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.
Orizon Aerostructures Deploys Flexxbotics to Power Data-Driven Autonomy at Scale in Aerospace Manufacturing
Orizon Aerostructures has deployed Flexxbotics’ autonomous manufacturing platform to create a data‑driven, closed‑loop control environment across its aerospace production lines. The integration links CNC machines, FANUC robots, and enterprise PLM systems, feeding multimodal sensor streams into industrial AI for real‑time process adjustments. Reported results include a 40% reduction in rework and scrap, a 25% drop in unplanned downtime, and a 20% increase in contract capacity. The move positions Orizon to scale precision manufacturing while meeting stringent aerospace quality standards.
Humanoid Robots Master Parkour and Acquire Human-Like Agility
Researchers at Amazon Frontier AI & Robotics and UC Berkeley unveiled Perceptive Humanoid Parkour (PHP), a framework that lets the Unitree G1 humanoid robot perform dynamic parkour using onboard perception. By combining motion‑matching with a teacher‑student reinforcement‑learning pipeline, a single visuomotor...
Tata Elxsi Launches DevStudio.ai, a Multi-Agent, ASPICE-Aligned GenAI Platform to Accelerate Automotive Software Engineering
Global design firm Tata Elxsi unveiled DevStudio.ai, a generative‑AI platform built for the automotive software development lifecycle. The solution uses a multi‑agent architecture aligned with ASPICE standards and can run on cloud or air‑gapped on‑premise environments. Early deployments with OEMs...
Skyports Supports Tokyo Demonstration eVTOL Flights with Vertiport Automation System
Skyports Infrastructure supplied its Vertiport Automation System (VAS) to support SkyDrive’s eVTOL flight demonstrations in Tokyo from Feb 24‑28, 2026. The five‑day event showcased the remotely piloted SD‑05 aircraft over Tokyo Bay and featured a temporary vertiport terminal equipped with...
ANRA to Research Cooperative Separation System for eVTOls, Drones and Other Aircraft
ANRA Technologies has been awarded Task Order 1 under the FAA’s Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT) to evaluate a cooperative separation service for urban air mobility (UAM), unmanned traffic management (UTM) and traditional air traffic. The effort will integrate...
Launch of the VIGILANSEA Project: Toward Autonomous Maritime Persistence Between Surface and Aerial Systems
DIODON has launched VIGILANSEA, a three‑year France 2030‑funded programme with SeaOwl and ISAE‑SUPAERO to create a long‑endurance maritime UAV and the DIODON REEF station that autonomously launches, recovers and recharges the UAV from a USV. Building on prior NATO and Dronathlon integrations,...
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Test Autonomous Vehicle Ramp-Merging System on Tokyo Expressway
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Systems will conduct a live demonstration of an infrastructure‑based ramp‑merging support system for autonomous vehicles on Tokyo’s Metropolitan Expressway. The trial, scheduled for September to November 2026 near the Yoyogi inbound entrance, will test how roadside...
PAL Robotics Showcases TIAGo Pro at MWC Barcelona 2026
PAL Robotics used Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2026 to showcase its next‑generation mobile manipulator, TIAGo Pro. The robot’s open‑source software stack and real‑time teleoperation demo highlighted its adaptability for research and industry deployments. CEO Francesco Ferro led a round‑table on human‑robot...
Industrial IoT in Manufacturing: Driving Smart Factory Efficiency and Sustainability
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is turning smart factories from concept to reality, linking sensors, edge devices, AI analytics and cloud platforms across production lines. Real‑time data enables predictive maintenance, automated workflows and energy optimization, driving higher productivity while trimming...
How to Build Trust Into Automation at Scale
Autonomous robots are moving from pilot projects to large‑scale deployments across warehouses, retail and healthcare, turning robotics‑as‑a‑service into a core managed‑service offering. As fleets grow, each additional machine widens the attack surface, blurring IT and OT responsibilities and exposing misconfigurations,...
Robot Manufacturer Agrointelli Files for Bankruptcy
Danish robot maker Agrointelli, creator of the Robotti field robot, has filed for bankruptcy in a Danish court due to insufficient cash flow. The company announced the filing on LinkedIn and is now seeking a buyer, with a deadline of...
Videosoft Global Enters Enterprise Agreement for Fleet-Wide Video Streaming
Videosoft Global has secured an enterprise‑level agreement with Fugro to become the primary provider of real‑time video solutions across its fleet of uncrewed surface vessels and crewed ships. The contract was awarded after a competitive global tender, selecting Videosoft’s FireLight...
YellowScan Unveils NDAA-Compliant Venturer LiDAR
YellowScan introduced the Venturer LiDAR at Geo Week 2026, positioning it as an NDAA‑compliant solution for high‑precision, security‑focused surveying. The system processes all data locally via YellowScan CloudStation, eliminating cloud dependencies and ensuring full data sovereignty. It features 360‑degree adaptive...
Bio-Inspired Methods Help Guide Coordination in Underwater Robot Swarms
A new review of 446 papers from 2001‑2025 shows underwater swarm robotics gaining rapid traction. Researchers highlight bio‑inspired coordination rules—drawn from fish schools and predator‑prey dynamics—as a way to overcome the latency and bandwidth limits of acoustic communication. The study...
NDSS 2025 – On The Realism Of LiDAR Spoofing Attacks Against Autonomous Driving Vehicle
The NDSS 2025 paper presents the first large‑scale measurement of physical‑world adversarial attacks on commercial traffic‑sign recognition (TSR) systems used in autonomous vehicles. While academic attack techniques can achieve 100% success against specific commercial TSR functions, overall success rates are...
XPENG: Autonomous Driving in Crazy Traffic Conditions
XPENG unveiled a video of its new in‑house autonomous‑driving system navigating a densely packed Chinese city street. The footage demonstrates the AI’s ability to maintain situational awareness amid erratic lane changes, sudden pedestrian crossings, and unpredictable driver behavior. By showcasing...
Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.2.2.5 Might Be the Most Confusing Release Ever
Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) version 14.2.2.5 arrived on February 14 and quickly proved the most confusing update yet for a long‑time user. The release delivers mixed results: speed‑profile behavior feels steadier, yet turn‑signal logic, parking automation, and navigation remain erratic....
Example of a Pick Up / Drop Off Maneuver by Nuro-Lucid-Uber Test Vehicle
A joint demonstration in San Francisco showed a robotaxi built on Lucid’s Gravity electric‑vehicle platform, powered by Nuro’s autonomous driver software and operated by Uber. The vehicle performed a seamless pick‑up/drop‑off (PuDo) maneuver, highlighting the integration of high‑end EV hardware...
Near Earth Autonomy and Team Fly Uncrewed Logistics Black Hawks
Near Earth Autonomy, together with Honeywell, Moog and XP Services, has completed a year of integration and flight testing for the RUC‑60, an optionally crewed Black Hawk converted for autonomous logistics. The team demonstrated the first fully automated takeoff‑to‑landing flight...
Robot Learns by Real‑world Play, Not Simulation
Super awesome - instead of learning in sim, the robot *learns in real life*, moving objects like a toddler for 26+ hours. I feel for the poor Cal grad student who had to babysit this 😔 https://tether-research.github.io
MIT Breakthrough Lets Rescue Robots Map Environments Instantly
This is where #AI + #IoT + #robotics become mission-critical. Robots that understand their environment don’t just move faster, they save lives. MIT just unveiled a breakthrough that lets search-and-rescue robots rapidly map large, unpredictable spaces in real time. @MITAeroAstro @MITEngineering #CES2026 🔗...
Perspective From Zebra Technologies: Pocket Automation – the Pragmatic Path to a Resilient Supply Chain in 2026
Zebra Technologies argues that by 2026 the most effective supply‑chain upgrade will be "pocket automation"—targeted, workflow‑level upgrades rather than full‑site, lights‑out factories. The approach promises ROI within 24 months, leveraging AI‑enabled handhelds, wearables and RFID to augment frontline workers. Incremental...
Mutable Tactics Raises $2.1 Million for AI Drone Coordination in Satellite-Denied Environments
Mutable Tactics, a British AI startup, secured $2.1 million in pre‑seed funding to build software that lets swarms of military drones operate autonomously when satellite navigation and communications are unavailable. The round was led by Seraphim Space, with participation from the...
Warthog: A Rugged Platform for Industrial Automation
The Warthog UGV is a rugged, all‑terrain unmanned ground vehicle built for industrial automation and research, offering a 272 kg payload, 18 km/h top speed, and IP65‑rated steel/aluminum construction. It comes with ROS 2 preinstalled, a Gazebo simulation model, and flexible power outputs...
Labor Advocates Try to Put the Brakes on Unregulated, Self-Driving Waymo Cars
Minnesota labor advocates are urging state lawmakers to halt the deployment of Waymo’s autonomous vehicles until clear safety and regulatory frameworks are established. Waymo currently operates driver‑assisted cars in Minneapolis to map streets, while the state lacks specific autonomous‑vehicle legislation....
Celebrating 11 Years of SegNet with SoftBank Support
11 years since I knocked on your door @vijaycivs and we built SegNet 🚀 Thanks to @SoftBank_Group who tell the full story here.
Sony to Showcase Advanced Drone Imaging and Sensor Technologies at Amsterdam Drone Week 2026
Sony will exhibit at Amsterdam Drone Week 2026, showcasing its imaging and sensor portfolio for commercial drones. The lineup includes the full‑frame ILX‑LR1 camera, Alpha series cameras, the FCB‑ER9500 4K/60 block camera, and the AS‑DT1 miniature LiDAR sensor. Sony also...
EPropelled Announces Largest Expansion of Motor Controllers (ESCs) and Intelligent Power Systems, Strengthening Electronic Propulsion Leadership
ePropelled announced its largest expansion of electronic control technologies, adding new motor controllers (ESCs) and Intelligent Power Systems (iPS) for aerial, ground and marine platforms. The upgraded ESCs feature advanced algorithms, real‑time diagnostics and networked data services that boost torque...
Hitachi Rail to Deliver Driverless Trains and Signalling for Turin Metro Line 2
Hitachi Rail has secured a €481.6 million contract to supply rolling stock and a Communications‑Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system for Turin Metro Line 2. The deal covers a €388.5 million base segment from Rebaudengo to Porta Nuova, with an optional €93.1 million extension to...
Kongsberg Maritime, Seadrill, Hanwha Drilling to Develop Remote Dynamic Positioning Technology
Kongsberg Maritime, Seadrill and Hanwha Drilling have formed a strategic alliance to create next‑generation remote Dynamic Positioning (DP) technology for offshore rigs. The partnership will blend Kongsberg’s automation and communications platforms with Seadrill’s and Hanwha’s operational expertise. It aims to...
Samsara Uses AI to Help City Fleets Clear Snow After Storms
Syracuse, the nation’s snowiest city, has cut snow‑removal complaint calls by 30% after deploying Samsara’s AI‑enhanced GPS and dash‑cam system. The platform provides real‑time vehicle locations and video, feeding a public map that refreshes every five minutes and helps dispatch...
Simbe Becomes First Retail Robotics Company to Achieve UL 3300 Certification for Autonomous Robot Tally
Simbe announced that its autonomous shelf‑scanning robot Tally has earned UL 3300 certification, making it the first retail robotics company to achieve the standard. The certification validates Tally’s mechanical, electrical and software safety after passing more than 40 rigorous tests for...
Why Even the Most Automated Factories Still Need the Human Touch
The article examines the rise of "lights‑out" or dark‑factory manufacturing, where robotics, AI, and machine‑vision enable production with minimal human presence. While high‑volume, low‑variability lines—such as Chinese EV plants—show impressive productivity gains, the piece warns that full automation falters in...
Cyngn Deploys DriveMod Tugger at WEG Electric Motor Facility
Cyngn announced a commercial contract to install its DriveMod Tugger at WEG’s electric‑motor plant in Bluffton, Indiana. The autonomous tugger will move up to 60 pallets of components daily, replacing single‑pallet forklift runs. By handling predictable transport, the system frees forklift...
Sunseeker Launches New Self-Driving-Level Robot Mower
Sunseeker Robotics is set to launch the S4 robotic mower on March 3, 2026, a wire‑free system that uses LiDAR and AI‑vision to autonomously tend residential lawns up to 1,000 square meters. The mower maps terrain in real time, avoids...
Torc Robotics Takes Autonomous Trucks Into Michigan’s Snow and Ice
Torc Robotics is extending its autonomous‑truck program to Michigan, testing the latest Freightliner Cascadia‑based chassis on snow, ice and rain‑slicked roads. The initiative marks a strategic shift from the Sun Belt corridors that dominate the industry, allowing Torc to validate...
IAI and TKMS Deliver BlueWhale AUV to the German Navy
Israel Aerospace Industries and Germany’s TKMS handed over the BlueWhale autonomous underwater vehicle to the German Navy, marking a milestone in the Marine 2035+ modernization. The 11‑12 meter AUV can operate for weeks without crew, carrying a telescoping mast with radar and...
Bank of America Upgrades Tesla, Calls It the Clear Leader in Autonomous Driving
Bank of America reinstated coverage of Tesla with a buy rating and a $460 price target, implying about 17% upside. The analyst highlighted Tesla’s camera‑only autonomous driving stack as a cost‑effective edge over LiDAR‑based rivals. Robotaxi services, already operating in...
Intertraffic 2026: Asura Powers Predictive Mobility Transformation
At Intertraffic 2026, Asura Technologies highlighted its AI‑driven platform that enables predictive, automated mobility management. The company showcased how real‑time video analytics and camera‑agnostic software are being rolled out across more than 500 U.S. parking sites and hundreds of highway...
Tata Motors, Stellantis Explore Hybrids, Lightweight Tech Under MoU – Report
India’s Tata Motors and Stellantis have signed a memorandum of understanding to broaden their existing partnership into hybrid powertrains and lightweight engineering. The MoU targets development of engines and hybrid systems that meet the upcoming CAFE Phase III fuel‑efficiency standards, with...
Ampere and Basquevolt Partner to Develop New Battery Tech
Ampere, Renault Group's EV and software arm, has signed a Joint Development Agreement with Basquevolt to fast‑track lithium‑metal battery technology for future electric vehicles. The partnership leverages Basquevolt's polymer‑electrolyte cells, which promise a substantial jump in energy density, lighter packs,...
ARIA Sensing and Algorized Partner on AI UWB Radar
ARIA Sensing has partnered with Algorized to launch an AI‑driven ultra‑wideband radar platform, beginning with an in‑cabin child presence detection system for automotive OEMs and Tier‑1 suppliers. The solution merges ARIA’s HYDROGEN 4×4 UWB radar SoC—featuring 3‑D sensing, digital beamforming...
Hyundai Mobis Showcases Next-Gen Systems at Its Winter Testing Ground
Hyundai Mobis is hosting a ten‑day technology showcase at its Arjeplog, Sweden winter testing ground, marking the site’s 20th anniversary. More than 100 engineers and purchasing managers from ten European and North American customers will evaluate demo vehicles equipped with upcoming...
Renesas Launches RH850/U2C Automotive Controller
Renesas Electronics introduced the RH850/U2C, a 32‑bit automotive microcontroller built on a 28 nm process. The MCU features four cores running up to 320 MHz, including dual lockstep cores, and offers up to 8 MB of on‑chip flash. It supports Ethernet TSN, CAN‑XL,...
Autolane and Hevo Partner on AV Wireless Charging
Autolane and Hevo have announced a partnership to embed wireless charging into autonomous vehicle (AV) fleets, with commercial trials slated for 2026. The collaboration merges Autolane’s curbside operating system, which coordinates pickups, deliveries and rideshare, with Hevo’s wireless charging hardware...
ANELLO Photonics & Mythos AI Partner to Secure GPS-Denied Maritime Navigation
ANELLO Photonics and Mythos AI announced a strategic partnership to deliver a plug‑and‑play maritime navigation system that operates without GPS. The solution merges ANELLO’s silicon‑photonic optical gyroscope (SiPhOG) inertial sensor with Mythos AI’s autonomous decision‑making software, creating an open‑systems INS...
Requesting Human Driver Intersection Metrics for Comparison
Now calculate this across human drivers during same period. Would also love to see metrics for human drivers going through intersections. Perhaps @GetNexar wants to share insights…
Hardware for Humanoid Robots: New Perspectives for Industrial Value Creation in Europe
Humanoid robots are emerging as a high‑growth market that could outpace the automotive sector, especially in Europe where manufacturers are seeking new value streams. A Fraunhofer‑IPA and P3 white paper reveals a fragmented hardware landscape lacking standardized architectures, with key...
Multi-Scale Embodied
We made a memory system for our models at PI. We call it Multi-Scale Embodied Memory (MEM). It provides both short-term and long-term memory to enable very long tasks. We tested it on cleaning a kitchen (and yes, washing dishes),...
Zio to Use NEO Battery Cells in Mobile Robots
Zio Robot Co. announced it will replace its Chinese‑sourced batteries with high‑energy lithium‑ion cells from Canada’s NEO Battery Materials for its Mobile Worker (MW) autonomous mobile robots. The partnership aims to boost energy density, high‑rate discharge capability, and overall robot...