, AI‑driven DevOps, and rigorous validation pipelines let OEMs innovate...
California Regulator Labels Tesla’s Robotaxi as Chauffeured Limo, Not True Autonomous Service
The California Public Utilities Commission has ruled that Tesla’s robotaxi service qualifies only for a charter‑party carrier permit—the same license used by limousine operators—rather than a true autonomous‑taxi permit. The classification exempts Tesla from submitting detailed safety and usage data,...
EACON’s Autonomy Deployed on 120 Battery-Electric Trucks at Zhundong Mine
EACON’s ORCASTRA® autonomous haulage system is now running on 120 Tonly TLE138 battery‑electric trucks at China’s Zhundong open‑pit coal mine, creating one of the world’s largest single‑site electric fleets. The trucks, each with a 90‑ton payload, have collectively logged more...
Waymo Reaches Now 500,000 Paid Driverless Rides per Week
Waymo’s robotaxi fleet is now delivering 500,000 paid, driverless rides each week across ten U.S. metropolitan areas, a figure that has doubled in less than twelve months. The milestone underscores the company’s rapid scaling of autonomous‑vehicle operations without a safety...
TEKEVER Successfully Integrates Quadsat Electronic Warfare Payload SpectraLoc Onto AR3 EVO Drone Platform
TEKEVER and Denmark’s Quadsat have completed flight integration tests of Quadsat’s SpectraLoc electronic‑warfare payload on the TEKEVER AR3 EVO tactical drone. The trial demonstrated the platform‑agnostic payload’s ability to detect and geolocate hostile RF emitters while airborne, cutting reliance on traditional...
RV Tech Clears Winter Testing for VW-Rivian SDV Platform
RV Tech, the Volkswagen‑Rivian joint venture, completed winter testing of its production‑intent software‑defined vehicle (SDV) architecture in Sweden and Arizona. The tests validated OTA update capability, all‑wheel‑drive systems, traction control, and driving performance on reference models representing the VW ID.Every1, Audi...
BlueBotics Bridges the Gap Between AGVs and AMRs With SmartPass
BlueBotics unveiled SmartPass, a new feature in its ANT software suite that equips ANT‑driven AGVs and AMRs with configurable obstacle‑avoidance while preserving virtual‑path efficiency. The technology lets robots detour around blockages using the shortest permitted route, then instantly rejoin their...
Robots Leaving Labs, Clearing Snow in Real World
This wasn’t a lab test. A humanoid robot just went to work in a snowstorm. In New York, while most systems would struggle in these conditions, this robot was out clearing snow. Cold. Unpredictable. Physically demanding. And yet, it operates with control and stability. What stands...
Ball‑shaped Hexapod Robot Rolls Any Direction
Ball-Shaped Transforming Hexapod #Robot That Rolls in Any Direction via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/9sQ6ljVeto
Sony and Honda Abandon Afeela EV, Ending PlayStation‑linked Autonomous Car Plans
Sony and Honda have terminated development of the Afeela electric vehicle, ending a high‑profile project that would have combined PlayStation entertainment with autonomous driving. The joint venture cited Honda's decision to scale back its EV roadmap, and California reservers will...
Ionic Arm Powers Drones From Repair to Recon
Ionic Arm: Enabling a Leap from Appliance Repair to Advanced Reconnaissance #Drones by @EsperBionics #Innovation #EmergingTech #Tech #Technology #TechForGood https://t.co/DNsGb7RCJB
From Reactive AI to Collaborative Agentic Partners
From Reactive #AI to Agentic Partners: Intelligent Systems That Sense, Act, and Collaborate by @tuyasmart #ArtificialIntelligence #Robotics #Innovation #TechForGood #EmergingTech https://t.co/AzYpxdveFz
Decathlon Doubles Order Throughput with Exotec Skypod Robots in Europe
Decathlon reported that its seven European distribution centers using Exotec's Skypod robots have doubled order preparation capacity at its Portugal site, rising from 57,000 to 114,000 orders. The automation cut picker walking distance by 80% and halved order‑picking injuries, underscoring...
China Unveils Autonomous Air‑sea Hybrid Drone
TJ-FlyingFish: China’s #Autonomous Air-Sea Hybrid #Drone That Flies and Dives via @WevolverApp #Innovation #EmergingTech #Technology https://t.co/8ZCuWs0Gil
EngineAI Unveils T800, a Full-Size Humanoid Robot
Meet T800 — EngineAI’s Next-Generation Full-Size Humanoid #Robot by @XRoboHub #Robots #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML https://t.co/W2zA53UDQZ
Pony AI Says 85% of Chinese Drivers Ready for Robotaxis as Europe Launch Looms
Pony AI announced that 85% of Chinese drivers are comfortable riding robotaxis, its fleet has grown to 1,200 vehicles with a goal of 3,000 by year‑end, and it is preparing Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb with Uber and...
Tesla Lands on Fortune’s 2026 Most Innovative Companies and the Cybercab Is Why
Tesla has been placed on Fortune’s 2026 America’s Most Innovative Companies list, largely thanks to its Cybercab and expanding Robotaxi service. The Cybercab, built at Gigafactory Texas, targets a ten‑second production cycle and a sub‑$30,000 price point, while Tesla’s Full...
US Federal Initiative Targets Summer 2026 Launch of Commercial Electric Air‑Taxi Services
The U.S. federal government announced a fast‑track program that could allow commercial electric air‑taxi services to begin operating as early as summer 2026. The initiative seeks to accelerate certification, infrastructure, and market entry for autonomous aerial mobility.
US Deploys Uncrewed Drone Boats in Conflict with Iran
The Pentagon confirmed that the U.S. Navy has deployed uncrewed drone speedboats—specifically the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC)—as part of Operation Epic Fury against Iran. The vessels have already logged more than 450 patrol hours and covered over 2,200 nautical...
Boing Boing, March 26, 2026
Boing Boing’s March 26 2026 roundup spotlights three off‑beat tech stories. A dermatologist installed red LED panels in his son’s hospital room, prompting a fresh look at light‑based therapies for pediatric care. Researchers cloned a mouse 58 times, pushing the limits of...
Tesla FSD Still Botches Parking in Empty Lot
I know it’s me, but I think things like this are very funny. There are very few cars in the parking lot, the spaces are wide open, and it still takes Tesla’s FSD three corrections to park. When it started...
China Poised to Top Global Economy by 2035 Amid Domestic Consumption Woes
China is on track to become the world’s largest economy by 2035, driven by rapid tech expansion and a 7% boost to its 2026 defence budget, while household consumption remains sluggish. The dual dynamic shapes global markets and raises questions...
Digital Twins to Rescue Robots: What Faster 3D Point Cloud Processing Enables
Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology unveiled a hybrid attention‑based model that fuses local detail and global context for 3D point‑cloud segmentation. The system processes complex scenes in just over two seconds per frame while preserving high accuracy, especially for...
5 Best Servo Drives for Factory Automation Systems
The article reviews the five leading servo drives for factory automation, highlighting Harmonic Drive’s integrated actuator, Yaskawa’s Sigma‑7 auto‑tuning, Mitsubishi’s high‑axis Melservo‑J5, Siemens’ TIA‑integrated Sinamics, and Allen‑Bradley’s single‑cable Kinetix 5500. Each solution is evaluated on precision, reliability, integration ease, and manufacturer...
HII Announces ROMULUS USV Site Expansion, Introduces HYPR Initiative
HII announced an expansion of its Breaux Brothers assembly facility in New Iberia, Louisiana, to enable serial production of its ROMULUS uncrewed surface vessels ranging from 20 to 190 feet. The company introduced the High‑Yield Production Robotics (HYPR) initiative, which...
Waymo Has Doubled Its Weekly Ridership In Under A Year
Alphabet’s Waymo announced it is now completing 500,000 paid robotaxi trips each week, doubling its weekly ridership in under twelve months. The surge follows expansion into four new markets—Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando—bringing its U.S. footprint to ten cities....
Samson Sky Wins Flying Car Orders From, and GA Development Cooperation Deal with, Tajikistan
Samson Sky signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tajikistan’s government to deliver 50 Switchblade flying cars worth roughly $11.5 million. The agreement also tasks the company with helping modernise general‑aviation legislation so the vehicles can be registered locally. Samson Sky will...
Magnet Defense Begins Production of First M48 USV
Magnet Defense, which acquired Metal Shark Boats, announced the start of production on its first M48 Unmanned Surface Vessel, moving the platform from prototype to a production model. The 157‑foot, $30 million USV boasts a 17,000‑nautical‑mile range and can self‑deploy from...
Audi Mapping Vehicle Spotted in Dresden
Audi’s high‑definition mapping vehicle was photographed navigating the narrow, cobblestone streets of Dresden’s Old Town. The car, bearing German plates IN 1127, is equipped with lidar, cameras, and precision GPS to collect detailed road geometry and sensor data. This deployment is...
Why Choose Robot Vacuum Cleaners for House Cleaning?
The global robot vacuum market is set to reach $13.78 billion by 2031, driven by rising consumer demand for hands‑free cleaning. Modern units combine voice control, smart navigation and AI‑based learning to deliver continuous, scheduled cleaning without human intervention. They can...
Tesla Optimus Delayed as China Holds the Magnets
Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot is encountering production delays after China reclassified its actuator components as dual‑use technology, requiring export licenses and giving priority to domestic suppliers. The reclassification jeopardizes Tesla's access to rare‑earth magnets, which China supplies 90% of, and...
MOVE 2026
MOVE 2026, the eighth edition of the commercial forum for auto, fleet, energy and tech leaders, will take place June 17‑18 at ExCel London. Organized by Terrapinn, the two‑day event will host over 300 world‑class speakers from automotive OEMs, fleet...
Visual Components Brings Future-Ready Simulation Technology to Automate 2026
Visual Components will showcase a live demonstration at Automate 2026, featuring a KUKA KR AGILUS robot equipped with Roboception’s vision system. The company’s 3D simulation software will render the robot’s picking and handling tasks in real time, giving attendees an accurate, immersive...
Waymo’s Phoenix Fleet Now Shows Drivers After Years Driverless
Waymo's been in and around Phoenix since before 2020 and driving autonomously even in parts of Scottsdale and the surrounding cities for years. It is now very odd seeing a driver behind the wheel. I am sure there are loads of...
Modular Wheeled Biped Robot Combines and Splits On‑Demand
Wheeled Bipedal #Robot That Can Combine and Separate on Demand via @ZappyZappy7 #ArtificialIntelligence #Robotics #MachineLearning #MI #ML https://t.co/7ipHwkNPsU
AI Humanoid Robots Will Soon Invade Our Economy. Jefferies Gives Stocks to Play the Coming Wave
Jefferies predicts a decade‑long boom in humanoid robots, driven by an aging workforce, shrinking interest in manufacturing jobs, and rapid AI‑semiconductor advances. The firm highlights five equities poised to benefit: Tesla, which is pivoting to humanoid production and retains a...
Robo-Taxis Converging on Classic Black Cab Form Factor
This sure feels like the "right" form factor for robo-taxis. More like the old black cabs in London. Way more useable for the riders. I think they all end up going in this direction.
Niantic Repurposes Pokémon GO Data for Delivery
Hilarious to me that people are up in arms about Niantic Spatial leveraging its trove Pokémon GO data for delivery bots when this is what they're REALLY doing, and proudly. https://t.co/40jburKQ7a
First Zoox Ride in Austin Celebrates Engineer Roots
Today, I took the inaugural ride around Austin and livestreamed it to our crew. This city is where my career as an engineer began, so riding here felt truly full circle. Austin, we are so excited to be here and...
AGIBOT Launches Genie G2, Next‑Gen Wheeled Humanoid
AGIBOT Unveils Genie G2: Next-Generation Wheeled Humanoid #Robot by @CyberRobooo #Robotics #EmergingTech #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/zJXkohLjsA
Navy Shifts to Fielding Mature Uncrewed Vessels
Navy’s Drone Ship Plans Get Shaken Up Again The Navy wants to spend less time prototyping and focus on fielding already mature uncrewed vessel designs, which contractors might operate. https://t.co/LfNRpVJYnd
Robots Building Robots: Humanoid Assembly Line Emerges
Humanoid robot assembling humanoid #Robots for factory work via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/XhAgwlGxAR
China's L4 Delivery Robots Reach Massive Scale
China’s Streets Go #Autonomous: L4 Delivery Vehicles Hit Massive Scale and Rapid Growth by @blueskykites #Robotics #EmergingTech #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/9bwFcv6o6W
China Demonstrates Atlas Drone Swarm with AI Combat Upgrade
China unveils full-process demonstration of Atlas drone swarm operations system, expert highlights algorithm-enabled combat upgrades https://t.co/KM8FySikPc