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.
MODEX 2026: NORD to Showcase Modular Drive Technologies for Intelligent Automation
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS will exhibit its latest high‑efficiency drive technologies at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, booth B14136. The lineup includes IE5+ permanent‑magnet synchronous motors delivering up to 95% efficiency, a range of centralized and decentralized NORDAC electronic controls, and the modular LogiDrive system for intralogistics. These solutions emphasize plug‑and‑play installation, energy savings, and reduced total cost of ownership for warehouse and distribution‑center automation. The showcase targets buyers seeking reliable, scalable drive components for modern logistics operations.
Pentagon Makes Palantir's Maven AI System a Program of Record Amid Iran Strike Surge
Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg has officially designated Palantir’s Maven artificial‑intelligence platform as a program of record, guaranteeing long‑term funding and Pentagon‑wide deployment. The move comes as Maven powers thousands of U.S. strikes against Iranian targets, intensifying scrutiny over...
MODEX 2026: Swisslog to Showcase Flexible, Scalable Warehouse Technologies
Swisslog used MODEX 2026 to unveil AgileStore, a 4‑way roaming pallet shuttle designed for high‑density, flexible storage, and its SynQ orchestration platform that unifies WMS, WES and WCS functions. The AgileStore system can travel forward, backward, laterally and vertically, allowing...
Delivery Bugs Revealed Zipline’s True Product‑market Fit
Keller Rinaudo Cliffton from Zipline thought making the drones would be the hardest part. It was only 15% of the problem. The company spent 9 months figuring out delivery for one hospital. Weeks of all-nighters. Building inventory software in a...
Radiate Engineering & Design Introduces FlyBlocks – a Production-Ready Structuralairframe Platform for Long-Range VTOL UAV Applications
Radiate Engineering & Design AG of Zurich launched FlyBlocks, a production‑ready structural airframe platform targeting professional B2B VTOL UAVs focused on long‑range missions. The modular system includes three scalable models—VT‑14, VT‑22 and VT‑30—covering MTOW from 5 kg to 28 kg and ranges...
US and UK Teaming up to Destroy Underwater Drones
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit has issued the Robotic Exclusion and Engagement Framework (REEF) solicitation, inviting commercial solutions to detect and neutralize underwater drones threatening ports and critical waterways. The program seeks AI‑driven sensor suites, sensor fusion,...
THE AGENT REVOLUTION
AI is moving beyond simple prompting toward semi‑autonomous systems that can execute multi‑step workflows with minimal supervision. The latest GPT‑5.4 models now support context windows approaching one million tokens, enabling more complex task chaining. Big‑tech firms are pouring massive capital...
Launching Deployed: Inside Jeff Wilke’s 22‑Year Automation Mastery
Everyone has a Physical AI take now. Most of these folks have never deployed a robot in production. Tomorrow I'm launching Deployed. First guest: @jeffawilke, who spent 22 years building arguably the most sophisticated automation operation on earth. We talk...
Carbon Robotics Surpasses $100 Million in Annual Revenue as Agricultural AI Adoption Accelerates
Carbon Robotics reported annual revenue surpassing $100 million for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026. The company now operates in 15 countries across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It introduced a Large Plant Model trained on 150 million plants to power its...
Humanoid Robots Are Learning Tennis — and It’s a Big Leap for Real-World AI
Chinese researchers have unveiled LATENT, a reinforcement‑learning framework that enables humanoid robots to play tennis in real time using imperfect human motion data. By decomposing strokes and footwork into learnable components, the system achieved a 96.5% success rate over 10,000...
Caterpillar and Fortescue Extend Command for Hauling Agreement for Western Australia Mines
Caterpillar has renewed its MineStar Command agreement with Fortescue’s Chichester Metals and FMG Solomon to supply and operate autonomous haulage software at three Western Australian mines. The extension continues a decade‑long deployment that began in 2012, reinforcing safety, reliability and...
For CSX, Drones Are An Important Item In The Toolbox
CSX has turned drones from a proof‑of‑concept into an enterprise‑wide asset, now operating over 250 unmanned aircraft across its rail network. More than 350 employees hold FAA Part 107 certifications, enabling eight departments to leverage aerial data for inspections, mapping and...
Russian Rocket en Route to ISS Suffers Major Antenna Glitch, Triggering Remote-Control Astronaut 'Backup Plan'
Russia’s Progress 94 cargo freighter suffered an antenna deployment failure shortly after liftoff, preventing its planned autonomous docking with the International Space Station. NASA announced that cosmonaut Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov will pilot the vehicle manually using an undisclosed backup system. The spacecraft...
AM General Unveils New Autonomous UGV at AUSA Global Force Symposium – Details Not Disclosed
AM General presented a new autonomous unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) at the AUSA Global Force symposium, signaling continued investment in military robotics. The company did not release technical specifications, pricing, or procurement timelines, leaving analysts to await further information.
Volvo FH Autonomous Truck Fleet Now Hauling All Production for Brønnøy Kalk
Volvo Autonomous Solutions has expanded its Autona/earth platform at Norway's Brønnøy Kalk limestone mine to run three shifts, allowing a fleet of nine Volvo FH autonomous trucks to handle the entire five‑kilometre haul route around the clock. The trucks, equipped...
Wayve, Uber and Nissan Launch Robotaxi Pilot in Tokyo
Uber has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nissan and UK‑based AI firm Wayve to launch a robotaxi pilot in Tokyo, targeting operation by the end of 2026. The service will use Nissan’s Leaf equipped with Wayve’s end‑to‑end AI driver...
E-Magy Presents Silicon-Dominant Anode Breakthroughs for Next-Gen Drone Power & Electronics
E‑magy will present new silicon‑dominant anode data at the 2026 International Battery Seminar in Orlando, showcasing 12 Ah 6S2P cells designed for high‑performance drone packs. The nanoporous silicon material promises higher energy density and faster charging compared with conventional chemistries, backed...
How the CPUC Handles AV Permits, Data, and Enforcement (Pat Tsen)
In this episode, Pat Tsen, Deputy Executive Director for Consumer Policy, Transportation, and Enforcement at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), explains how the CPUC regulates autonomous vehicle (AV) passenger services, detailing the permit process, data collection requirements, and enforcement...
This Train Drives Itself and It’s Already on U.S. Tracks
Parallel Systems, an LA‑based startup, is piloting autonomous freight rail cars that operate without a traditional locomotive. The driverless units rely on a suite of cameras, lidar sensors and remote operators to navigate existing U.S. tracks. If the trials prove...
US-Made Naval Drone with Active Warhead Washes up in Northern Turkey, Gets Blown Up
A U.S.-manufactured AEGIR‑W unmanned surface vessel washed ashore on Turkey's Black Sea coast on March 20, 2026, and was found fully operational with an active warhead. Turkish Navy explosive ordnance disposal teams towed the 10‑meter drone offshore and detonated it...
Alstef Group Unveils AI-Powered Autonomous Industrial Vehicle Ahead of LogiMAT
Alstef Group announced an AI‑powered autonomous industrial vehicle (AIV) ahead of LogiMAT 2026, featuring a real‑time "perception bubble" that continuously maps its surroundings. The system uses onboard cameras and AI models to classify objects, adjust speed, routing, and docking, and...
5GAA Renews Pact with EU 6G Industry Body
The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) has extended its partnership with the EU’s 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G‑IA) by renewing a 5G‑focused memorandum of understanding first signed in August 2022. The renewed MoU emphasizes policy coordination in vehicle‑to‑everything (V2X)...
Spotlight: “She’ll Be ‘Right, Mate” – Can Your Robot Pass the Turing Test?
Ben Miller argues that autonomous earth‑moving equipment should be judged by a mining‑industry version of the Turing Test – can seasoned operators tell a machine from a human driver? He notes that even the most mature autonomous haulage systems from...
Mind Robotics Raises $500 Million to Build AI-Powered Industrial Robots for Real-World Deployment
Mind Robotics announced a $500 million Series A round, co‑led by Accel and Andreessen Horowitz, to accelerate its AI‑powered industrial robot platform. The financing follows a $115 million seed round and adds Accel partner Sameer Gandhi to the board. Leveraging Rivian’s manufacturing data...
Hexxabotics to Unveil Honeycomb-Based AS/RS with Shuttle-Style AMRs at LogiMAT
Hexxabotics will debut a honeycomb‑based automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) at LogiMAT 2026, merging autonomous mobile robots (Hexxabots) with a modular hexagonal grid. The design eliminates fixed rails and in‑rack electrification, promising higher cubic storage density and lower energy use....
Construction Automation Delivers Consistent, Predictable Paving Results
Construction is becoming more automated and more precise. The Optimas S19 paving machine is a good example of that shift. Designed for large-scale projects, it automates the placement of paving stones, handling tasks that traditionally required significant manual labor. What stands out...
NYC Collision Shows Verbal Routing Is Dangerously Outdated
The aircraft collision in NYC could have been easily avoided. We fact that we still route aircraft just with verbal communication is absurd. Routing could all be automated and even the piloting of the aircraft could be automated.
Workroom Automation Raises Seed Funding Led by Equirus InnovateX Fund
Workroom Automation, a Hyderabad‑based connected‑factory platform, secured ₹6.2 crore in seed funding led by the Equirus InnovateX Fund, with participation from Astir Ventures, Venture Catalysts Group, and several angels. The capital will accelerate product development, especially its AI‑powered planning engine, and...
Roadrunner: One‑Wheel Biped Redefines Micro‑Mobility
Meet Roadrunner 🏁 A new wheeled biped that stands, balances on one wheel, and adapts in real time. A glimpse of where micro mobility is going. More stable. More accessible. More human. Small device, big shift. 🤖 @rai_inst #Robotics #MicroMobility https://t.co/ZlMiuMkoTi
Humanoid Robots Power $5 Trillion AI Investment Wave
The Rise of Humanoid Robots: Investing in the $5 Trillion AI Revolution | Derek Yan, KraneShares https://t.co/rJbQCwntQc
ZIYAN & GreenValley Leverage F15 Unmanned Helicopter to Advance Precision LiDAR Mapping
ZIYAN and GreenValley announced a partnership that leverages ZIYAN’s F15 electric VTOL helicopter to deliver precision LiDAR mapping services. The F15 can lift a 5 kg payload, carry GreenValley’s sensors, and fly up to 100 minutes while tolerating Beaufort 8 winds. Integrated...
Chinese Robot Makers Race to Replace Workers, Attract Western Buyers
“Last year, I visited 11 robotics companies in China across five cities…All of them were engaged, in different ways, in the race to…commercialise robots capable of replacing human workers—and some of them already have eager western buyers.” @Changxche https://t.co/jen93jcxA4
Atlas Learns Human-Like Moves via Reinforcement Learning
Reinforcement-Learned Atlas Performs Moves Inspired by Human Mocap and Animation via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/c4oMdCuXqG
Agentic AI Commerce May Spell the End of Internet Ads: A16z Crypto
a16z Crypto warns that autonomous AI agents could replace traditional online advertising, reshaping the internet’s economic model. The article notes the $291 billion ad market in 2025 may erode as agents shop without distraction. Platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini already offer...
Robots Tested for Next‑Gen Earthquake Rescue Operations
#Robots on the Frontlines: Testing Next-Gen Earthquake Rescue Systems by @HowThingsWork_ #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/g8AxoQQgWz
Monash University Research Highlights Safer, Smarter Human-Robot Teamwork in Manufacturing
Monash University researchers published a review in the International Journal of Production Research showing that better prediction of human behaviour by robots can make manufacturing safer, more adaptive and efficient as Industry 5.0 evolves. The study compares mechanism‑based, data‑driven and hybrid...
QCraft Closes $100 Million New Series D Financing to Advance Physical AI for Autonomous Driving and Mobility
QCraft announced the close of a $100 million Series D round aimed at scaling its physical‑AI hardware platform for autonomous driving and broader mobility applications. The financing, led by XYZ Capital with participation from existing backers and strategic automotive partners, will fund...
Musk Secures 100‑200M AI Chips for Massive Scale
Elon Musk is moving quickly to secure an enormous volume of artificial intelligence chips, with estimates pointing to roughly 100 million to 200 million units destined for his expanding ecosystem of products. The chips are expected to support everything from...
Robot Autonomously Swaps Batteries for Endless Operation
Self-Sufficient #Robot Swaps Its Own Batteries for Continuous Operation by @UBTECHRobotics #AI #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML https://t.co/CD0J7ZI1p8
China Creates First National Standards for Humanoid Robots to Support Industry Scale-Up
China unveiled its first national standard system for humanoid robots, the Humanoid Robot and Embodied Intelligence Standard System (2026 Edition), at a Beijing technical committee meeting. The framework, built by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology with input from...
Tesla Secretly Uses LiDAR for Vision Training, Not Production
This is getting dunked somewhat unfairly. Tesla is using LiDAR to get training data to improve their vision-only systems. That should raise some eyebrows - LiDAR is clearly valuable in ways Elon denies. But it's not the same as using...
Dexterity Says Its Physical AI World Model ‘Unlocks Full Potential on Nvidia Hardware’
Dexterity.ai announced that its production‑proven world model, Foresight, now runs on Nvidia L4 GPUs with a 17× speedup, cutting perception cycles from 1,508 ms to 90 ms. The redesign also increased sensor data utilization from 3 percent to 100 percent, delivering 32× more information...
U.S. Army Buys 2,500 Reconnaissance Drones From Skydio
The U.S. Army awarded Skydio a contract exceeding $52 million for more than 2,500 X10D reconnaissance drones, the service’s largest single‑vendor small‑UAS purchase. The award, processed in under 72 hours through Atlantic Diving Supply, reflects a new rapid‑acquisition model for critical tech....
INTERVIEW: Armir Harris, Founder & CEO, CharterUP
CharterUP, the largest group‑transportation marketplace in North America, has teamed up with autonomous‑technology firm Holon to embed self‑driving shuttles into its AI‑enabled platform. The partnership will roll out Holon’s integrated autonomous mobility solution across campuses, airports, transit agencies and private...
Poland Marks First Flights of ZEUS Unmanned Aircraft
Poland’s Ekolot Aerospace & Defense completed the inaugural test flights of its ZEUS unmanned aircraft, demonstrating stable, autonomous operation in conventional take‑off and landing (CTOL) mode. The modular platform, developed with Spain’s UAV Navigation‑Grupo Oesía, can be reconfigured for VTOL...