Autonomy News and Headlines

Gravis Robotics' Gravis Rack Turns Conventional Machines Into Robotic Systems
NewsApr 2, 2026

Gravis Robotics' Gravis Rack Turns Conventional Machines Into Robotic Systems

Gravis Robotics’ Gravis Rack won the Contractors’ Choice award at CONEXPO‑CON/AGG 2026 and promises to turn standard earth‑moving machines into intelligent robotic equipment. The retrofit kit bundles LiDAR, cameras, GNSS and on‑board computing, delivering real‑time site mapping and augmented‑reality guidance....

By Heavy Equipment Guide
Do You Trust Me? A Framework for Making Networks of Robots and Vehicles Safer
NewsApr 2, 2026

Do You Trust Me? A Framework for Making Networks of Robots and Vehicles Safer

Harvard researchers introduced “cy‑trust,” a quantitative trust metric that lets autonomous robots and vehicles evaluate data from peers before acting. The framework assigns each data source a trust score between 0 and 1 using onboard sensors, lidar, radar and signal‑processing of...

By Tech Xplore Robotics
Terabase Energy Invests in Automation and Engineering to Streamline Solar Construction
NewsApr 2, 2026

Terabase Energy Invests in Automation and Engineering to Streamline Solar Construction

Terabase Energy’s upgraded Terafab V2 system has completed field testing and is now ready for commercial deployment, using AI‑assisted robotics to assemble and place solar panel‑tracker modules on‑site. The automated line can process assemblies in two‑minute cycles, potentially delivering 20 MW...

By PV Magazine USA
AI Models Fail at Robot Control without Human-Designed Building Blocks but Agentic Scaffolding Closes the Gap
NewsApr 2, 2026

AI Models Fail at Robot Control without Human-Designed Building Blocks but Agentic Scaffolding Closes the Gap

Researchers from Nvidia, UC Berkeley, Stanford and CMU introduced CaP‑X, an open‑access framework that evaluates how large language models control robots via self‑written code. Testing twelve frontier models—including Gemini‑3‑Pro, GPT‑5.2 and Claude Opus 4.5—across seven manipulation tasks revealed that without high‑level...

By THE DECODER
Strawberry Farming Leverages AI and Robotics
NewsApr 2, 2026

Strawberry Farming Leverages AI and Robotics

MISUMI Group has partnered with U.S. vertical‑farming specialist Oishii Farm to provide AI‑enabled robotics and mechanical components for its Ametalas indoor strawberry operation. The collaboration uses MISUMI’s extensive catalog and its Fictiv subsidiary to supply precision parts that automate climate...

By Control Design
Kardex Provides WEG with Improved Warehouse Performance and Small-Parts Inventory via AutoStore System
NewsApr 2, 2026

Kardex Provides WEG with Improved Warehouse Performance and Small-Parts Inventory via AutoStore System

Kardex installed a high‑density AutoStore automated storage and retrieval system at WEG Electric Corp’s Duluth, Georgia headquarters to address growing small‑parts inventory without expanding the building footprint. The solution includes 14,000 bins, seven R5 robots and three picking ports, all...

By Manufacturing Tomorrow
Wi-Fi That Can Withstand a Nuclear Reactor
NewsApr 2, 2026

Wi-Fi That Can Withstand a Nuclear Reactor

Researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo have demonstrated a 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi receiver that survives up to 500 kilograys of gamma radiation, a level far beyond what space‑qualified electronics can tolerate. The hardened chip, presented at ISSCC, kept functional performance with...

By IEEE Spectrum Robotics
SANY Robotics Debuts Electric Forklift Lineup at LogiMAT 2026, Secures Over 600 Orders in Europe
NewsApr 2, 2026

SANY Robotics Debuts Electric Forklift Lineup at LogiMAT 2026, Secures Over 600 Orders in Europe

SANY Robotics unveiled its full electric forklift lineup at LogiMAT 2026 in Stuttgart, marking its first European market entry. The showcase featured a three‑wheel lithium‑ion counterbalance model for narrow aisles and cold storage, plus the Blue Electric Forklift Fleet with...

By RoboticsTomorrow
Back to School: Robots Learn From Factory Workers
NewsApr 2, 2026

Back to School: Robots Learn From Factory Workers

Czech startup RoboTwin has introduced a handheld, no‑code system that lets factory workers teach industrial robots new tasks by simply demonstrating the motion. The device captures movements in about a minute and converts them into robot programs, opening automation to...

By Robohub
Autonomous AI Systems Depend on Data Governance
NewsApr 2, 2026

Autonomous AI Systems Depend on Data Governance

The focus of AI safety is shifting from model‑centric controls to the data that fuels autonomous systems. Fragmented, outdated, or ungoverned data can cause unpredictable behavior, especially in regulated or customer‑facing contexts. Denodo’s virtual data‑fabric platform unifies disparate sources, enforces...

By Artificial Intelligence News
DJI Pushes Drones Beyond Cameras with AI Competition
NewsApr 2, 2026

DJI Pushes Drones Beyond Cameras with AI Competition

DJI has launched the Enterprise Drone Onboard AI Challenge 2026, inviting developers to build AI models that run directly on its Matrice 4 drones or the Manifold 3 onboard computer. The competition, open until May 10, 2026, offers hardware bundles and public recognition for...

By DroneDJ
Quantum Frontline Industries Sends First Batch of Drones to Ukraine
PodcastApr 2, 2026

Quantum Frontline Industries Sends First Batch of Drones to Ukraine

Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI) has completed its first production run of Linza tactical drones and begun deliveries to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The drones are manufactured in Munich under a German‑Ukrainian “Build with Ukraine” co‑production model, marking the shift from...

By sUAS News
Australia Is Ramping up Its Uncrewed Surface Fleet as Sea Archer Lines up for Key Requirement
NewsApr 2, 2026

Australia Is Ramping up Its Uncrewed Surface Fleet as Sea Archer Lines up for Key Requirement

Australia is investing US$138 million to acquire 40 long‑range Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), expanding the Royal Australian Navy's fleet to 55 vessels. The Bluebottles, already operating 15 units, have collectively logged 145,828 nautical miles as of September 2025. Minister Pat Conroy...

By Shephard Media
ITS ISTANBUL: Countdown to ITS European Congress Begins
NewsApr 2, 2026

ITS ISTANBUL: Countdown to ITS European Congress Begins

The 17th ITS European Congress will convene in Istanbul from April 27‑29 at the Istanbul Congress Center, organized by ERTICO‑ITS Europe with the European Commission. More than 100 sessions span four strategic themes—safety and resilience, multimodal mobility management, smart sustainable...

By Traffic Technology Today
Flikweert Expands Capacity of Optical Sorting Robot QualityGrader
NewsApr 2, 2026

Flikweert Expands Capacity of Optical Sorting Robot QualityGrader

Flikweert Vision has upgraded its optical sorting robot QualityGrader with a second ejection unit and a wider 1.5‑metre model, enabling three‑stream sorting and higher throughput. The new version can process roughly 30 tonnes per hour, compared with the previous 1‑metre variant....

By Future Farming
Drones Using AI to Spot Explosive Dangers and Help Keep Soldiers Safe
NewsApr 2, 2026

Drones Using AI to Spot Explosive Dangers and Help Keep Soldiers Safe

The UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) completed a multi‑week trial where AI‑powered drones identified and classified replica mines for the British Army’s 33 Engineer Regiment. The system proved capable of rapid model retraining to recognise emerging threat types...

By UK Ministry of Defence (GOV.UK)
AVs vs Humans: Safety Comparisons Need a Standard
NewsApr 2, 2026

AVs vs Humans: Safety Comparisons Need a Standard

Autonomous‑vehicle firms are publishing safety data, but comparisons to human drivers lack a universal baseline. Waymo claims its driver has ten times fewer serious‑injury crashes and 88% fewer property‑damage claims than average motorists, yet the definition of an "average driver"...

By Automotive World – Autonomous Driving
World First: MACsec IP Receives ISO/PAS 8800 Certification For Automotive And Physical AI Security
NewsApr 2, 2026

World First: MACsec IP Receives ISO/PAS 8800 Certification For Automotive And Physical AI Security

Synopsys became the first company to earn ISO/PAS 8800 certification for its MACsec IP, a standard that secures Ethernet communication inside vehicles. The certification, validated by SGS TÜV Saar, confirms that the IP not only protects data integrity but also meets the...

By Semiconductor Engineering
Xer Technologies Validates 2.5-Hour Flight Endurance & 7 Kg Payload Capacity
NewsApr 2, 2026

Xer Technologies Validates 2.5-Hour Flight Endurance & 7 Kg Payload Capacity

Xer Technologies AG has validated its X8 multicopter platform, achieving 2.5 hours of continuous flight while carrying a 7 kg payload. This marks a more than two‑fold increase over the previous 3 kg capability, enabling heavier sensor suites on a single mission. The...

By Unmanned Systems Technology – News
Sonardyne Navigation Technology Chosen for ecoSUB AUV Survey Operations
NewsApr 2, 2026

Sonardyne Navigation Technology Chosen for ecoSUB AUV Survey Operations

Sonardyne’s compact SPRINT‑Nav U navigator has been selected by Njord Survey for ecoSUB’s autonomous underwater vehicles, delivering survey‑grade positioning to low‑logistics AUV platforms. The integration enables parallel operations that cut vessel dependency, logistics costs, and overall project timelines. Initial deployments...

By Unmanned Systems Technology – News
$1.2M Project to Deploy AI Robots for Road Repair
NewsApr 1, 2026

$1.2M Project to Deploy AI Robots for Road Repair

An industry‑research partnership worth $1.2 million, involving Charles Darwin University, Civiltech Solutions and the Additive Manufacturing CRC, is developing an AI‑driven robotic system to detect and repair road cracks with minimal human input. The solution integrates LiDAR scanning, artificial intelligence, robotics...

By Infrastructure Magazine
AV to Deliver ISR Services to U.S. Navy with JUMP 20-X
NewsApr 1, 2026

AV to Deliver ISR Services to U.S. Navy with JUMP 20-X

AeroVironment (AV) has been chosen by the U.S. Navy to provide Contractor‑Owned, Contractor‑Operated (COCO) ISR services using its JUMP 20‑X unmanned aircraft system. The VTOL platform delivers fully autonomous, hands‑free operation with more than 13 hours of endurance, a 115‑mile...

By Naval News
MODEX 2026: Sonair’s ADAR 3D Ultrasonic Sensor Makes Show Debut
NewsApr 1, 2026

MODEX 2026: Sonair’s ADAR 3D Ultrasonic Sensor Makes Show Debut

Sonair unveiled its ADAR 3D ultrasonic sensor at MODEX 2026, marking the first North American debut of the sound‑based perception system. The sensor, built on patented MEMS transducer arrays from Norway’s SINTEF institute, provides a full 180°×180° field of view...

By Robotics 24/7
MODEX 2026: Festo, CODI Manufacturing Showcase FlexStack Pro Palletizing Offering
NewsApr 1, 2026

MODEX 2026: Festo, CODI Manufacturing Showcase FlexStack Pro Palletizing Offering

Festo and CODI Manufacturing are debuting FlexStack Pro, a gantry‑style palletizing system, at MODEX 2026. The solution lifts 44‑ to 110‑lb boxes at 4‑10 per minute while occupying minimal floor space. It leverages Festo’s pre‑configured FPaKit “palletizer in a box”...

By Robotics 24/7
Untitled
NewsApr 1, 2026

Untitled

KEITH Manufacturing Co. will showcase its Freight Runner® Dock‑to‑Trailer system at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. The automated conveyor replaces traditional dock plates, moving pallets without personnel or forklifts entering the trailer. It can load or unload a trailer in as...

By Manufacturing Tomorrow
RoboForce Raises $52M to Scale Physical AI Robo-Labor
NewsApr 1, 2026

RoboForce Raises $52M to Scale Physical AI Robo-Labor

RoboForce announced a $52 million oversubscribed funding round, bringing its total capital to $67 million. The investment, led by YZi Labs and backed by former Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang and Nobel laureate Myron Scholes, will fund the development of its physical‑AI foundation...

By Robotics 24/7
Tekpak Automation to Showcase Pick-and-Place Robotic Cell at Interpack 2026
NewsApr 1, 2026

Tekpak Automation to Showcase Pick-and-Place Robotic Cell at Interpack 2026

Tekpak Automation will demonstrate its TD3/R Series pick‑and‑place robotic cell at interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf, offering a compact, three‑axis solution for food, beverage and pharmaceutical packaging. The system integrates with existing lines, fits tight spaces, and provides tool‑less changeovers for...

By Robotics & Automation News
Senator’s Probe Reveals Lack of Transparency in Remote Assistance Use in Self-Driving Cars
NewsApr 1, 2026

Senator’s Probe Reveals Lack of Transparency in Remote Assistance Use in Self-Driving Cars

Senator Edward Markey’s Commerce Committee report uncovers a stark lack of transparency among autonomous‑vehicle makers about their use of Remote Assistance Operators (RAOs). The investigation revealed that companies such as Waymo employ overseas RAOs, often without U.S. driver’s licenses, and...

By Carrier Management
UK Robotics Firm Auditor Raises Evidence Concerns as Losses Widen
NewsApr 1, 2026

UK Robotics Firm Auditor Raises Evidence Concerns as Losses Widen

Dexory, a UK robotics firm, posted revenue of £3.15 million ($4.0 million) for the year to March 2025, up from £615,797 the prior year, while pre‑tax losses widened to £22.5 million ($28.8 million). Auditors issued a qualification, saying they could not obtain sufficient evidence on...

By City A.M. — Economics
Xiaomi’s New Robot Hand Can Feel Pressure, Heat, and Even Sweat
NewsApr 1, 2026

Xiaomi’s New Robot Hand Can Feel Pressure, Heat, and Even Sweat

Xiaomi unveiled an upgraded CyberOne robotic hand that features full‑palm tactile sensing, artificial sweat‑gland cooling, and a 60 % smaller form factor matching human proportions. The hand can detect pressure, temperature, and slip across an 8200 mm² surface, enabling delicate manipulation such...

By eWeek
Amazon Acquires Swiss Robotics Company RIVR
NewsApr 1, 2026

Amazon Acquires Swiss Robotics Company RIVR

Amazon has completed the acquisition of Zurich‑based RIVR Technologies, a spin‑out from ETH Zurich that builds four‑legged delivery robots. The robots can navigate complex environments, climb stairs and transport payloads up to 60 kilograms, extending Amazon’s physical AI and last‑mile...

By The AI Insider
FCC Eyes Sweeping Reforms to Boost US Drone Power
NewsApr 1, 2026

FCC Eyes Sweeping Reforms to Boost US Drone Power

The FCC has issued a public notice calling for sweeping reforms to accelerate the U.S. drone ecosystem, tying the effort to the Trump administration’s “American drone dominance” strategy. Chairman Brendan Carr highlighted drone production, deployment, and export as national‑security priorities...

By DroneDJ
Researchers Build a Robotic Swarm with No Electronics, No Batteries and No Brains
NewsApr 1, 2026

Researchers Build a Robotic Swarm with No Electronics, No Batteries and No Brains

Georgia Tech researchers have created an electronic‑free robotic swarm whose behavior emerges solely from its mechanical design. Tiny particle robots latch, release and reconfigure when exposed to external vibrations, eliminating the need for sensors, processors or batteries. The system scales...

By Tech Xplore Robotics
Agile Robots Closes Acquisition of Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering
NewsApr 1, 2026

Agile Robots Closes Acquisition of Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering

Agile Robots completed the acquisition of thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering’s assets, rebranding the unit as Krause Automation. The deal gives the Munich‑based AI‑robotics firm a strong presence in Europe and North America and adds over 75 years of engineering heritage. By...

By RoboticsTomorrow
Ryder, International Launch Autonomous LT Near Laredo
NewsApr 1, 2026

Ryder, International Launch Autonomous LT Near Laredo

Ryder System and International Motors have launched a joint autonomous trucking pilot on a 600‑mile daily route between Laredo and Temple, Texas. The pilot uses a factory‑integrated International LT equipped with PlusAI’s SuperDrive Level 4 software, with a safety driver on...

By FleetOwner
Combining the Robot Operating System with LLMs for Natural-Language Control
NewsApr 1, 2026

Combining the Robot Operating System with LLMs for Natural-Language Control

Researchers from Huawei Noah's Ark Lab, TU Darmstadt and ETH Zurich unveiled an open‑source framework that fuses large language models with the Robot Operating System (ROS). The system interprets natural‑language commands and translates them into robot actions via inline code...

By Tech Xplore Robotics
The Download: Gig Workers Training Humanoids, and Better AI Benchmarks
NewsApr 1, 2026

The Download: Gig Workers Training Humanoids, and Better AI Benchmarks

Micro1 is building a global gig workforce that records everyday tasks to train humanoid robots, now operating in over 50 countries and sparking privacy and consent debates. AI researchers argue that traditional benchmarks miss real‑world performance, proposing human‑AI, context‑specific evaluations...

By MIT Technology Review
The Gig Workers Who Are Training Humanoid Robots at Home
NewsApr 1, 2026

The Gig Workers Who Are Training Humanoid Robots at Home

Micro1, a Palo Alto‑based data firm, is hiring thousands of gig workers in over 50 countries to record themselves performing everyday chores on iPhone headsets. The footage, paid at roughly $15 an hour, is sold to robotics companies developing humanoid...

By MIT Technology Review
Enabot Introduces EBO Max, an AI-Powered Family Robot Designed to Think, Learn, and Care
NewsApr 1, 2026

Enabot Introduces EBO Max, an AI-Powered Family Robot Designed to Think, Learn, and Care

Enabot unveiled EBO Max, its most advanced AI‑powered family robot. Priced at £499.99 (about $635 after a £50 discount), the device combines a new AI brain with multimodal perception, long‑term memory and 4K imaging. The mobile robot can navigate homes,...

By AiThority » Sales Enablement
New AV and Drone Safety and Traffic-Management Research in Kentucky
NewsApr 1, 2026

New AV and Drone Safety and Traffic-Management Research in Kentucky

University of Kentucky computer scientist Yang Xiao has secured a $534,264 NSF CAREER grant to develop RESONET, a framework that enables real‑time, fault‑tolerant coordination between autonomous vehicles and drones. The five‑year project focuses on preventing cascading failures caused by sensor...

By Traffic Technology Today
Relocalize to Build Fully Autonomous “Dark” Microfactory in Montréal
NewsApr 1, 2026

Relocalize to Build Fully Autonomous “Dark” Microfactory in Montréal

Montréal‑based Relocalize is set to launch its second autonomous microfactory, a fully “dark” facility that will operate without lighting or human shifts. The plant, slated for Q4 2024 near the Lachine Canal, will manufacture 100% water‑based cold packs for meal‑kit deliveries,...

By BetaKit (Canada)
How AI-Powered Echolocation Is Giving Small Drones Night Vision
NewsApr 1, 2026

How AI-Powered Echolocation Is Giving Small Drones Night Vision

Researchers have created an ultrasound‑based perception system for tiny aerial robots, mimicking bat echolocation to see in darkness. The design combines a physical acoustic shield that mutes propeller noise with a neural network named Saranga that extracts faint echo signals....

By Fast Company AI
Hover UAV – Operations Manager
PodcastApr 1, 2026

Hover UAV – Operations Manager

Hover UAV announced a newly created Operations Manager position on the Gold Coast, aimed at steering its expanding RPAS and Advanced Air Mobility services. The role will manage the Remote Operations Centre, coordinate client and internal programs, and act as...

By sUAS News
Iranian Arash 2
PodcastApr 1, 2026

Iranian Arash 2

Iran unveiled the Arash 2, a long‑range, one‑way attack drone operated by its army ground forces. The delta‑wing UAV can travel up to 2,000 km, stay aloft for 30 hours, and deliver a 150‑kg (potentially 260‑kg) warhead. Its rear‑mounted piston engine, solid‑fuel booster...

By sUAS News
California Startup Tests Caravel Unmanned Landing Craft
NewsApr 1, 2026

California Startup Tests Caravel Unmanned Landing Craft

Bulwark Dynamics, a California startup, completed the maiden unmanned resupply demonstration of its 15‑foot Caravel autonomous landing craft, moving from concept to open‑water operation in just 43 days. The vessel is engineered to deliver payloads from sea to austere coastlines...

By Defence Blog
BLOG | ‘Do You Choose 1 Giga-Tractor or 3 Smaller Autonomous Tractors?’
NewsApr 1, 2026

BLOG | ‘Do You Choose 1 Giga-Tractor or 3 Smaller Autonomous Tractors?’

John Deere unveiled the 8R 540, a 634‑hp tractor weighing 17 tonnes and priced around $674,000, signaling a push toward larger, premium equipment. In contrast, Sabanto’s retrofit system lets existing tractors run autonomously, allowing a grower to replace a 750‑hp machine with...

By Future Farming
Real Weather, Real Ops: AIRmarket Logs 178km BVLOS Flight in -12°C
PodcastApr 1, 2026

Real Weather, Real Ops: AIRmarket Logs 178km BVLOS Flight in -12°C

AIRmarket successfully flew a 178‑km beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) mission between Andrew and St. Paul, Canada, in –12 °C weather, lasting three hours. The operation used truck‑based support, live airspace awareness via remote‑traffic‑monitoring (RTM), and showcased a long‑range aircraft built for cargo delivery. Partner...

By sUAS News
Chinese Robotaxis Stall in Apparent ‘Malfunction,’ Police Say
NewsApr 1, 2026

Chinese Robotaxis Stall in Apparent ‘Malfunction,’ Police Say

Chinese internet giant Baidu’s driverless taxi service Apollo Go experienced a system malfunction that left multiple vehicles stalled on Wuhan streets. Passengers were stranded for more than half an hour while calls to customer service went unanswered. Police investigations confirmed...

By Hong Kong Free Press – News (Finance/Business coverage)
Rivian Sees “a Ton of Opportunity” In Digital Key Tech
NewsApr 1, 2026

Rivian Sees “a Ton of Opportunity” In Digital Key Tech

Rivian has migrated its proprietary digital‑key system to the Connected Car Consortium (CCC) standard, completing an 18‑month integration that culminated in a December 2025 rollout. Early user surveys show markedly higher satisfaction, positioning Rivian’s solution as a benchmark for reliability...

By Automotive World – Autonomous Driving