CiDi 2025 Report Brings Insights Into Mining Truck Autonomy Growth & Challenges
CiDi Inc., a Hong Kong‑listed autonomous haulage system (AHS) player, posted 2025 revenue of roughly US$124 million, up 115% from the prior year, while gross profit rose to about US$26.5 million. Despite the top‑line surge, the firm recorded a larger net loss, driven by higher share‑based compensation, selling expenses and credit impairments. The company delivered 630 autonomous mining trucks in 2025—a 317% year‑on‑year jump—bringing its cumulative deployments past 1,500 units and 16 million kilometres of driverless operation. CiDi also expanded internationally, supplying all‑electric trucks to Taiwan Cement and forging strategic ties with major Chinese mining groups.
Hydrogen-Fueled AUV Breaks Range Expectations with 2,000-Kilometer Subsea Run
Cellula Robotics’ hydrogen‑fuel‑cell‑powered Envoy autonomous underwater vehicle completed a 2,023‑kilometer submerged mission lasting 385 hours, surpassing its original performance specifications. The AUV executed more than 4,000 turns, mimicking real‑world subsea operations and demonstrating higher energy consumption than straight‑line travel. Developed...
China Plans to Invest Billions on a Robot Army to Run Its Power Grid
China's State Grid Corporation has earmarked 6.8 billion yuan (about $1 billion) for AI‑enabled robots in 2026, targeting the purchase of roughly 8,500 units. The rollout will feature 5,000 robot dogs for remote substation and line inspections, plus humanoid and dual‑arm robots...
SkyDrive and West Nippon Expressway Form AAM Partnership
SkyDrive Inc. has partnered with West Nippon Expressway Company (NEXCO West) to explore commercial eVTOL services using the expressway’s parking and service areas as vertiport sites. The collaboration will assess feasibility of turning these waystations into air‑mobility hubs, supporting SkyDrive’s...
Office of Naval Research Leaders Talk Future of Autonomy and Unmanned Innovation at Panel Discussion
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) highlighted its legacy in autonomous maritime systems—from REMUS and swarmboats to Sea Hunter—during a panel at the Sea‑Air‑Space Expo. Chief of Naval Research Dr. Rachel Riley emphasized a shift toward faster testing, streamlined software...
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IN PICTURES: Humanoid Half Marathon in Beijing, and More From Around the World
On April 19, Beijing hosted the world’s largest humanoid robot half‑marathon, lining up more than 100 robots from 76 Chinese research institutions alongside 12,000 human runners. The 21‑kilometre race featured a unique “human‑robot co‑running” format, with robots navigating separate lanes....
Tianjin Meiteng Puts Five XRT Ore Sorters Into Operation for Tajik-China Mining
In March 2026 Tianjin Meiteng Technology completed the trial launch of five XRT ore‑sorting systems for Tajik‑China Mining, the largest lead producer in Asia. The XRT units achieved a 14.83% waste rejection rate while keeping lead‑zinc tailings at roughly 0.4%...
ABS Signs Pact with Fleet Robotics on Maritime Robotics
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Fleet Robotics have signed a memorandum of understanding at Singapore Maritime Week to develop autonomous robotic systems for hull cleaning and inspection. The partnership will assess robot suitability, validate sensor data and imagery,...
ABS Signs Pact with Fleet Robotics on Maritime Robotics
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Fleet Robotics have signed a memorandum of understanding at Singapore Maritime Week to develop autonomous robotic systems for hull cleaning and inspection. The partnership will assess robot suitability, validate sensor data and imagery,...
Tesla Continues to Promise FSD China Approval, Despite Delays
Tesla continues to promise Full Self‑Driving (FSD) approval in China, yet regulatory clearance remains elusive. Despite building a Shanghai data centre, a Baidu mapping partnership and a domestic AI training hub, the system is limited to a Level‑2 “Intelligent Assisted...
After Call From Beijing, China's Auto Industry Races to Embed AI in Just About Everything
China’s auto sector is accelerating a new wave of disruption by embedding artificial intelligence into every facet of its electric vehicles. The government’s AI‑Plus five‑year plan pushes domestic chip and software development to reduce reliance on U.S. semiconductors. Leading makers...
UAE Targets Agentic AI to Power Half of Government Operations
The United Arab Emirates announced a plan to shift half of its government services to agentic artificial intelligence within two years, redefining public‑sector operations from digitisation to autonomous execution. The strategy builds on existing digital identity, smart‑service platforms and sovereign...
Pentagon Wants Miniature Deep-Ocean Drones
DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office launched the Deep Thoughts program, a 24‑month solicitation for autonomous underwater vehicles that can reach full‑ocean depth. The hardware‑centric effort requires functional prototypes, not studies, with abstracts due May 21, 2026 and an estimated start in November...
Star Robotics Unveils New Security Robot with Improved Autonomy and Navigation
Star Robotics introduced Watchbot 2, an upgraded autonomous security robot designed for continuous surveillance in demanding environments. The new model offers up to 16 hours of operation daily, thanks to a battery that doubles the capacity of its predecessor, and can...
Kollmorgen Launches Layout Analysis Tool to Improve Mobile Robot Performance
Kollmorgen unveiled the NDC Layout Assistant, a software tool that evaluates and optimizes routes for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in factories and warehouses. By breaking down routes into smaller sections, the assistant highlights travel‑time, speed...
Autonomous Material Handling Stack Links Thoro and Orbbec
Thoro unveiled CoreFlex, a modular autonomy platform that pairs its software stack with Orbbec’s Gemini 336 3‑D cameras, enabling plug‑and‑play automation across pallet trucks, tuggers and other industrial vehicles. The infrastructure‑free system promises to cut integration cycles by using a...
Kraken Robotics Secures $28M in Orders for SeaPower Batteries & SAS Technology
Kraken Robotics announced roughly $28 million in new contracts for its SeaPower pressure‑tolerant batteries and Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) technology. The orders include battery deals with three large international defense firms and a SAS purchase from a commercial uncrewed underwater vehicle...
China’s Zoomlion Debuts New Robot Operating System at Hannover Messe 2026
Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology unveiled Robot Ops, an embodied‑intelligence operating system, at Hannover Messe 2026 in Germany. The platform merges DevOps, DataOps and AgentOps into a single lifecycle solution that spans data collection, model training, simulation, deployment and...
RoboDK CAM Solution Cuts Robotic Machining Deployment Times
RoboDK launched RoboDK CAM, a software that auto‑generates robot code from CAD designs, cutting robotic machining deployment from days to minutes and reducing testing time by up to 40%. The solution offers both a standalone interface and integrated add‑ins for...
Birdon America and Mythos AI Jointly Pursuing U.S. Navy MUSV Opportunities
Birdon America and Mythos AI signed a memorandum of understanding at Sea‑Air‑Space 2026 to develop medium unmanned surface vessels (MUSVs) for the U.S. Navy. Birdon will provide maritime platform, integration and program execution expertise, while Mythos AI will supply autonomous navigation,...
Coast Guard Launches RAS PEO to Unify Uncrewed Systems
The U.S. Coast Guard has created the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Program Executive Office (RAS PEO) to centralize management of unmanned air, surface, underwater and space assets. The new office replaces fragmented, siloed structures with a unified portfolio that mirrors...
Peak Technologies, Jacobi Robotics Partner to Deliver Next-Gen Mixed-Case Palletizing Automation
Peak Technologies has partnered with Jacobi Robotics to launch an AI‑driven mixed‑case palletizing solution built around Jacobi’s OmniPalletizer. The turnkey system removes the need for upstream buffering, sorting and sequencing, promising faster deployment and minimal workflow disruption. Leveraging real‑time motion...
Humble Emerges With $24M Seed Round
San Francisco‑based startup Humble has emerged from stealth with a fully autonomous, electric Class 8 hauler designed for cost‑efficient freight transport. The company announced a $24 million seed round, led by Eclipse and joined by Energy Impact Partners and other investors. Humble’s...
Researchers Develop Navigation System for Underground Rescue Teams
A consortium led by TU Graz unveiled NIKE MATE, a navigation system that fuses robot‑collected sensor data with a self‑built ultra‑wideband (UWB) network to map underground rescue sites in real time. The system creates a dynamic map and provides sub‑meter positioning for...
Port Authority and Skyports Drone Services to Commence Yearlong Cargo Drone Trial Flights Between Manhattan and Brooklyn
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and UK‑based Skyports will launch a 12‑month cargo‑drone trial on April 27, flying small uncrewed aircraft between Downtown Manhattan and the Brooklyn Marine Terminal on weekdays. The FAA‑approved flights will transport light, non‑hazardous...
U.S. Marine Corps Just Tested a Self-Driving Artillery Platform
Overland AI integrated its OverDrive autonomy stack and SPARK sensor kit onto the Marine Corps ROGUE Fires platform, completing a multi‑hour, fully autonomous demonstration in April 2026. The unmanned ground vehicle navigated mixed, GPS‑denied terrain without human input and performed manned‑unmanned...
AWS Bets on Frontier Agents as the Next Era of Enterprise AI
AWS unveiled its "frontier agents" strategy at the London Summit, positioning autonomous AI systems as a new class capable of completing complex, multi‑day tasks without human oversight. The company highlighted Kiro, an agentic development platform that writes code from natural‑language...
An AI Agent Just Designed a Complete RISC-V CPU From Scratch in 12 Hours
Verkor.io’s agentic AI system, Design Conductor, generated a complete RISC‑V CPU core—named VerCore—in just 12 hours, moving from a 219‑word specification to a GDSII layout ready for fabrication. The five‑stage, in‑order design runs at 1.48 GHz and achieved a CoreMark score...
Tiny, Knotted Robots Jump, Fly and Plant Seeds
Researchers at Penn Engineering have created millimeter‑scale soft robots that store elastic energy in a Kevlar‑core, liquid‑crystal‑elastomer fiber and release it by heating. When the knot in the fiber unties at 60‑90 °C, the robot can leap up to two meters,...
Allient Inc. Publishes New Whitepaper on Motor Selection for Humanoid Robotics Systems
Allient Inc. released a whitepaper titled “A Selection Guide to Motors for Humanoid Robotics Systems.” The guide examines actuator technologies—frameless, slotless, geared, and direct‑drive—and evaluates torque density, inertia, response, and thermal constraints for humanoid joints. It aims to help engineers...
CVPR 2026 Showcases How AI Is Powering the Next Era of Robotics Innovation
The 2026 Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition conference in Denver will spotlight AI‑driven robotics breakthroughs, featuring an Embodied AI workshop and the ManipArena manipulation challenge. More than 75% of the expo floor will be occupied by leading AI and robotics...
Sandvik DR410i Rotary Drill Rig to Feature in ‘Autonomy-First Operation at Mariana Minerals’ Copper One
Sandvik Mining has delivered a DR410i rotary drill rig, pre‑configured for autonomous operation, to Mariana Minerals’ Copper One mine in Utah. The rig is being commissioned under Sandvik’s AutoMine® Surface Drilling system and will be linked to Mariana’s in‑house MarianaOS...
HPH Trust Announces Launch of Hong Kong’s First Autonomous Truck Fleet
Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPH Trust) has launched Hong Kong’s first autonomous, zero‑emission truck fleet to move containers across its terminals. The AI‑powered trucks are built without driver cabs and can run in a mixed‑traffic “true” mode alongside conventional vehicles,...
Huawei Commits $2.6B to Smart Driving R&D
Huawei announced a $2.6 billion investment in global smart‑driving research and development, with $1.4 billion earmarked for AI training compute power. The company aims to raise total autonomous‑technology spending to $10‑11 billion over the next five years. At a pre‑show event, Huawei displayed...
Schaeffler Agrees Partnership with Hexagon Robotics to Develop Humanoid Robotics
Schaeffler has entered a strategic technology partnership with Swiss‑based Hexagon Robotics to develop humanoid robots for industrial use. The collaboration focuses on supplying Schaeffler’s award‑winning strain‑wave and planetary‑gear actuators for key robot joints. Schaeffler plans to integrate at least 1,000...
NATO DIANA’s Rapid Adoption Service Enables First R&D Contract Between Allies and Industry
NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) has awarded its first R&D contract on behalf of an Ally, Canada’s Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), to UK‑based undersea robotics firm HonuWorx. The contract tasks HonuWorx with extending the operating depth of its...
Yutori Launches Delegate to Turn AI Agents Into Proactive Web Workers
Yutori Inc. unveiled Delegate, an always‑on AI agent that autonomously handles web‑based knowledge‑work for users. Leveraging the earlier Scout web‑crawling agents and the Navigator computer‑vision agent, Delegate can organize tasks, schedule calendar events, and execute actions through the Yutori Local...
Invariant Successfully Demonstrates Counter-Drone Capability From USV
Invariant Corporation’s Surface-to-Air Kinetic Engagement (STAKE) system was successfully integrated onto Textron Systems’ TSUNAMI unmanned surface vessel and completed early‑integration testing at Lake Guntersville. The demonstration proved the system’s ability to autonomously detect, track and kinetically engage aerial drones from...
Keep Autonomy Alive: As GNSS Disruptions Rise, a Shift in How Autonomy Is Evaluated Is Underway
infiniDome warns that growing GNSS jamming and spoofing are turning navigation reliability into a primary constraint for autonomous systems. At XPONENTIAL USA 2026 the company unveiled Aura, a compact software‑defined anti‑jamming module, and IroNav, a layered solution that fuses vision‑based...
China’s Xpeng Expects to Start Delivering ‘Flying’ Cars in 2027
Xpeng, a Chinese electric‑vehicle maker, said it will begin large‑scale production of its “flying” cars in 2027 and start limited humanoid‑robot deliveries by Q4 2026. The firm has secured over 7,000 pre‑orders, mainly from China, and is seeking aviation approval. It...
DJI Launches New Lito Budget Drones, US Misses Out
DJI unveiled two budget‑friendly camera drones, the Lito 1 and Lito X1, aimed at first‑time pilots and creators. Both models pack 48 MP sensors, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and up to 36 minutes of flight time, with the X1 adding LiDAR and 10‑bit D‑Log M....
Flytrex and Little Caesars Partner to Deliver Full Family Meals by Drone
Flytrex has teamed with Little Caesars to launch drone delivery of full family meals using its new Sky2 platform. The octocopter can lift up to 8.8 lb, allowing two large pizzas, sides and drinks to be delivered in an average of 4.5 minutes...
Investors Fret Over Tesla’s $25 Billion A.I. Bet
Tesla posted better‑than‑expected earnings and positive free cash flow, but CFO Vaibhav Taneja warned that the company will spend about $25 billion on capital expenditures this year. The outlay targets artificial intelligence, humanoid robots and related technologies, and is expected to...
Fujitsu and Carnegie Mellon University Launch Joint Center for Physical AI
Fujitsu and Carnegie Mellon University have launched a joint Physical AI Research Center to accelerate AI deployment in real‑world settings such as manufacturing, logistics and healthcare. The center will combine CMU’s Robotics Innovation Center resources with Fujitsu’s engineering teams to...
The Best Robotic Pool Cleaners of 2026: Beatbot, iGarden, Dreame
WIRED’s 2026 roundup names Beatbot’s AquaSense 2 Ultra as the top robotic pool cleaner, praised for AI‑driven debris detection, six‑hour battery life, and surface‑skimming capability, albeit at a near‑$3,000 price tag. iGarden’s M1‑100 earns the best‑battery‑life award with a 12,500 mAh pack delivering...
Sony AI Builds Table Tennis Robot that Beats Elite Players
Sony AI unveiled Project Ace, an autonomous table‑tennis robot that has defeated elite and professional players in competitive matches, a milestone published in *Nature*. The system leverages nine high‑speed APS cameras, event‑based vision sensors, and a model‑free reinforcement‑learning controller to...
How Autonomous Treasury Fixes Slow Cash Checks
Corporate treasurers are moving from batch‑mode cash forecasts to an autonomous treasury model that combines real‑time cash positioning with AI‑driven, rule‑based fund movements. The transition hinges on three pillars: instantaneous balance visibility, just‑in‑time payments across instant and traditional rails, and...
Why Wall Street Is Betting On Tesla's AI Future
Wall Street analysts now view Tesla primarily as an artificial‑intelligence powerhouse rather than a traditional automaker. The company’s Q1 report showed revenue of $22.71 billion, a 16% YoY rise, while earnings per share beat at $0.41. Growth drivers highlighted include a...
MAN Teams up with Adastec to Launch Automated Lion’s City E Pilot in Munich
MAN Truck & Bus has equipped a Lion’s City 12 E electric bus with Adastec’s Level 4 automated‑driving system, marking a shift from its earlier Mobileye partnership. The bus features a comprehensive sensor suite—five LiDARs, six radars, eight cameras and GNSS—and is undergoing on‑site...
Hexagon, Schaeffler Expand AEON Robot Partnership
Hexagon Robotics and Schaeffler have expanded their strategic partnership to scale the AEON humanoid robot across global factories. After a successful joint pilot in 2025, Schaeffler plans to deploy at least 1,000 AEON units by 2032, using its high‑precision actuators....