ABB Robotics Launches New Automated Surface Finishing Cell
ABB Robotics introduced the OmniVance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell, its first fully automated sanding and polishing solution. The plug‑and‑play system pairs a GoFa collaborative robot with an intuitive tablet interface, eliminating the need for in‑house robotics expertise. It promises up to a 90% reduction in programming time and integrates dust‑extraction for a cleaner work environment. ABB positions the cell as a scalable, affordable option for manufacturers facing labor shortages and increasing product complexity.
Waymos, Robotaxis Can Now Be Ticketed by California Police. But How Exactly?
California’s Assembly Bill 1777 takes effect on July 1, giving police the authority to issue a “notice of AV non‑compliance” and hold autonomous‑vehicle manufacturers liable for traffic violations. Waymo and other robotaxi operators must file a First Responder Interaction Plan, maintain 30‑second...
Schaeffler and CiDi Join Hands for Truck Autonomy
German automotive supplier Schaeffler has signed a strategic agreement with Chinese autonomous‑driving firm CiDi to fuse Schaeffler's electric drive hardware with CiDi's autonomy software for mining trucks. The partnership designates each company as a strategic supplier and preferred customer, leveraging...
Heidelberg Materials Makes Autonomy Moves
German building‑materials giant Heidelberg Materials has signed deals with California‑based Applied Intuition and AI‑driven platform Pronto to deploy autonomous haulage systems (AHS) at its quarry in Australia, with a roadmap to expand across North America. The collaboration combines Applied Intuition’s...
Humanetics Launches Testing Platform to Improve Efficiency and Support NCAP 2026 Requirements
Humanetics introduced UFOnext, a next‑generation ADAS testing platform designed to meet the upcoming NCAP 2026 requirements while boosting proving‑ground efficiency. The system can accelerate to over 140 km/h quickly, shortening track length needed for high‑speed scenarios. Features such as hot‑swappable batteries, onboard...
WeRide and Lenovo Target 200,000 Robotaxis in Major Expansion
WeRide and Lenovo announced an expanded partnership at Auto China 2026, aiming to deploy up to 200,000 Level‑4 autonomous vehicles worldwide within five years. The collaboration merges WeRide’s driver‑less platform with Lenovo’s AI‑focused computing and manufacturing expertise, highlighted by the...
What Do Ukraine’s Robot Soldiers Mean for the Future of Warfare?
Ukrainian forces used an AI‑driven ground robot to capture Russian soldiers, marking the first known enemy position taken solely by unmanned platforms. President Zelenskyy reported that such robots have flown over 22,000 missions in three months and now deliver up...
Hypercraft Unveils Software-Defined & Autonomous UGV for Tactical Operations
Hypercraft has launched Razorback, a software‑defined autonomous unmanned ground vehicle built on a diesel‑hybrid electric powertrain that delivers up to 300 hp and a 38 kW exportable power bus. The UGV can haul a 2,400‑lb payload for 280 miles at 60 mph while providing...
EAVISION Unveils Autonomous Drone Capabilities & Agricultural Solutions at Agrishow 2026
EAVISION debuted its J150 autonomous agricultural spraying drone at Brazil's Agrishow 2026, demonstrating stable altitude control over uneven terrain. The drone’s advanced sensing lets it deliver uniform pesticide, fertilizer or seed applications on hilly, densely vegetated fields, reducing drift and...
System Report: Warehouse Automation as Plant Production Platform
OnePointOne has turned an AutoStore automated storage and retrieval system into a modular vertical farm, launching its Opollo Farm near Phoenix. The pilot supplies leafy greens, herbs and microgreens to ten Whole Foods stores and a regional distributor, delivering roughly...
Information Management: A Step Closer to Lights Out
The push toward fully automated, "lights‑out" warehouses is gaining traction as robotics, AI, and advanced vision systems mature, yet true autonomy remains limited by SKU diversity, returns and customization. Companies like Brightpick, Exotec and Nomagic are combining robotic storage with...
China’s Self-Driving Truck Leaders Say AI Breakthroughs Won’t Accelerate Rollout — Here’s Why
Chinese autonomous‑truck firms say recent breakthroughs in large‑language models will not speed up driverless truck deployment. Pony.ai CEO James Peng emphasized that linguistic AI skills do not translate to vehicle control, while Inceptio remains on track for a mid‑2028 commercialization...
Aurora and Hirschbach Expand Partnership for 500 Aurora Driver-Powered Trucks
Aurora Innovation announced an expanded partnership with Hirschbach Motor Lines to deploy 500 autonomous trucks equipped with its Aurora Driver, with deliveries slated for 2027. The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding that will later become a binding contract, creating...
I’ve Tested More Than 20 Robot Vacuums. These Are the Best.
The article reviews more than 20 robot vacuums, spotlighting top models from Roborock, Eufy, Matic, Narwal and others. It compares suction power, brush design, battery life, navigation systems and extra features such as self‑emptying docks and hot‑water mopping. Roborock’s Q7 M5+...
KUKA to Highlight Advanced Robotics for Easy Machine Tool Tending, Handling and Milling at IMTS 2026
KUKA Robotics will showcase integrated robotic solutions for machine‑tool tending, material handling and milling at IMTS 2026 in Chicago. The exhibit pairs standardized KUKA robots with CNC OEMs such as EMAG, Matsuura and SYIL, and features Siemens SINUMERIK‑driven single‑interface control via KUKA...
Ukraine Wants 15,000 Recruits to Help Create Drone ‘Kill Zone’
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence announced a recruitment drive for 15,000 personnel to staff its new Drone Line units, part of the Unmanned Systems Forces. The force will operate FPV and larger UAS platforms, OSINT analysts, and camouflage specialists to establish...
Athos Scraps Multi-Vendor Roadmap, Plans Chiplet Tape-Out
Athos Silicon, the functional‑safety chiplet startup spun out of Mercedes‑Benz, has abandoned its original multi‑vendor chiplet roadmap after Arm’s acquisition of DreamBig. The company will now tape‑out a single, purpose‑built chiplet that integrates third‑party CPU, GPU and NPU IP while...
Nexteer Puts Steer-by-Wire Into Series Production
Nexteer Automotive has launched series production of its steer‑by‑wire (SbW) system, debuting it on a Chinese new‑energy vehicle that will become the world’s first passenger car with a full drive‑by‑wire chassis. The system, certified to ASIL‑D functional safety by Germany’s...
Applied Intuition Collaborates with Heidelberg Materials to Advance Quarry Fleet Autonomy
Applied Intuition is teaming with Heidelberg Materials to roll out its Self‑Driving System (SDS) for Construction on quarry haul trucks in Australia, beginning at the Clarence Sands site. The platform runs directly on each vehicle, eliminating the need for extensive...
Writer Launches AI Agents that Can Act without Prompts, Taking on Amazon, Microsoft and Salesforce
Writer, the enterprise AI agent platform backed by Salesforce Ventures, Adobe Ventures and Insight Partners, launched event‑based triggers for its Writer Agent, enabling autonomous detection of signals in Gmail, Slack, Google Workspace, SharePoint and other tools. The new triggers fire...
Nervous Humans Are GM’s Secret Weapon for Self-Driving Cars
General Motors is leveraging immersive virtual‑reality simulators equipped with biometric sensors to capture drivers’ eye movements, heart rate and perspiration during autonomous‑driving tests. The data feed AI models that refine GM’s Super Cruise system and inform the upcoming hands‑off, eyes‑off...
MIPI Alliance Launches Physical AI Birds of a Feather (BoF) Group Focused on Humanoids
The MIPI Alliance has launched a Physical AI Birds‑of‑a‑Feather (BoF) group to explore standards for the fast‑growing humanoid robot market. The group will assess hardware and software architectures, develop system diagrams, and recommend new MIPI specifications. Yole Group projects the...
Schaeffler Opens New R&D Hub in Changsha to Deepen China Innovation Push
Schaeffler inaugurated a new 5,000‑square‑meter R&D hub in Changsha, expanding its engineering footprint in China. The facility, part of the Xiangjiang Intelligent Connected Industry Incubation Base, houses 170 engineers working on electric drive, intelligent chassis and autonomous driving technologies. Core...
AI Robots Automate Tray Assembly for Fresh Produce Packing
Chef Robotics unveiled an AI‑driven system that automates tray assembly for fresh‑produce packaging. The platform uses computer‑vision‑guided piece‑picking for whole fruits and a weight‑based scooping module for items like corn and peas. It supports three placement strategies—offset, multi‑item, and stacked—to...
Schaeffler and CiDi to Cooperate on Development of All Electric, Autonomous Mining Trucks
Schaeffler and Chinese autonomous‑haulage specialist CiDi have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop all‑electric, autonomous mining and logistics trucks. The partnership will focus on distributed electric drive systems, vehicle‑wide electrical architecture, and advanced control and health‑management technologies. Both firms...
Timestamp Drift and Sensor Synchronization: Small Timing Errors, Big Safety Consequences
As autonomous vehicles move from prototype to production, tiny timestamp drifts are emerging as a system‑level safety risk. Small misalignments in localization or sensor timestamps propagate through motion compensation, perception and planning, eventually distorting object positions and vehicle decisions. Conventional...
GOFAR Tour with Field Day in Spain Attracts 900 Industry Professionals
The GOFAR Tour 2026 held its second field day at John Deere’s Parla Innovation Centre near Madrid, drawing more than 900 industry professionals. Over 350 farmers attended to assess whether autonomous robotics can fit into their daily operations. The showcase...
MG Unveils 2026 MG4 at Beijing Auto Show
MG unveiled the 2026 MG4 at the Beijing Auto Show, rolling out six variants with upgraded exterior colors, a larger 15.6‑inch 2.5K touchscreen, and advanced driver‑assistance functions. The model leverages CTB (cell‑to‑body) integration, a semi‑solid battery and integrated thermal management,...
Avride AV Fleet Scales to 200 Cars
Avride announced that its autonomous robotaxi fleet has grown to 200 vehicles, all built on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 platform. The expanded fleet is currently being tested on public streets in Austin and Dallas, Texas. Avride attributes the rapid growth to...
Tesla ‘Robotaxi’ Unsupervised Fleet Finally Shows some Signs of Ramping Up
Tesla’s unsupervised Robotaxi fleet finally showed measurable growth, reaching 25 cumulative vehicles across Austin, Dallas and Houston by the end of April. The increase follows months of near‑zero expansion and marks the first uptick since the program’s launch in June...
ARX Robotics Expands in UK Following British Army Backing for Uncrewed Platforms
German‑based ARX Robotics has opened a manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom to produce its autonomous ground vehicle, the Gereon UGV. The British Army recently placed an order for an undisclosed number of Gereon units to support reconnaissance‑strike experimentation under...
Eternal.ag Launches Omni-Directional Trolley as ‘Stepping Stone to Fully-Automated Greenhouses’
German agritech startup Eternal.ag unveiled an omni‑directional trolley designed as a stepping stone toward fully automated greenhouses. The trolley can navigate rows without dismounting and can be upgraded into the company’s Harvester robot, with the full purchase price credited toward...
Heidelberg Materials Accelerates Global Deployment of Autonomous Heavy Equipment
Heidelberg Materials is scaling its autonomous heavy‑equipment program after a successful Texas pilot, targeting roughly 30 driverless vehicles by 2026. The rollout will span six sites across North America, Australia and Europe, featuring two vehicle classes equipped with AI‑driven sensors....
Online Oceans Raises £4M to Scale Autonomous Fleets for Maritime Security
UK‑based maritime defence startup Online Oceans announced a £4 million (approximately $5.1 million) financing round led by Seraphim Space. The capital will be used to scale production of its solar‑powered Scout autonomous surface vessels and the cloud‑based Tether command‑and‑control platform. The company...
Rocsys M1 Debuts as Multi-Bay Hands-Free Charging Solution for Robotaxi Fleets
Rocsys unveiled the M1, a hands‑free charging system that can service up to ten robotaxi bays from a single unit. The solution, currently in pilot testing, promises a 99.9% plug‑in success rate and up to 75% higher depot efficiency, translating...
Hertz, Uber Partner on Robotaxi Fleet Management
Hertz has created a new affiliate, Oro Mobility, to provide end‑to‑end fleet management for Uber’s emerging robotaxi program and its driver‑led rides. Oro will oversee charging, maintenance, cleaning and depot staffing for Lucid vehicles equipped with Nuro’s autonomous technology, with...
Reconova Targets Embodied Intelligence with Robots Deployed in Airports
Reconova, a 14‑year AI specialist, announced a shift from pure perception to full embodied intelligence, targeting complex, vertical use cases such as airport baggage handling. The company now offers a three‑layer system—perception, decision‑making via a visual‑language‑action model, and execution with...
Overwatch AI-Enabled Sensors & Software Enhance Florida State Guard Rapid Response Fleet
The Florida State Guard is outfitting its newly formed rapid‑response aircraft fleet with Overwatch Imaging’s AI‑enabled TK‑7 smart sensors and Automated Sensor Operator (ASO) software. The integration adds autonomous wide‑area search, fire detection, and maritime ISR capabilities while offloading routine...
DEEP Robotics Showcases Deployment-Ready Quadruped Robots at Hannover Messe
At Hannover Messe 2026, DEEP Robotics unveiled three quadruped robots—LYNX M20, X30 and Lite3—available for immediate shipment and EU‑compliant. LYNX M20 is a hybrid wheeled/legged system with thermal, gas and acoustic sensors; X30 adds LiDAR, 360° cameras and feeds data...
Willand Reaches One Million Units, Expands Production in China and Malaysia
Willand, the operator of the Segway Navimow brand, celebrated the rollout of its one‑millionth robotic lawn mower at its Changzhou R&D and manufacturing base. The achievement arrives as global robotic mower sales jumped 327% in the first half of 2025 and...
Polyn Achieves Successful Tapeout of Automotive Chip
Polyn Technology announced the tape‑out of its first automotive chip, VibroSense, which incorporates an analog neuromorphic core for real‑time tire‑road friction monitoring. Developed with GlobalFoundries, the chip processes high‑frequency vibration data to estimate the peak friction coefficient before braking events....
This EV Charging Robot Actually Makes A Ton Of Sense For Charging Robotaxis
Rocsys unveiled its M1 charging robot, a brand‑agnostic system that can plug in robotaxis without human intervention. The rail‑mounted arm can serve up to ten bays and boasts a 99.9% plug‑in success rate in pilot trials. Rocsys plans a full...
Emergency First Responders Say Waymos Are Getting Worse
Emergency first‑responder leaders in San Francisco and Austin told federal regulators that Waymo’s driverless taxis are increasingly freezing, blocking fire stations, and ignoring hand signals, creating dangerous delays during emergencies. Officials said the vehicles are committing more traffic violations and that...
XELA Robotics Upgrades uSkin Sensors with Metal Handling, High-Speed Communication
XELA Robotics announced two upgrades to its uSkin tactile sensor line: magnetic interference compensation and CAN FD support. The new compensation eliminates distortion from strong magnets, making the sensors viable for handling iron and other ferrous parts in factories. CAN FD raises...
What Will It Take to Make AI-Enabled Robots Safer?
Researchers from Penn Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University and Oxford published a paper in Science Robotics warning that AI‑alignment work focused on chatbots does not protect physical robots. They demonstrate that jailbreak prompts can coerce AI‑driven robots into dangerous actions, such...
Robot OSCAR Brings Automation to Irrigation and Nutrient Application
Osiris Agriculture has launched OSCAR, a field robot that automates row‑crop irrigation and fertigation. The four‑wheel platform can deploy a 900‑metre polyethylene pipe and a 44‑metre foldable boom that delivers water at one‑metre intervals, covering about 40 hectares per week....
Beyond Visual Line of Sight: Shaping the UK Unmanned Aircraft Infrastructure
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has released a consultation on command‑and‑control (C2) link policy for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations classified under Specific Assurance and Integrity Levels (SAIL) 1‑3. The proposal leans on existing telecom standards—such as...
How to Solve the SKU Changeover Bottleneck with a Self-Learning Vision System
High‑mix manufacturers struggle with vision systems that take hours or weeks to commission, causing many short‑run SKUs to go uninspected. Self‑learning vision platforms solve this bottleneck by building a normal‑operation baseline directly on the production line within minutes, eliminating manual...
Zipline Grows Texas Footprint as Drone Delivery Scales
Zipline is expanding its drone‑delivery network in Texas, adding new restaurant and retail partners in Rowlett east of Dallas. The service now reaches more than 25 locations across the Dallas‑Fort Worth metroplex, including parks, a university campus and the Rowlett...
AWS Quick's Personal Knowledge Graph Is Making Orchestration Decisions Most Control Planes Can't See
AWS Quick has expanded into a desktop‑native agent that continuously builds a personal knowledge graph from a user’s files, calendar, email and SaaS apps. Unlike session‑based chat copilots, Quick maintains state and can proactively trigger actions across local and cloud...