Revolutionising Autonomous Airfreight Through Smart Ground Integration
Grasshopper Air Mobility is developing the GH e350, an autonomous heavy‑cargo drone that can transport palletised loads up to 350 kg and dock directly with warehouse charging and loading stations. The platform consolidates multiple logistics hand‑offs into a single, standardized transfer, allowing a single operator to oversee dozens of drones and potentially replace 5‑20% of conventional ground fleets. Early pilots target time‑critical B2B shipments such as pharmaceuticals and just‑in‑time manufacturing parts across 200‑km electric and 600‑km hybrid‑hydrogen ranges. The company aims for a commercial launch by 2028 after completing a seed round, certification work, and pilot projects in less‑dense industrial corridors.
Ned Marine Launches Drone and Subsea ROV Inspection Services
Ned Marine, a Dutch non‑destructive testing specialist, has introduced combined aerial drone and subsea ROV inspection services for vessels, offshore installations, and industrial assets. The offering merges visual and ultrasonic NDT techniques with robotics, enabling faster surveys of confined spaces,...
SAM Act Aims to Clear Path for Autonomous Public Transit in the US
Representative Kevin Kiley introduced the Shared Autonomous Mobility (SAM) Act (H.R. 8692) to modernize federal regulations and funding for autonomous buses. The bill amends five grant programs to allow software licensing costs, permits early grant funding during testing, mandates DOT...
FCC’s DJI, Autel Ban Ignores How Drones Actually Work
The FCC is moving toward broad restrictions on foreign‑made drones, targeting DJI and Autel, while thousands continue to operate daily. The Drone Service Provider’s Alliance, representing over 33,000 U.S. pilots, argues the agency’s approach is inconsistent, urging a risk‑based framework...
RCT – Powered by Epiroc AutoNav Lite Solution Improving Stabilisation, Remediation Activities at Gold Mine
RCT – Powered by Epiroc quickly deployed AutoNav Lite semi‑automation on two Caterpillar D10 dozers at a northern Canada gold mine, enabling remote operation for stabilisation and remediation. The project moved from approval to commissioning faster than typical automation cycles....
Robinson Unmanned Supports U.S. Marine Corps MARV-EL Program with Sikorsky
Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky has secured a $15.5 million contract from the U.S. Marine Corps for the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle‑Expeditionary Logistics (MARV‑EL) Increment 2 program, centered on the R66 TURBINETRUCK autonomous cargo helicopter developed with Robinson Unmanned. The R66 combines Sikorsky’s MATRIX...
Reliable Robotics Advances Safety-Critical UAS Datalinks
Reliable Robotics is field‑testing its C2 Link System, a safety‑critical datalink that lets uncrewed aircraft operate under Instrument Flight Rules within the National Airspace System. The hardware leverages Iridium and Viasat satellite terminals and uAvionix air‑to‑ground links, eliminating the need...
Will Investors Embrace China’s Humanoid Robot Champion?
Chinese humanoid‑robot maker UBTech, the sector’s de‑facto champion, is preparing a high‑profile public listing as investors weigh the firm’s rapid product rollout against lingering regulatory risk. The company recently secured a $200 million Series C round, valuing it near $1 billion, and is...
Malaysia Targeting Level 3 Autonomous Driving by 2030, Industry Should Prepare – Deputy MITI Minister
Malaysia’s deputy MITI minister announced a national goal to achieve Level 3 autonomous driving capability by 2030. The Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) will spearhead the initiative, urging manufacturers to shift focus from conventional vehicles to autonomous technologies. The...
Papa Johns & Little Caesars Launch Drone Delivery Service and One Will Get You Pizza in Minutes
Papa John’s and Little Caesars have entered the drone‑delivery arena, with Little Caesars offering pizza deliveries in about four and a half minutes in Wylie, Texas, via Flytrex. Papa John’s partnered with Wing to deliver toasted sandwiches in Charlotte, North Carolina, rather than pizza....
Robots for America Launches National Coalition to Advance U.S. Robotics Deployment Policy
Robots for America (RFA) unveiled a national coalition of 21 robotics firms on May 8, 2026, at the SCSP AI+ Expo in Washington, D.C., responding to a direct request from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Commerce, SBA and...
China Wants More Robots but Not Fewer Workers
China is accelerating robot adoption while pledging to keep workers employed, promoting a human‑first automation model. Recent policy papers stress that robots should handle repetitive tasks, freeing humans for supervision, maintenance, and data analysis. The city of Qingdao serves as...
Case Study: Developing a Sales Strategy with an AMR ROI Model
A robotics software vendor built a financial ROI model for a 100‑robot factory, showing that increasing AMR speed from 0.6 m/s to 1.4 m/s could lift daily profit by roughly $92,000. The model, costing $3,500 per robot annually, delivered a payback period...
Telia Lets 5G Fly on Kelluu Airship
Finnish airship operator Kelluu, in partnership with Telia, demonstrated secure 5G connectivity from a hydrogen‑powered airship using a Nokia Kolibri small‑cell on the 3.5 GHz band. The low‑altitude platform, operating between 120 m and 1,000 m, can cover up to 30,000 km² with five...
U.S. Army Receives Hunter WOLF Unmanned Ground Vehicles at Fort Polk
The U.S. Army’s 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Polk has taken delivery of HDT Robotics’ Hunter WOLF unmanned ground vehicles under the Ground Optionally Autonomous Transport (GOAT) program. A week‑long Operator New Equipment Training will certify soldiers to...
A Ukrainian Arms Maker Was Surprised to See Russian Soldiers Surrender to Its War Robots
Ukrainian defense firm DevDroid revealed that its unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) have forced Russian soldiers to surrender, a development that surprised the company’s R&D director. Video evidence shows the TW‑7.62 robot capturing three troops in January, highlighting the growing role...
How to Teach the Same Skill to Different Robots
Researchers at EPFL’s LASA lab introduced a control framework called Kinematic Intelligence that translates a single human‑demonstrated task into a robot‑agnostic movement strategy. The system mathematically abstracts the motion and then tailors it to the joint limits of any robot,...
Why Wire-Free Robotic Lawn Mowers Are Becoming the Industry Standard?
The robotic lawn mower market is moving away from boundary‑wire systems toward fully autonomous, boundary‑free models. Manufacturers are embedding RTK centimeter‑level positioning, AI visual recognition, SLAM mapping and multi‑sensor fusion to deliver plug‑and‑play deployment. This technology eliminates costly wire installation,...
Papa Johns, Wing Launch Drone Delivery Pilot in North Carolina
Papa Johns and Wing, an Alphabet-owned drone service, have launched a pilot delivering toasted sandwiches by drone in Charlotte, North Carolina. The program, operating from Indian Trail, offers three sandwich varieties through the Wing app and will later integrate directly...
Are Smart Driving Companies Heading for a “Physical AI” Reckoning?
Zhuoyu Technology, a DJI spinoff, introduced a native multimodal foundation model for mobile physical AI at the Beijing Auto Show. The company is moving beyond traditional hardware‑sales and development fees, adopting token‑based subscriptions and profit‑sharing for Level 4 autonomous‑driving services such...
Clearing the Skies: How China’s Capital Is Paving the Way for a £217bn Low-Altitude Economy
On May 1 2026 Beijing instituted a sweeping drone control regime that bans the sale, shipment, and transport of unmanned aerial vehicles within the municipality. Retailers, including DJI flagship stores, cleared inventories while online platforms such as Taobao and JD.com halted all...
Aeva Adopts Cadence Tensilica Vision DSP to Advance Lidar Performance and Efficiency
Cadence announced that Aeva has licensed its Tensilica Vision DSP IP to boost processing in its 4D LiDAR systems. The programmable, low‑power DSP will enable flexible, scalable solutions for industrial robotics and automotive autonomy, reducing latency and power consumption. The...
AgroDrone Europe Deploys Industrial-Scale Robotic Shading to Mitigate Structural Risks and Maximize Greenhouse ROI Across Germany and Poland
AgroDrone Europe is rolling out a Drone‑as‑a‑Service platform that uses DJI Agras T50 drones equipped with centimeter‑level RTK to apply shading agents inside commercial greenhouses in Germany and Poland. The autonomous system replaces hazardous manual labor, protects glass and aluminum...
China Suspends New AV Licenses After 'Major Chaos'
China has halted issuance of new autonomous vehicle (AV) licenses after dozens of Baidu self‑driving cars malfunctioned, prompting officials to label the situation "major chaos." The pause follows incidents of robotaxis colliding with objects, stealing luggage and endangering pedestrians. In...
Brazil Air Focus: Army Set to Dominate Country’s $631.67 Million UAV Market From 2028
Brazil’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) market is projected to reach $631.67 million by 2028, making it the largest in South America. The Brazilian Army is set to lead spending, with a forecast of $279.15 million from 2026, surpassing the Navy’s $227.51 million allocation....
Korea’s Biggest Manufacturers Back Config, the TSMC of Robot Data
Config, a Seoul‑San Jose startup that supplies the data layer for robotic foundation models, closed an oversubscribed $27 million seed round led by Samsung Venture Investment, bringing total funding to $35 million and valuing the company at over $200 million. Backed by the...
Infineon Startup Challenge Puts Humanoid Robotics in the Spotlight
Infineon has launched its 2026 Startup Challenge to accelerate innovation in humanoid robotics, inviting deep‑tech startups worldwide to apply until 27 May 2026. The program offers access to Infineon’s semiconductor technologies, prototyping kits, mentorship, and a network of industry partners and investors....
DMV Updates AV Rules to Improve Accountability, First Responder Coordination and Public Safety
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has adopted new autonomous‑vehicle regulations that open the state to heavy‑duty AV testing and deployment. Manufacturers must complete 50,000 miles of light‑duty or 500,000 miles of heavy‑duty testing and submit a safety case before...
Construction Robotics Startup Flo Mobility Raises $2.5 Mn in Pre-Series A Round
Bengaluru‑based Flo Mobility announced a $2.5 million pre‑Series A round co‑led by Mela Ventures and Arali Ventures. The funding will accelerate manufacturing, enhance its AI autonomy stack, and support rollout across India and into the Middle East. Flo’s flagship Flo Hauler,...
Mathematical Models Help Farm Robots Work Together in Real Time
Researchers at the Dutch University of Groningen have unveiled the FARMLAB project, which uses mathematical control systems instead of data‑heavy AI to coordinate drones and ground robots in agriculture. The approach leverages systems‑and‑control theory to predict and synchronize robot movements...
Weeding Robot Part of Integrated Weed Management
Wageningen University & Research’s 2025 field trial in Valthermond tested three autonomous weeding machines—Ekobot, Andela Electro Weeder, and Ecorobotix Ara spot sprayer—within an Integrated Weed Management (IWM) framework for direct‑drilled onions. Full chemical control still produced the highest yields, while...
Autonomous Tracking Technology Secures High-Gain UAV Links & Extended Mission Range
DTC, a Codan company, has launched the BluTrak-90-D autonomous tracking antenna for unmanned aerial vehicles. The system uses an onboard microprocessor and embedded algorithms to follow a drone’s movement without manual alignment, delivering real‑time link maintenance. Housed in an IP67‑rated...
ECHO 10K Sensor & AI Platform Launched for Persistent UAV Surveillance
Sapient Perception unveiled ECHO, the first dedicated 10K‑resolution sensor for UAVs, paired with the FORGE processing module and IGNITE AI framework. The system delivers ultra‑wide, high‑resolution imagery and on‑board AI detection, eliminating the need for high‑bandwidth links and reducing operator...
Robots to the Rescue? South Korea Looks for AI Solutions to Dwindling Army Numbers
South Korea's defense ministry is in talks with Hyundai Motor to field AI‑driven robots on the battlefield as the country grapples with a shrinking standing force. The army, which has lost 20% of its troops over six years and may...
The Future of Autonomous Driving Runs on Living Maps
TomTom’s Vice President of Product Management, Mike Gilbert, outlined how the company’s "living maps" are evolving into continuously refreshed spatial intelligence platforms. By ingesting real‑time sensor feeds, AI models, and crowd‑sourced updates, the maps adapt instantly to road, traffic, and...
Led by Industry, Japan and Taiwan Plant Seeds of Drone Cooperation
Japan and Taiwan are initiating a joint drone development effort led by industry groups, aiming to build a supply‑chain alternative to China’s dominance. The partnership was highlighted by a demonstration of Taiwan‑made Hummer 2 drones at a training session in Yilan....
Sony's AI Robot Took On Human Table Tennis Pros – Here's Who Came Out On Top
Sony’s AI‑driven robot Ace, detailed in a Nature paper, competed against Japan’s top table‑tennis players. In the initial trial the robot won 7 of 13 matches versus elite amateurs but only 1 of 7 against professional league players. A follow‑up...
Video: New Comet and Chaser USV by BlackSea Technologies
BlackSea Technologies showcased its new Comet and Chaser unmanned surface vehicles at Sea Air Space 2026. The 13.1‑meter Comet can haul up to 10,000 lb, sport a BRAWLR launcher with AIM‑9X and Hellfire missiles, and sustain 1,000 nautical miles at 40 knots. The...
Do City Delivery Drones Make Sense? No One Knows, but They're Flying Over NYC
British firm Skyports is running a one‑year pilot that ferries light cargo across New York City’s East River for a health‑care system. Weekday flights currently transport paper and could later include light pharmaceuticals, operating under FAA, Port Authority and NYC Economic...
NASA's Curiosity Rover Gets Its Drill Stuck, Recordings From the Arctic Seafloor and More Science Stories
NASA reported that its Curiosity rover experienced an unprecedented drill snag when a 30‑pound rock, named Atacama, adhered to the drill sleeve during a sampling attempt, but engineers freed it after a series of tilt, rotation and vibration maneuvers. In...
Intent-Based Chaos Testing Is Designed for when AI Behaves Confidently — and Wrongly
Enterprises deploying autonomous AI agents risk catastrophic missteps when the system encounters unfamiliar conditions. A production observability agent mistakenly rolled back a service after flagging a benign batch job, causing a four‑hour outage despite the model behaving as trained. The...
Kodiak and Roehl Transport Begin Autonomous Freight Operations Between Dallas and Houston
Kodiak AI has begun autonomous freight operations with Roehl Transport, hauling trucks between Dallas and Houston four times per week. The Kodiak Driver, the company’s AI‑powered autonomous system, earned a 98‑out of‑100 VERA safety score, the highest in an independent...
Opinion: Autonomy Is Reshaping Logistics, but Its Real Value Lies in Better Decision-Making
The piece argues that autonomy—not just automation—is reshaping logistics by turning real‑time data into actionable decisions. Labor shortages, rising costs and supply‑chain volatility are pushing warehouses toward faster adoption, with automation growth exceeding 10% annually. Digital twins and AI‑driven mobile...
Ukraine Ramps up Ground Robot Production to Spare Soldiers, Haul Ammo — and Rescue Grandma
Ukraine is rapidly expanding its unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) force, contracting 25,000 units for the first half of 2026 and announcing a goal of 50,000 robots for the year. The SBS doctrine treats UGVs as dual‑use platforms that handle logistics,...
Nyobolt Closes Series C Round at $1B Valuation
Nyobolt announced a $60 million Series C round that lifts its valuation to $1 billion. The round was led by Symbotic, with participation from IQ Capital, Latitude, Scania Invest and CBMM. Funds will accelerate Nyobolt’s ultra‑fast charging technology for autonomous robots, AI‑intensive data...
Manna – Embedded Engineer- Aircraft
Manna is developing aviation‑grade drones to provide high‑speed, affordable, and green suburban deliveries of food, coffee, groceries and more. The company designs both the hardware and the embedded software that powers its fleet, targeting delivery within minutes from local stores....
The Top 10 Humanoid Robots, Ranked: Tesla, Unitree, and More
Industry analysts have released a power‑ranking of the ten most promising humanoid robots, evaluating real‑world deployments, technical capability, commercial traction, price and visibility. Tesla’s Optimus tops the list thanks to its massive funding, AI ambition and potential integration into Tesla’s...
Here Is Yarbo’s Promise to Fix the Robot Mower that Ran Me Over
Yarbo acknowledged critical security flaws in its robot lawn‑mowers after a researcher remotely commandeered a unit, exposing GPS data, Wi‑Fi passwords and other personal information. The company issued a 1,200‑word response, temporarily disabling remote diagnostic tunnels, resetting shared root passwords...
How to Train Your Trucker
Werner, a major fleet operator, deployed a high‑fidelity 18‑wheel tractor‑trailer simulator at a trade show to train new hires on the nuances of heavy‑duty driving. The immersive rig replicates steering, braking, seat‑belt feedback and visual cues, revealing how even experienced...
Video: Hitachi Excavator Goes Autonomous with Gravis Copilot
Hitachi unveiled its Gravis Copilot system, equipping excavators with LiDAR, high‑resolution cameras, GPS and a tablet that projects a real‑time digital twin of the job site. The platform lets operators import CAD/CAT files, use the bucket as a surveying tool,...