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.
Ghost Robotics: Innovating for Safety
In this episode, Gavin Kenneally, CEO and co‑founder of Ghost Robotics, walks listeners through the company’s evolution from a startup to a leader in legged robotics, highlighting how four‑legged platforms outperform wheeled robots on rough terrain. He explains the critical role of customer feedback in shaping rugged, military‑grade robots and outlines future directions, including the development of two‑armed robotic systems. Kenneally also reflects on how global events have accelerated innovation, underscoring Ghost Robotics’ mission to keep humans out of dangerous situations.
Hong Kong: PolyU Advances Intelligent Transport Solutions
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University secured HK$18.6 million from the Smart Traffic Fund to launch three AI‑driven transport projects. One develops an end‑to‑end intelligent driving system for logistics using multi‑modal sensor fusion and a 360° bird’s‑eye view framework. A second creates...
National Guard Team Clinches Award for Clawed Drone at Army Competition
The Pennsylvania National Guard’s 28th Infantry Division won the Best Innovation award at the Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition for Project RED, a system that locates, identifies, and retrieves downed drones using AI and a robotic claw. The solution employs...
Humanoid Home Robots Are on the Market—But Do We Really Want Them?
Norwegian‑US startup 1X launched Neo, a $20,000 consumer‑ready humanoid robot that can fold laundry and load dishwashers, but it relies on remote operators wearing VR headsets to handle complex tasks. The robot records video of its actions for future AI...
Stellantis Takes $26B Write-Down over EVs, Sells Stake in Battery JV for $100
Stellantis announced a €22.2 billion ($26 billion) write‑down tied to its electric‑vehicle strategy and sold its 49 % stake in the NextStar Energy battery JV to LG Energy Solution for a nominal $100. The charge reflects cancelled EV platforms, supply‑chain resizing and quality‑related...
New Waymo Robotaxi Now Running Fully Autonomously on U.S. Roads
Waymo announced that its sixth‑generation Waymo Driver is now operating fully autonomously on U.S. public roads, deployed in the new Ojai robotaxi built on Geely’s Zeekr Mix. The fleet, which previously relied on Jaguar I‑Pace conversions, will soon include Hyundai Ioniq 5...
CharterUP Partners with Holon to Deliver Scalable Autonomous Mobility Solutions
CharterUP has teamed up with Holon to fuse Holon’s autonomous vehicle ecosystem with CharterUP’s AI‑first mobility platform and nationwide network. The deal enables CharterUP to roll out Holon’s self‑driving shuttles across campuses, airports, transit agencies and community settings. By offering...
Video: Caterpillar Demos In-Cab AI Voice Assistant on Excavator
Caterpillar showcased its Intelligent Cab Assistant, an AI‑driven voice interface installed in an excavator, allowing operators to query controls, retrieve manuals, monitor machine health, and order parts hands‑free. The system can set safety ceilings, warn of overhead obstacles, and provide...
When It Comes to Drones, the Pentagon Should Mind the Experience Gap
The article argues that the Pentagon’s biggest hurdle with drones is technology adoption, not a lack of options, and stresses the need for experienced defense partners to field reliable unmanned systems. It highlights that trust, scalability, and maintainability hinge on...
The World’s Largest Lithium Metal Maker Is Now Producing Semi-Solid-State EV Batteries
Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest lithium‑metal producer, has begun mass‑producing semi‑solid‑state batteries with energy densities ranging from 400 to 650 Wh/kg. The company secured supply agreements with major OEMs including Tesla, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and BMW for lithium hydroxide and other battery...
EV Batteries Improve as Auto Tech Deals Surge
EV batteries are lasting longer, & some are safer; Qualcomm-Tata alliance; SDV deal; Ford’s UEV; auto chip deal; return of diesel and V8; Uber charger incentives; CAN attacks; radar for low power; please shut your Waymo door... https://t.co/fOi9eLKBwv #automotive #SDVs #EVs #AVs
Humanoid Robots that 'Catch Themselves' Instead of Falling: What a New Walking Algorithm Changes
Georgia Tech researchers unveiled a real‑time planning and control framework that lets bipedal robots recover from instability without human input. Implemented on the Cassie robot, the algorithm uses signal‑temporal‑logic‑guided model predictive control to adjust upcoming steps when perturbations are detected....
Telemeter Launches 3D Printable Electromagnetic Absorber Filament for Automotive Radar
Telemeter Electronic introduced a 1.75 mm FFF filament engineered to absorb electromagnetic energy in the 76‑81 GHz automotive radar band and broader 50‑100 GHz millimeter‑wave spectrum. The PLA‑based material prints on standard desktop printers using typical PLA temperatures, yet its dielectric loss enables...
A3 Presents ‘Age of Automation,’ Global Film Series Produced by BBC StoryWorks
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) launched “Age of Automation,” a global film series produced by BBC StoryWorks that showcases how automation is reshaping industries and daily life. The series combines short films and articles that highlight real‑world applications in...
Around the Commercial Drone Industry: Training Schools, New NPRM Comments, El Paso Airport Closure
A new UAS training centre at West Wales Airport aims to certify over 120 drone operators in 2026, offering hands‑on and simulator instruction for both line‑of‑sight and BVLOS flights. The FAA briefly reopened comments on its Part 108 BVLOS NPRM, drawing...
How Part 108 Could Shape Global BVLOS Regulation
The FAA is finalizing Part 108, a performance‑based rule that will govern beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) drone operations. Unlike Part 107’s waiver‑heavy approach, Part 108 offers a scalable certification model focused on safety outcomes such as detect‑and‑avoid, airworthiness, and uncrewed traffic management. Because the United...
Robot Talk Episode 145 – Robotics and Automation in Manufacturing, with Agata Suwala
Technology manager Agata Suwala at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is steering advanced robotics projects that modernise aerospace production lines. Her team integrates automation to replace labour‑intensive steps, cutting cycle times and error rates. The latest initiative targets a circular‑economy...
A Concept of Operations for Achieving a Navy Fleet of 500 Ships
Captain George Galdorisi outlines the U.S. Navy’s ambition to field a 500‑ship “hybrid fleet” of 350 crewed vessels and 150 large uncrewed maritime vessels (USVs), emphasizing the need for a concrete concept‑of‑operations (CONOPS) to satisfy congressional requirements. He details ongoing...
Nauticus Robotics, Inc. Announces Major Leadership Enhancements, Aquanaut Manufacturing Expansion, and Accelerated Growth Strategy
Nauticus Robotics announced a suite of senior appointments, including Dr. Kjerstin Easton as Vice President of Software, Chuck Claunch as Chief Software Architect, and Jason Close as Vice President of Growth & Go‑to‑Market. The leadership overhaul coincides with Master Investment...
Pella Workers Talk to Machines, Errors Plummet
Window and door maker Pella has deployed a proprietary voice‑activated connected‑worker platform built on Honeywell software. The system guides operators through tasks, slashing error rates and shortening the time needed to reach full productivity. By standardizing on a scalable solution...
Brazil Imposes Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Steel
Brazil’s foreign trade committee approved five‑year anti‑dumping duties on a wide range of Chinese steel products after a 2024 investigation revealed pricing below market levels. The duties range from US$323 to US$670 per ton for cold‑rolled coil and US$285 to...
Altomaxx RPAS Specialist – UAS/RPAS Pilot (Calgary AB)
Altomaxx Technologies, a Canadian drone‑service leader, is hiring experienced UAS/RPAS pilots for its Calgary field‑operations team. The role supports oil‑and‑gas inspections, ground‑penetrating radar, bathymetry, and confined‑space surveys across domestic and international projects. Candidates must hold a Transport Canada RPAS Pilot...
Embention Named in Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Spain for Sustained Growth
Embention, a developer of UAV autopilots and high‑reliability avionics, has been named to Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 Spain, recognizing four years of strong revenue growth. The accolade underscores the company’s certified avionics for UAVs and eVTOL platforms, built to DO‑160,...
Dosenbach-Ochsner Installs More than 100 Exotec Skypod Robots to Modernize Swiss Warehouse
Dosenbach‑Ochsner, part of the Deichmann Group, has gone live with Exotec’s Skypod robotic system at its Luterbach warehouse, deploying over 100 autonomous picking robots. The robots now service roughly 174,000 storage locations, handling both picking and packing operations. Flexibility and...
Kodiak AI Adds Haas Alert’s ‘Safety Cloud’ to Its Autonomous Trucking Solution
Kodiak AI has integrated Haas Alert’s Safety Cloud digital‑alert platform into its autonomous trucking solution, enabling real‑time safety notifications to nearby drivers via cellular networks. The alerts, displayed on infotainment screens, Waze, Apple Maps and OEM‑compatible systems, have been shown...
US Air Force Proves AI Wingmen Can Fly Across Rival Platforms
The U.S. Air Force has taken ownership of the Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A‑GRA) and applied it to multiple aircraft, proving AI wingmen can operate on rival platforms such as the YFQ‑42 and YFQ‑44. By decoupling software from any single...
Texas AG Ken Paxton Sues Anzu Robotics Over Alleged DJI Rebranding Scheme
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Anzu Robotics, alleging the company sells rebranded DJI drones while concealing their Chinese origin and data‑security risks. The complaint claims Anzu acts as a passthrough to bypass federal and state bans...
Should Utilities Invest in Larger Scale, Larger UAS Operations? ….maybe
Utilities are moving beyond pilot‑scale drone programs to enterprise‑level unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that can inspect transmission lines, manage vegetation, and support emergency response. The core question now is whether to invest in larger UAS—platforms over 55 lb that operate outside...
Governor Kelly Announces $3M to Develop Unmanned Aerial Systems Technology for Agricultural Research
Governor Laura Kelly announced a $3 million state grant to Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems for developing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) unmanned aerial systems aimed at Kansas agriculture. The funding, approved during the 2025 legislative session, builds on the state’s...
Michigan State University Scientists Use AI to Grow Gigantic Diamond Worth Trillions in Lab
Michigan State University, partnered with Fraunhofer USA, received a $3 million NSF grant to use artificial intelligence for growing high‑quality laboratory diamonds via microwave plasma. By analyzing hyperspectral and infrared images, AI models aim to predict and prevent defects during layer‑by‑layer...
Tesla Launches $60k AWD Cybertruck, Reverses $15k Cyberbeast Price Hike
Tesla announced a $60,000 base all‑wheel‑drive Cybertruck and cut the top‑end Cyberbeast price to $100,000, down $15,000. The price adjustments come as the model is selling roughly 5,000 units per quarter, far below the original target of 250,000 annual deliveries....
Wales Becomes UK Launchpad for Next Generation Autonomous Technology
The UK government has signed a £50 million Wales Defence Growth Deal to make Wales the launchpad for autonomous defence technology. The agreement expands MOD test ranges, opens air corridors, and gives Welsh SMEs direct access to secure contracts. A new...
Northrop, Brazil’s Embraer Partner on KC-390 to Pitch US, Others
Northrop Grumman and Brazil’s Embraer have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly market the KC‑390 Millennium with an autonomous boom refueling system for the U.S. Air Force and allied forces. Northrop will study integrating a retrofittable boom and other...
Kollmorgen Introduces AKME Series Servo Motors for Hazardous Locations
Electromate has launched the Kollmorgen AKME Series Servo Motors, specifically engineered for hazardous environments with Zone 2 and Zone 22 certification. The new line spans IEC frame sizes 2 through 7, operates from 48 Vdc to 400 Vac, and reaches speeds up to 5,000 rpm...
AI Disruption Fear Might Strike Auto Insurers Next. Two Stocks Are in the Crosshairs
Artificial intelligence and the rise of autonomous vehicles are expected to cap the personal auto‑insurance market at roughly $560 billion by 2040, after which it could shrink about 4 % per year. Self‑driving cars are projected to cut accident rates by 75‑90 %,...
UK Heavy Goods Vehicle Sales Dipped in 2025; ZEVs at 1.4% Share
UK heavy goods vehicle registrations fell 10% in 2025, with 40,504 new trucks added, marking a contraction across every quarter. The decline was most pronounced in box vans (-28.1%) and curtain‑sided trucks (-26.2%), while tractor units slipped 4.4% but rebounded...
GXO Closes Out Record-Setting Revenue Year
GXO Logistics reported record revenue of $13.2 billion for 2025, a 13% increase year‑over‑year, with Q4 sales climbing 7.9% to $3.51 billion. Net income fell to $36 million for the full year, while quarterly profit was $43 million, reflecting higher investment in growth initiatives....
#357: Why AV's Need Real World Data W/Nexar's Zach Greenberger
In episode #357, Alex Roy, Kirsten, and Ed sit down with Nexar CEO Zach Greenberger to discuss why autonomous vehicles (AVs) require massive real‑world driving data to train and validate their systems. Greenberger explains how Nexar has built one of...
BAE Systems Signs Framework Deal for Logistics Drone Expansion
BAE Systems FalconWorks and SURVICE Engineering have signed a framework agreement to co‑develop uncrewed air system technologies, extending the partnership that began with the T‑150 logistics drone (fielded as the TRV‑150). The deal broadens collaboration into small and tactical UAS...
Yokogawa, ANYbotics Integrate OpreXTM Robot Management Core Software Into ANYmal Inspection Robots
Yokogawa Electric and Swiss robot maker ANYbotics announced that Yokogawa’s OpreX™ Robot Management Core software will be embedded in ANYbotics’ ANYmal inspection robot family, including the upcoming explosion‑proof ANYmal X slated for a 2026 launch. The integration links robot fleets...
Humanoid Robot Performs Real-Time Parkour via Perception
Not a preplanned motion sequence. A robot deciding mid-jump what to do next. [📍 paper + demo] Researchers just showed a humanoid doing real parkour using only onboard perception. No motion script, no fixed obstacle layout. The system is called...
From Software to Robots: Making Automation Affordable and Deployable
🎙️ Evan Beard is the co-founder and CEO of Standard Bots , building AI-trained industrial robot arms designed to automate real factory work, not demos: In this episode, Evan shares a founder path that started in software startups and Y...
Integrated Safety Vs. Standalone Safety Controllers
Integrated safety controllers using industrial Ethernet dominate complex automation, offering reduced wiring, scalable diagnostics, and deterministic communication. However, standalone safety controllers remain preferable for simple machines, multi‑vendor environments, and retrofit projects due to their independence and ease of validation. Dedicated...
Self‑Driving Cars Restore Mobility to Millions with Disabilities
The positive externalities that @waymo and autonomous vehicle provide: • 15M adults over age 80 in U.S. • 7M people with low vision/vision loss • 3M people with active epilepsy • 1M with loss of driving privileges Tens of million regain agency. https://t.co/defb5IWGPR
Real‑World Data Powers Autonomous Vehicles, Says Nexar CEO
Nexar CEO Zach Greenberger joins Alex, Kirsten and Ed to explain why AVs need real world data, how Nexar built one of the world’s largest driving datasets, the Uber Labs announcement, and much, much more. Also, the hosts critique each other’s...
Archer Chooses Bristol as Its UK Engineering Hub
Archer announced that Bristol will host its new UK Engineering Hub, a centre designed to accelerate both commercial eVTOL and defence programmes. The company has already received hundreds of applications and begun hiring engineers to tap the city’s deep aerospace...
MCNEX and Valens Unveil QHD Automotive Cameras Using VA7000 Chipsets
South Korean module maker MCNEX and Valens Semiconductor have launched a new family of automotive front‑ and rear‑view cameras that deliver quad‑high‑definition (QHD) video using Valens’ VA7000 A‑PHY chipsets. The cameras transmit high‑resolution video over unshielded twisted‑pair (UTP) or low‑cost...
The Principle of Distinction in the Autonomous Age | Texas National Security Review
The Texas National Security Review podcast features Nathan Wood discussing how the principle of distinction must evolve for autonomous warfare. Wood argues that debate should shift from abstract concerns to the legal and operational specifics of existing systems, ensuring human...
High-Precision Combustion Analysis & DAQ Solutions for UAV Engines
DC Inc. has joined Unmanned Systems Technology’s supplier network, offering its Plex PCA‑2000Plus combustion analysis and data‑acquisition system for UAV internal‑combustion and hybrid engines. The portable, IP67‑rated unit delivers cycle‑by‑cycle, per‑cylinder data across up to 16 high‑speed analog channels and integrates...
Lockheed Martin Rapidly Developed Lamprey Drone, New Variants on the Way
Lockheed Martin unveiled the Lamprey multi‑mission autonomous undersea vehicle, a UUV developed in just 14 months and showcased at WEST 2026. The drone can attach to submarines, ships, or the seabed using suction cups, allowing it to hitch rides and...