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.
Bioinspired Robot Eye Adjusts Its Pupil to Handle Harsh Lighting
Researchers have built a bioinspired robot eye that uses a liquid‑metal actuator to mimic the pupillary light reflex. The hemispherical sensor array provides an ultra‑wide field of view, while electrical spikes from light‑sensitive material expand or contract the artificial pupil. In bright conditions the adaptive pupil raised image‑recognition accuracy from 68.38% to 83.56%, a substantial gain over fixed apertures. The proof‑of‑concept paves the way for more resilient vision systems in autonomous cars, drones and other robots.
Mouser's Autonomous Vehicle Online Resource Center Addresses Real-World Deployment Challenges
Mouser Electronics has expanded its Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Online Resource Center to help engineers tackle real‑world deployment hurdles. The hub consolidates technical articles, eBooks and product data covering perception, deterministic networking, functional safety, cybersecurity and ethical decision‑making. It emphasizes software‑defined,...
Introducing Conveyor Connect: How Chef Robots Communicate With Different Conveyors
Chef Robotics unveiled Conveyor Connect, a capability that lets its AI‑driven Chef robots communicate directly with any type of conveyor, from continuous belts to indexing lines. The system uses a wireless Conveyor Companion Box attached to the conveyor’s VFD, providing...
NAPA Expands Use of Warehouse Robots
NAPA Auto Parts is expanding its warehouse automation by deploying over 100 AI‑powered mobile robots from Brightpick at a new distribution center. The rollout follows a 2025 pilot that demonstrated reduced picker travel time and improved order accuracy. Brightpick will...
Simulated Cats and Elephants with Touch-Based Memory Help Usher in New Age of Robotics
King’s College London researchers unveiled SimTac, a physics‑based simulator that models biomorphic tactile sensors such as cat paws and elephant trunks. By generating virtual training data, SimTac slashes the prototype development cycle from roughly eighteen months to a few weeks....
Isaac ROS 4.2 Launches with DGX Spark, Jetson Support
Our colleagues at @NVIDIARobotics have released Isaac ROS 4.2 which adds: 🤖NVIDIA DGX Spark hardware support 🤖JetPack 7.1 and Jetson T4000 support 🤖Improved visual mapping localization workflows 🤖FoundationStereo v. 2 🤖A new sim-to-real tutorial w/ a @Universal_Robot ⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/adIHQ2UADv
XPeng to Deploy Second-Generation AI-Driven Autonomous Driving System by 2027
Chinese EV maker XPeng announced its second‑generation Vision‑Language‑Action autonomous driving system, VLA 2.0, will enter global delivery in 2027, with Volkswagen as the first launch partner in China. The new architecture replaces the traditional sequential vision‑language‑action pipeline with an end‑to‑end vision‑to‑action...
New Manhattan High-Rise Looks to Pioneer Robotics-Enabled Construction
Westvue Manhattan, a 24‑story residential tower at 9th Avenue and 37th Street, is positioning itself as a technology showcase by deploying the Skyeforge Alliance—a consortium of more than a dozen robotics specialists working alongside traditional contractors. The project leverages AI‑driven...
Kaizen Aerospace and Uzbekistan Ministry of Agriculture Sign Memorandum to Advance Agricultural Drone Collaboration
Kaizen Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture and the State Scientific‑Design Institute “Oʻzdavyerloyiha” to explore UAV technologies for the country’s agricultural sector. The framework targets professional training, joint research, methodology development, and infrastructure for...
Galaxy 1 Partners with Viasat to Deliver Rapid, Scalable and Securecommunications for Uncrewed Aircraft
Galaxy 1 Communications has teamed with Viasat to extend the Velaris satellite service for uncrewed aerial vehicles and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) platforms. The partnership leverages Galaxy 1’s Distribution Partner‑as‑a‑Service (DPaaS) model, providing a managed layer that simplifies provisioning, billing,...
Roadside Radar Sensors Could Reduce Blind Spots in AV Operations
Autonomous‑vehicle safety could be boosted by mounting low‑power millimeter‑wave radar sensors on existing roadside infrastructure. The Eyedar sensor, roughly the size of an orange, uses a 3D‑printed Luneburg lens and antenna array to capture reflected radar signals that vehicle‑mounted radars...
Cybersecurity without Overengineering
Industrial cybersecurity must prioritize data integrity and deterministic operation over blanket confidentiality. Regulations such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act and IEC 62443 mandate risk‑based, proportionate measures, warning against costly overengineering. EtherCAT’s hardware‑centric design—operating at the Ethernet layer without IP—naturally limits...
Waymo Driver Excels in Snow, Focusing on Rider Experience
As the Waymo Driver demonstrates strong performance in freezing conditions this winter, we’re moving beyond core technical validation. Driving in multiple snowy cities, we are now refining the rider experience and logistics required for consistent service in snow. https://t.co/5mpmsNszpB
![[In the Picture] Ikea Rolls Out Self-Driving Delivery Vans in China](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/www.retaildetail.eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/IKEA-China-self-driving-vehicles-photo-in-text-scaled-1-scaled-1.jpeg)
[In the Picture] Ikea Rolls Out Self-Driving Delivery Vans in China
Ikea China has begun using autonomous electric delivery vans in Anhui province after a successful pilot. The vans shuttle orders between an external warehouse and the Hefei store, also restocking shelves. Over the trial they covered roughly 75,600 kilometers and...
Roush Vehicle Spotted in Mountain View
Roush’s autonomous mapping vehicle was photographed on March 2, 2026 traveling northbound on Highway 85 near the Moffett Blvd exit in Mountain View. The platform is a silver Cadillac Escalade IQ outfitted with a roof‑mounted lidar array and multiple radar sensors. The sighting was reported...
No Lidar, No HD Maps, Six Cameras, One Chip, Autobrains
Autobrains announced a strategic partnership with VinFast to develop an affordable autonomous robo‑car using a vision‑only system. The platform relies on six cameras, a single edge‑compute chip, and an agentic AI architecture that scales via modular skills. It replaces traditional...
Primoco UAV to Deliver Unmanned Aircraft to the Spanish Civil Guard Guardia Civil
Primoco UAV SE secured a €4 million contract with Spain's Guardia Civil to supply its One 150 medium‑weight UAV, marking the company's first major 2026 deal. The order follows a record 2025 where Primoco delivered 42 aircraft worth CZK 1.06 billion. To meet growing...
Corvus Robotics Deploys Autonomous Inventory System at Dermalogica Global Headquarters
Corvus Robotics has rolled out its Corvus One autonomous inventory system at Dermalogica’s global headquarters and distribution hub in Carson, California. The drone fleet conducts 52 aerial scans per year, boosting inventory imaging frequency by 600 percent while freeing roughly...
RS Aqua Announces Strategic Partnership with US -Based Seasats to Bring Autonomous Surface Vehicles to UK and Ireland Defence Market
RS Aqua has entered a strategic partnership with San Diego‑based USV developer Seasats to market its autonomous surface vehicles in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The deal gives RS Aqua exclusive representation of Seasats' Lightfish and Quickfish platforms, which combine...
Inside Waymo’s Remote Assistance Program with Dr. Missy Cummings
In this episode, Dr. Missy Cummings, a professor and former Navy fighter pilot, discusses Waymo’s remote assistance program and the broader challenges of teleoperation in autonomous vehicles. She differentiates between remote assistance—providing situational information to a vehicle—and remote driving (teleoperation),...
MVTec Presents New MERLIC Version: New Features for Easier Integration and Use of Machine Vision
MVTec Software released MERLIC 26.03 on March 26 2026, adding unlimited camera connectivity, a Frontend Observability feature, and a new Beckhoff TwinCAT ADS plug‑in. The version adopts a YY.MM naming scheme and offers two licensing packages—MERLIC and MERLIC Professional—with optional deep‑learning and custom‑tool...
AI Doubled Auto Industry Cyberattacks: Upstream
Upstream’s 2026 Global Automotive and Smart Mobility Cybersecurity Report shows that cyberattacks on the auto sector more than doubled in 2025, driven by AI‑enabled vehicle architectures and expanding API exposure. Ransomware accounted for 44% of incidents, the fastest‑growing threat, while...
Why the US Is Using a Cheap Iranian Drone Against the Country Itself
The United States has begun deploying copies of Iran’s Shahed‑136 loitering‑munition drone, a simple, motor‑bike‑engine‑powered platform that costs roughly $50,000 per unit. Despite its modest speed of 185 km/h and 15‑kg payload, the drone can strike targets up to 2,500 km away,...
Kroger Taps Inventory Drones for Cold Chain Distribution Operations
Kroger has begun using Corvus Robotics’ Corvus One drones to automate inventory scanning in its ambient and sub‑freezing distribution centers. The drones autonomously locate and scan pallets, delivering weekly, facility‑wide visibility without requiring Wi‑Fi, markers, or warehouse modifications. Capable of...
What Is a Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) and Why Do They Matter?
A software-defined vehicle (SDV) shifts core vehicle functions from hardware to software, enabling centralized computing that can be updated over‑the‑air. This architecture lets automakers add features, improve performance, and meet safety regulations long after a car leaves the showroom. Leading...
Rivian Partners with Giesecke+Devrient and AT&T for R2 Connectivity
Rivian will equip its upcoming R2 SUV with GSMA SGP.32‑enabled eSIM technology and 5G connectivity through a partnership with German security firm Giesecke+Devrient and telecom operator AT&T. The SGP.32 specification allows remote SIM provisioning, letting Rivian use a single hardware...
Aurrigo to Provide Ground Handling at EMA
Aurrigo International, a Coventry‑based developer of autonomy software and autonomous vehicles, has been granted a ground handling licence at East Midlands Airport (EMA). The licence, issued under the Airports (Ground Handling) Regulations 1997 and CAA compliance frameworks, allows Aurrigo to provide...
Skyeton Integrates Radiation Surveillance Sensors Into Raybird UAS & Expands Mission Capabilities
Skyeton has equipped its Raybird long‑endurance UAV with an internal gamma‑radiation sensor, completing rigorous trials in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The payload integration preserves aerodynamic balance and enables real‑time radiation data transmission over distances up to 2,500 km. In 2025 the...
Leonardo Awaits Next Steps for Proteus Demonstrator
Leonardo Helicopters UK has completed two short test flights of its Proteus autonomous rotary‑wing demonstrator, the final milestone of a £60 million Phase 3a RWUAS contract with the UK Ministry of Defence. The 3‑tonne, modular‑payload aircraft leveraged off‑the‑shelf components and a digital‑twin...
LYNEports, USF Partner to Advance eVTOL Route Planning and Advanced Air Mobility Research
LYNEports and the University of South Florida have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to combine the company’s AI‑driven digital planning platform with USF’s transportation research expertise. The partnership will target eVTOL route planning, network design, regulatory alignment, and infrastructure readiness...
Blue UAS List Evolves and NW Blue Is Positioned for American Drone Dominance
The Department of Defense transferred stewardship of the Blue UAS Cleared List from the Defense Innovation Unit to the Defense Contract Management Agency in 2026, turning the list into a scalable procurement marketplace. DCMA’s Special Programs Unmanned Systems‑Experimental Command now...
Optics Become AI Datacenter's New Bottleneck and Gold
- Scale out bottleneck is real - Co-packaged optics to be a “must” - NVDA pouring $$ into Lumentum/Coherent to lock down supply - Yet optical supply chain is still constrained and lumpy Photons are having their biggest moment since long-haul comms:
Uncrewed Systems in the Arctic: Security, Surveillance, and NATO's Growing Role - Federico Borsari, CEPA
In this episode, Federico Borsari of the Center for European Policy Analysis explains how uncrewed systems are becoming essential for security, surveillance, and infrastructure protection in the Arctic. He outlines the shifting NATO threat picture—driven by Russia’s expanding presence, NATO’s...
DTC Partnership to Integrate Marine Tactical Radios Into Autonomous USVs
DTC, a Codan Company, has partnered with FLANQ to embed its low‑size, weight, and power (SWaP) marine tactical radios into FLANQ’s uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for European defense operations. The integration provides encrypted, high‑bandwidth command‑and‑control links that remain resilient in...
Parallel Flight Receives FAA 44807 Exemption for Hybrid UAS
Parallel Flight Technologies secured a Federal Aviation Administration 44807 exemption, allowing its Firefly hybrid heavy‑lift unmanned aircraft system to operate commercially across the United States. The clearance opens the platform for industrial missions such as sensor integration, wildland fire management,...
Iran Deploys First Successful Kamikaze Drone Boat Attack
Iranian Kamikaze Drone Boat Makes First Successful Strike Of War Iran, a pioneer in lower-end uncrewed surface vessel technology, used at least one to attack the oil tanker MKD VYOM in the Gulf of Oman. https://t.co/YGpQWjAl2y
RoboCup 2026 Launches Unified Smart Manufacturing League
RoboCup 2026 introduces the Smart Manufacturing League (SML): a new unified league combining logistics, mobile manipulation, and intelligent industrial automation. 📝 TDP and a performance video ⏳ Deadline: March 20, 2026 🔗 https://t.co/oSq94PUdVO #RoboCup2026 #SML #Robotics https://t.co/pYWpgRMSpf
Tampa General Hospital Adopts LIBERTY Endovascular Robotic System
Tampa General Hospital has become the first health system in Florida to adopt Microbot Medical’s LIBERTY Endovascular Robotic System, following the device’s FDA 510(k) clearance. LIBERTY is a single‑use, remotely operated robot designed for peripheral endovascular procedures, promising greater precision...
Purdue Polytechnic Selected for FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative
Purdue Polytechnic’s Unmanned Aerial Systems program has been chosen for the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems‑Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS‑CTI). The selection validates the school’s safety‑focused curriculum and aligns its coursework with upcoming federal regulations. Students will receive hands‑on flight, maintenance, and...
Why TSN Is Automation’s New Baseline
Time‑sensitive networking (TSN) is emerging as the new baseline for industrial automation by delivering guaranteed, deterministic packet delivery across shared Ethernet links. Built on IEEE 802.1 standards, TSN separates high‑priority control traffic from lower‑priority data such as video, preventing network‑induced delays...
Brain-Like Chips and LIDAR Sensors May Enable Safer Human-Robot Teamwork
Fraunhofer researchers unveiled NeurOSmart, a system that fuses high‑resolution LIDAR sensing with neuromorphic AI chips to enable safe human‑robot collaboration. The LIDAR sensor uses MEMS mirrors with AlScN material to create a 3‑D view, while AI algorithms pre‑process data directly...
Tata Technologies, WHIS Partner on SDV Software Integration
Tata Technologies has teamed up with UK‑based WITTENSTEIN High Integrity Systems to embed the SAFE RTOS operating system into its software‑defined vehicle (SDV) platform. The integration positions SAFE RTOS as a core safety layer for Tata’s automotive software stack, helping OEMs and...
Smart Sprayers: How Advanced Tech Is Transforming Application Efficiency and Precision
Advanced smart sprayers are reshaping agronomy by integrating camera‑based automation, variable‑rate control, and mechanical flexibility. Case IH’s SenseApply and John Deere’s See & Spray deliver real‑time, nozzle‑by‑nozzle adjustments at speeds up to 25 mph, cutting chemical waste. New Holland’s Guardian combines live variable‑rate...
‘It’s Not Just All the Big Companies’: Warehouse Robotics Use Expands
Warehouse robotics are moving beyond Amazon and Walmart as subscription‑based models lower entry barriers. A 2025 MHI study shows robot usage in warehouses jumped to 48%, with 64% of respondents adopting robotics‑as‑a‑service (RaaS) or SaaS solutions. Mid‑size firms like Superior...
Teledyne FLIR Defense Signs Memorandum of Understanding with STORM Adapt Group at EnforceTac 2026
Teledyne FLIR Defense and Norway’s STORM Adapt Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding at EnforceTac 2026 to integrate FLIR’s SkyCarrier quadcopter and Black Recon micro‑UAS with STORM’s Rapid Adapt and Deploy System (RADS). The MoU creates a vehicle‑mounted, modular platform that...
UK Civil Aviation Authority Outlines Electronic Conspicuity Plans for Uncrewed and Crewed Aircraft
The UK Civil Aviation Authority released a Technical Concept of Operations detailing electronic conspicuity (EC) requirements for integrating BVLOS unmanned aircraft into shared airspace. Uncrewed systems must broadcast a 978 MHz ADS‑B signal and carry ADS‑B IN receivers, while crewed aircraft face...
Rokstone Launches Rokstone Velocity and Appoints Senior Casualty Specialists
Rokstone has launched Rokstone Velocity, a new division dedicated to underwriting complex casualty risks emerging from the digital economy, beginning with the U.S. market. The unit is led by Andrew Cooper, a veteran with 25 years of insurance experience, and...
AgentOps: Full Stack Needed to Scale AI Agents
AgentOps = MLOps for autonomous AI. 🧠⚙️ To scale agents in production you need the full stack: 🗺️ planning 🧠 memory/context 🤖 execution (tools/APIs/code) 📈 monitoring 🔁 optimization 🛡️ governance 🏗️ infrastructure Agents don’t scale without operations. #AgentOps #AIAgents #AgenticAI #LLMs #Automation
Thailand Adopts “Regulate First” Approach to AAM, Discusses Cooperation with Japan
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) announced a “Regulate First” strategy for Advanced Air Mobility, committing to a full regulatory framework before commercial operations begin. The move follows a high‑level meeting with Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau, where both sides examined airworthiness...
Pinkerton Takes Key HNTB Digital Infrastructure Role
Joanna M. Pinkerton has been appointed HNTB’s national practice leader for digital infrastructure solutions, a role that will guide clients in using data intelligence and advanced technologies across transportation planning, design, delivery, and operations. Pinkerton joins HNTB after serving as...