MAMO Strikes Preliminary AV, Robotics Deal with China’s AIBO
Massimo Group’s MAMO has signed a preliminary framework with Shenzhen‑based AIBO Robotics to explore deploying intelligent service robots in commercial and retail settings across the United States and China. The partnership also looks at AI‑driven upgrades for MAMO’s existing golf‑cart and utility‑vehicle platforms, including semi‑autonomous navigation and remote monitoring. The deal remains a framework, with pricing, deployment schedules and revenue‑sharing still to be negotiated, and no guaranteed orders are implied. MAMO will leverage its US‑based assembly capacity to localise AIBO’s technology for both markets.
WISPR Systems’ SkyScout 2+ Earns Blue UAS ApprovalValidates Platform for Federal and Public Safety Deployment
WISPR Systems announced that its SkyScout 2+ unmanned aircraft system has been placed on the Defense Contract Management Agency’s Blue UAS Cleared List. The approval confirms the platform’s compliance with stringent cybersecurity, supply‑chain, and operational integrity standards required for federal and...
Tech Life
BBC's Tech Life aired a 26‑minute episode on April 14, 2026, exploring research aimed at improving communication between driverless cars and other road users. Presenter Chris Vallance tested a virtual autonomous vehicle at a pedestrian crossing, exposing how current signaling...
Tech Life
Chris Vallance investigates new research aimed at enabling driverless cars to communicate more effectively with pedestrians and other road users. The study showcases a virtual autonomous vehicle interacting at a busy pedestrian crossing, highlighting real‑time sensor data and V2X (vehicle‑to‑everything)...
KEENON Robotics Showcased Autonomous Cleaning Innovation at Interclean Amsterdam 2026
KEENON Robotics unveiled its autonomous cleaning fleet at Interclean Amsterdam 2026, targeting facility‑management firms grappling with labor shortages and rising operational complexity. The showcase highlighted AI‑driven Patrol Inspection, which lets robots detect debris, switch cleaning modes and reroute in real...
Onward Robotics Showcases Innovative Fulfillment Orchestration Platform With Live Demonstrations at MODEX 2026
Onward Robotics unveiled its Pyxis Suite fulfillment orchestration platform and next‑generation Lumabot autonomous mobile robots at MODEX 2026. The live demo highlighted Meet Me, a person‑to‑goods system that synchronizes workers, robots, and workflows in real time via Pyxis Conductor and wearable Pyxis...
Beumer Group Highlights Scalable Sortation Strategies
MIT researchers led by Dr. Miguel Rodríguez García released new findings on the vulnerabilities of highly automated warehouses. The study highlights cyberattacks and power or network outages as the two most critical threats, citing a 24‑hour blackout in Spain and a...
Navy Doubles Down on Drone Fire
The Royal Australian Navy has formalized its autonomous maritime program by establishing the Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit (MASU) under Project SEA 1200. MASU will transition experimental unmanned vessels, such as Anduril’s Ghost Shark extra‑large autonomous under‑sea vehicle, into operational service. The...
Germany to Manufacture Ukrainian Reconnaissance Drones in Major Defence Collaboration
Germany announced a joint venture with Ukrainian UAV maker TAF Industries to manufacture reconnaissance drones at German facilities. The partnership, between German aviation firm Wingcopter and TAF, stems from a February memorandum under the “Build with Ukraine” framework. The initiative...
Tesla Gamifies The Advanced Driver-Assistance Software It Wrongly Calls 'Full Self-Driving'
Tesla introduced a dedicated Full Self‑Driving (FSD) app for vehicles equipped with the A14 chip, offering streamlined subscription management and usage statistics. The app adds a streak‑tracking feature that gamifies the activation of Tesla’s Level 2+ driver‑assistance system, encouraging more frequent...
Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind Teach Spot to Reason
Boston Dynamics announced that its Spot robot now runs Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics‑ER 1.6, a high‑level embodied reasoning model. The AI upgrade lets Spot autonomously read gauges, spot spills, and perform inspection tasks in industrial settings. Gemini adds vision‑only success...
The Saros 20 Is a Predictably Accomplished Addition to Roborock's Robot Vacuum Lineup, Delivering All-Round Cleaning Excellence
Roborock unveiled the Saros 20, a premium robot vacuum priced at $1,599.99, featuring the new AdaptiLift 3.0 chassis that lifts the unit over tall thresholds and hovers on thick carpets. The unit pairs with the RockDock, a self‑servicing base that empties the...
What Is Warehouse Collaboration? How Human-Robot Automation Improves Efficiency, Safety & Scalability
Warehouse collaboration pairs human workers, robots, and AI‑driven systems to meet soaring e‑commerce demand, fluctuating order volumes, and tighter service‑level agreements. The article argues that the next wave of automation must be adaptable, focusing on cooperative designs rather than isolated...
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NOBLELIFT unveiled NobleOne, the material‑handling industry’s first fully integrated AI forklift platform, at MODEX 2026. The system pairs AI‑driven operator coaching, advanced driver‑assist safety, and direct control of autonomous mobile robots with Gather AI’s MHE Vision camera that records every pallet move...
Tesla Gains First European Approval for 'Full Self-Driving' Mode
Tesla has secured the first European approval for its Full Self‑Driving (Supervised) system, granted by the Dutch regulator RWD. The Dutch version requires owners to pass a safety quiz and replaces the U.S. “Sloth‑to‑Mad Max” speed profiles with a single...
Ukraine Captures a Russian Position Using only Drones and Ground Robots
Ukraine announced the first capture of a Russian position achieved solely with drones and ground robots, marking a historic shift in combat tactics. The operation involved systems such as Ratel, TerMIT and others, completing over 22,000 missions in early 2026....
Future-Proofing Mining
A new webinar highlights how private 5G networks are powering autonomous mining equipment such as trucks, loaders, and drills. The session showcases real‑world deployments that boost operational efficiency while improving worker safety. By delivering low‑latency, high‑capacity connectivity underground, private 5G enables real‑time...
Toyota Unveils Basketball-Shooting Robot With Vision Tech
Toyota’s Frontier Research Center unveiled CUE7, a humanoid basketball‑shooting robot that combines AI vision, reinforcement learning and model predictive control to lock onto the hoop and execute repeatable three‑point shots. The new unit is 74 kg, a 46 kg reduction from its...
Quantum WIY Industries and Quantum Tencore Industries to Strengthen Air Defence and Ground Systems
Quantum Systems announced two new joint ventures under its “Build with Ukraine” programme: Quantum WIY Industries (QWI) to boost Ukrainian air‑defence with interceptor drones, and Quantum Tencore Industries (QTI) to scale unmanned ground‑system production. Both ventures partner with Ukrainian firms...
Europe Ramps up Autonomous Warfare Capabilities with German–Ukrainian Drone Production Pact
Germany and Ukraine have signed a cooperation agreement that enables the Auterion‑Airlogix joint venture to begin large‑scale production of thousands of mid‑range, heavy AI‑guided autonomous strike drones in Germany. The deal fulfills a February 2026 Munich Security Conference pledge and becomes...
Japan Moves to Institutionalize Drone Warfare as Manpower Shortfalls Deepen
Japan’s Ground Self‑Defense Force inaugurated two new offices – the Unmanned Defense Capability Promotion Office and the Unmanned Systems Office – to institutionalize drone and broader unmanned warfare. Though staffed by only 13 personnel, the offices will shape concepts, R&D,...
Gemini Robotics ER-1.6 Enhances Reasoning to Help Robots Navigate Real-World Tasks.
Google DeepMind unveiled Gemini Robotics‑ER 1.6, an upgraded reasoning‑first model designed to give robots human‑like spatial awareness. The new version boosts spatial logic and multi‑view perception, adding precise task planning, success detection, and a novel instrument‑reading capability for gauges and...
Tesla Adds ‘Streaks,’ Other Stats to Track How Often Drivers Use Full Self-Driving Software
Tesla unveiled a revamped self‑driving app that lets owners subscribe to Full Self‑Driving (FSD) with a single tap and view detailed usage statistics, including multi‑day streaks and bar‑chart mileage data. The new interface is limited to vehicles equipped with the...
MIT Underwater Robot Teaming Targets Cable Inspection
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is developing a human‑machine system that teams divers with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to inspect subsea power and telecom cables. The AUV maps the cable, pinpoints likely faults and guides the diver to the exact location, combining...
Thoro Unveils New Autonomous Solution Powered by Orbbec, Driving Scalable Material Handling Innovation
At MODEX 2026, automation specialist Thoro introduced CoreFlex, a modular, infrastructure‑free autonomy stack that can power a variety of industrial vehicles. The solution relies on Orbbec’s Gemini 336 stereo 3D camera to deliver high‑precision depth perception, robust obstacle detection, and reliable performance...
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Tennant Company announced a three‑year exclusivity extension with AI specialist Brain Corp, accelerating its robotic floor‑care roadmap. The partnership will deliver ten new autonomous cleaning products over the next 24 months and streamline the buying process with an integrated solution....
How Xiaomi's Dark Factory Robots Can Pump Out A Phone In Mere Seconds
Xiaomi launched a fully automated "dark factory" in Changping, China, capable of producing 10 million flagship smartphones a year. The plant runs at about one device every 3.15 seconds, achieving 81% automation across 11 production lines and costing roughly $330 million. Xiaomi...
FMD’s Vestdavit Unveils New AutoHook LARS Interface
Fairbanks Morse Defense’s Vestdavit division unveiled AutoHook, a fully autonomous launch and recovery system (LARS) for unmanned surface vehicles. The compact, clamp‑on davit operates without human intervention and has demonstrated operational acceptance through Sea State 4, surpassing the typical Sea...
From Automation to Autonomy: SUPCON to Showcase Next-Generation Technologies Empowering Autonomous Operating Plants at Hannover Messe 2026
SUPCON, a leading industrial automation and AI provider, will unveil a suite of next‑generation technologies at Hannover Messe 2026 aimed at converting traditional plants into autonomous operating facilities. The showcase centers on six pillars, including a software‑defined Universal Control System,...
Hesai Powers Safety-Certified AI Autonomy for Smart Logistics with 3D Lidar at MODEX 2026
Hesai Technology showcased its JT128 mini 3D lidar at MODEX 2026, announcing a partnership with Pittsburgh‑based Thoro.ai to power the latter’s safety‑certified AI autonomy platform for industrial robots. The JT128’s compact 30 mm height and ultra‑hemispherical 360°×187° field of view will...
Humanoid Robot Hype Meets an 88% Household Task Fail Rate
Stanford’s 2026 AI Index reveals that top humanoid robots achieve an 89.4% success rate on the controlled RLBench benchmark but only 12.4% on the real‑world BEHAVIOR‑1K household suite, indicating an 88% overall failure rate in home tasks. Safety testing on...
Royal Australian Navy Names Autonomous Systems Unit
The Royal Australian Navy has officially stood up the Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit (MASU) under Project SEA 1200 to field uncrewed platforms such as the Ghost Shark XL‑AUV, Bluebottle USV and Speartooth LUUV. The first Ghost Shark was delivered in January 2026, marking the start...
UK Government Accelerates Autonomous Vehicle Development Funding
The UK government has allocated £150 million (about $190 million) to the CAM Pathfinder programme, funding eight feasibility studies that explore autonomous‑vehicle applications across buses, taxis, freight, airports, hospitals and dedicated corridors. The initiative is part of a broader industrial strategy that...
Deadline to Submit Innovative Commercial UAV Product Is Fast Approaching
Commercial UAV Expo’s Innovation Spotlight is accepting product nominations until April 17, offering drone firms a free platform to display cutting‑edge hardware, software, or services. Accepted entries will appear in a dedicated gallery viewed by more than 28,000 Commercial UAV News...
Autonomous Trucking Is Fragmenting Into Distinct Market Entry Models
Autonomous trucking is no longer a single, all‑encompassing goal; it is splitting into distinct entry models that target specific freight segments. Long‑haul players such as Aurora, Kodiak and Torc are concentrating on defined highway corridors, while middle‑mile firms like Gatik...
Commentary: Am I the only One Who Hates Delivery Robots?
Glendale, California has imposed a temporary moratorium on autonomous delivery robots while city officials draft safety regulations. The pause follows similar bans in Chicago, Toronto and San Francisco and reflects growing public frustration with sidewalk congestion and accessibility hazards. Companies...
Norwegian Authority Approves Driverless Karsan E-Atak Operation without Safety Driver
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has authorized Vy and Kolumbus to run Karsan e‑ATAK autonomous buses on regular Stavanger routes without a safety driver. The vehicles use ADASTEC’s autonomous software and Applied Autonomy’s xFlow fleet‑management platform for remote supervision. This...
Robots Captured Russian Army Positions for First Time in History, Zelenskyy Says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a Russian position was seized solely with ground robotic systems and unmanned aerial vehicles. The operation, conducted without infantry, resulted in no Ukrainian casualties as the enemy surrendered. Zelenskyy highlighted that in the first...
Drones Instead of Apache Helicopters. Japan Chooses UAVs
Japan announced a phased retirement of its AH‑64D Apache and AH‑1S Cobra attack helicopters, replacing them with a dedicated fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles by 2032. The 2026 defense budget allocates about $69.7 million for five wide‑area UAVs, marking the first...
How Are UAV Systems Used in Defence Operations?
Unmanned aerial vehicles are now central to modern defence operations, delivering real‑time intelligence, surveillance and strike coordination while reducing personnel risk. Fixed‑wing, multirotor and hybrid VTOL platforms each address specific mission profiles, from long‑range area coverage to rapid, confined‑space inspections....
Red Cat & HADDY Accelerate USV Production Through Robotic 3D Printing
Red Cat Holdings’ maritime unit, Blue Ops, has partnered with HADDY to embed large‑scale robotic 3D printing into its USV production line in Valdosta, Georgia. The AI‑driven robotic systems are expected to double output of the company’s 5‑meter and 7‑meter...
Aurora Flight Sciences Supports Wisk Gen 6 First Flight with Engineering Expertise
Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing subsidiary, supplied engineering expertise for the first flight of Wisk’s Generation 6 autonomous air‑taxi. The test demonstrated vertical takeoff, hover, and controlled maneuvers, marking a key step toward FAA certification of the world’s first all‑electric, four‑seat...
Humanoid Robotics Sector Accelerates on Multiple Commercialization Fronts in March
March marked a decisive push toward mass production in the humanoid robotics sector. Tesla announced low‑volume Optimus Gen 3 output this summer with a full‑scale ramp by 2027, while UBTECH partnered with Siemens to reach 10,000 industrial units annually by 2026....
Kelluu Raises €15m to Secure Europe’s Skies with Autonomous Airships
Finnish autonomous‑airship startup Kelluu raised €15 million ($16.3 million) in a Series A round led by the NATO Innovation Fund, its first Finnish investment. The company operates the world’s largest fleet of hydrogen‑powered, unmanned airships that can stay aloft for more than 12 hours...
The End of Programming? Natural Language Interfaces in Industrial Robotics
Researchers from Huawei Noah’s Ark Lab, Technical University of Darmstadt, and ETH Zurich have introduced a framework that integrates large language models with the Robot Operating System, enabling robots to understand and act on natural‑language commands. The system translates spoken...
MODEX 2026: Locus Robotics Launches Locus Array
Locus Robotics unveiled Locus Array at MODEX 2026, a fully autonomous fulfillment system that merges mobile robots, an integrated picking arm, and AI‑driven perception. Early adopters such as DHL Supply Chain report up to 90% labor reduction and 24/7 high‑density...
In Conversation: Xiaomi on Its Shift to the XLA Cognitive Model in Assisted Driving
Xiaomi has unveiled its third‑generation assisted‑driving system, the XLA cognitive large model, marking a shift from rule‑based and data‑driven approaches to AI‑driven cognition. The multimodal XLA model integrates vision, audio, radar and navigation, and leverages Xiaomi’s proprietary MiMo‑Embodied foundation model...
Tesla Launches Spring Update 2026 with ‘Hey Grok,’ New Self-Driving App, and More
Tesla’s Spring Update 2026 introduces a redesigned Self‑Driving subscription app with a $99.99‑per‑month one‑tap sign‑up, the voice‑activated “Hey Grok” assistant, and an auto‑install option for overnight software updates. The rollout also adds playful touches like a Cyberhog character in Pet Mode, custom...
Aether Aerospace – Software Engineer
Aether Aerospace, a South Wales‑based developer of defence‑focused drones, is recruiting software engineers. The roles offer £30,000‑£50,000 (≈ $38,000‑$64,000) annually, a profit‑share incentive and flexible remote work with occasional field travel. Engineers will tackle the full technology stack—from user‑facing applications to...
Raedbots Launches as Egypt’s First Industrial Robotics Manufacturer
Raedbots launched in Cairo as Egypt’s first locally designed and manufactured industrial robotics company. Founded in 2026 by Mohamed Ibrahim and Hamza El‑Sahiti, it builds AI‑powered robotic arms for welding, material handling and warehouse automation entirely in‑house. The startup is...