Today's Robotics Pulse
NASA plans spacewalk to repair seized ISS Canadarm2 wrist joint
NASA confirmed that the ISS’s 25‑year‑old Canadarm2 robotic arm has seized at a wrist joint, stopping its motion after routine work on May 27. A spacewalk is scheduled for June 30 to replace the joint using a spare part already aboard the station. The arm remains critical for cargo capture and station maintenance.
Also developing:
Report: Warehouse Automation Order Intake up by 7%
A new Interact Analysis report shows warehouse‑automation order intake rose 7 % in 2025 despite a weak macro environment, driven largely by inflated project values from rising steel and labor costs and large‑scale investments by retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Tesco. The report forecasts regional growth variations, with EMEA leading at roughly 7 % annual growth through 2030, the Americas at 6 % and APAC lagging due to a Chinese demand slowdown. Longer‑term outlook points to a 6 % global CAGR, buoyed by parcel‑sector automation but tempered by structural headwinds.
Okibo Announces General Availability of Robotic BLASTER Technology for Construction Industry
Okibo has launched the general availability of its BLASTER gun, a dual‑nozzle airless spray system designed for the EG7 and EG7+ autonomous construction robots. The technology can coat a four‑foot board width and up to 24 feet in height in just...
Unlock the ROI of Mobile Robots: Roboteon Launches New Complimentary Robotics Investment Impact Analysis
Roboteon has introduced a free Robotics Investment Impact Analysis that leverages its vendor‑independent simulation platform to model warehouse automation scenarios. The service promises detailed insights into robot‑human staffing, cost per pick, throughput, and ROI within a 2‑3 week timeframe. It...
The Age of Physical AI: Inside Oshkosh’s Blueprint for an Autonomous Future
Oshkosh Corp., led by EVP Jay Iyengar, is championing a "moments of autonomy" strategy that embeds physical AI into high‑value, repetitive or hazardous tasks rather than pursuing full automation. The company is rolling out autonomous jet‑bridge docking systems that align...
The Age of Physical AI: Inside Oshkosh’s Blueprint for an Autonomous Future
Oshkosh is championing a hybrid autonomy model that delivers physical AI where it adds the most immediate value, such as automating repetitive, hazardous tasks. The company has deployed AI‑driven solutions ranging from airport jet‑bridge alignment to on‑demand trash‑collection robots and...
Dyze Design Patents Modular Motion Control For AM
Dyze Design has filed a patent proposing a modular motion‑control architecture that separates command streams into priority queues and splits telemetry into real‑time and archival channels. The design adds edge‑processing modules for sensors, stepper and BLDC drives, and even a...
Engineers Demonstrate Lightweight 'Exoskeleton' That Helps Stroke Survivors Walk
Engineers at the University of Utah unveiled a 5.5‑pound portable hip exoskeleton that reduces the metabolic cost of walking for stroke survivors with hemiparesis by roughly 18%. The device delivers side‑specific motor assistance synchronized in real time, allowing users to...
Hidden Labor Inflates AI Hype, Robots Follow Suit
AI’s concealed labor has repeatedly led us to overestimate the technology. Humanoid robots are entering a similar phase.
AI Robots Set to Outnumber Human Workers Within Decades
AI robots could outnumber human workers within a few decades, according to a former Citi executive. Humanoids are already on the market with a payback period of under 10 weeks compared to human labor. McKinsey expects its own workforce to reach parity...
DeltaQuad – Design / Creative Engineer
DeltaQuad, a pioneer in long‑range electric VTOL drones, is hiring a Design / Creative Engineer for its Resilience Department. The role focuses on designing, prototyping, and validating mechanical components that improve UAV reliability and field reparability, using advanced materials and...
Teledyne FLIR OEM Launches Lepton XDS at Mobile World Congress; A Compact Thermal‑Visible Camera Module Featuring Patented MSX Technology
Teledyne FLIR OEM unveiled the Lepton XDS at Mobile World Congress, a compact dual‑thermal‑and‑visible camera module that pairs a 160 × 120 radiometric Lepton 3.5 sensor with a five‑megapixel visible imager. The device embeds FLIR’s patented MSX technology, which overlays visible‑image edges onto thermal...
NASA-Sponsored Working Group to Address Key Barriers to Routine Autonomous Drone Fleets
NASA has convened the Routine Autonomous Multi‑Aircraft Operations (RAM‑AO) Working Group to tackle technical and regulatory obstacles preventing large‑scale autonomous drone fleets from sharing U.S. airspace. Led by Aptima under a NASA contract, the group will meet March 3‑5 at...
Torc Robotics and Daimler Truck Expand Autonomous Truck Testing to Michigan Public Roads
Torc Robotics announced that its autonomous trucks will now be tested on public roads in Michigan, using the latest‑generation Daimler Truck Freightliner Cascadia chassis. The expansion builds on existing test sites in Dallas‑Fort Worth and Blacksburg and moves development from the...
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Stäubli Robotics unveiled the next‑generation Sterimove at INTERPHEX 2026, positioning it as the world’s first mobile robot certified for Grade A, B, C and D cleanroom environments. The platform combines sealed, cleanroom‑compatible construction with advanced collision‑avoidance sensing, dual emergency stops...
X-365 Precision XY Gantry System Offers Configurable, Affordable Motion for High-Throughput, High-Accuracy Applications
Physik Instrumente (PI) unveiled the X‑365 Precision XY Gantry System, a modular Cartesian robot that delivers nanometer‑class positioning across travel ranges from 200 × 200 mm up to 600 × 800 mm. The platform combines high load capacity with integrated linear‑encoder feedback and EtherCat‑based controller compatibility,...
The Mechatronic Approach to Designing Motion as a System
Mechatronics is evolving from isolated components to fully integrated motion systems, where motors, drives, controllers, and software operate as a single organism. Kollmorgen’s SFD‑M feedback device exemplifies automatic motor‑drive parameter exchange, cutting commissioning time and eliminating manual errors. Integrated design...
How Flo Mobility’s AI Stack & Robots Are Disrupting The Construction Sector
Flo Mobility has introduced AI‑driven autonomous mobile robots that transport construction materials without manual labor, promising up to 45% faster delivery and 50% cost reductions. The Bengaluru startup raised a $2.5 million pre‑Series A round, bringing its total funding to roughly ₹23 crore,...
DHL Express and LODD Autonomous Partner to Develop Hili-Based UAV Cargo Services
DHL Express and LODD Autonomous have signed an MoU to explore integrating LODD’s Hili unmanned aircraft into DHL’s express network. The Hili UAV can lift up to 250 kg, carry two Euro pallets, and fly 700 km with VTOL capability. Both parties...
Swallowable Robots Promise Safer, Remote Diagnostics
The future of medicine might be something you swallow. When I first read about PillBot, I paused. A tiny ingestible robot camera that replaces traditional endoscopies? That is not incremental innovation. That is a shift. Instead of invasive tubes and hospital procedures,...
Certis Partners to Deploy Autonomous Security Robots
Certis Group has signed a strategic partnership with FieldAI to roll out autonomous security robots across multi‑site operations worldwide. The collaboration blends FieldAI’s Field Foundation Models—general‑purpose AI that navigates without pre‑mapped routes—with Certis’ Mozart orchestration platform that synchronises robots, human...
Leonardo UK “Optimistic” On Further Proteus Funding, Confirms International Interest
Leonardo UK announced optimism about securing additional funding for its Proteus autonomous‑system demonstrator ahead of the UK Defence Investment Plan. The programme, backed by a £60 million MoD contract awarded in 2022, completed its maiden flight in January 2026, proving key...
Smart Water Systems in Automated Manufacturing
Industrial water treatment is shifting from manual oversight to a continuously monitored, data‑driven asset within automated factories. Sensors on reverse‑osmosis units feed pressure, conductivity and flow data into PLCs and SCADA systems, allowing real‑time alignment of water quality with production...
Finnish Defence Forces to Procure Parrot ANAFI UKR Micro-UAV Systems to Strengthen ISR Capabilities
The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command announced a €15 million purchase of Parrot ANAFI UKR micro‑UAV systems, with deliveries slated for early 2026. The contract builds on years of Finnish experience with Parrot’s ANAFI Thermal SE and ANAFI USA platforms, extending the force’s ISR...
Four Years That Changed Drones Forever
Four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, drones have shifted from hobbyist tools to core combat assets. Ukrainian forces rapidly adapted FPV drones for reconnaissance, targeting and defense, compressing development cycles that normally take years into weeks. The conflict spurred...
70 Questions Reveal STEP 7’s Top Engineering Pain Points
Almost 70 questions for the STEP 7 Product Manager – this is going to be good. 🔥 We asked you what you’ve always wanted to ask the STEP 7 Product Manager in the TIA Portal. And you delivered: nearly 70...
Combining Soft and Hard Properties: Synergistic Innovation of Magnetic Hydrogel Microrobots in Precision Medicine
Magnetic hydrogel microrobots (MHMs) are emerging untethered soft robots that combine magnetic actuation with responsive hydrogel matrices. Recent research highlights dual design strategies that integrate material optimization and functional integration, enabling precise, spatiotemporal control. Innovations in bionic structures and multimodal...
Bringing Aramine AutoNav Tele Loader to Life at Reward Gold Mine
RCT has installed Epiroc’s AutoNav Tele on an Aramine L350D loader at the Reward Gold mine in New South Wales, enabling remote operation in narrow‑vein underground conditions. The loader arrived from France and required a custom‑built mini AutoNav hut due...
Pentagon’s Spending Plan Doubles Down on Land, Air, Sea Robots
The Pentagon’s unclassified spending strategy for the $151 billion One Big Beautiful Bill mandates rapid deployment of funds through 2029. It earmarks $24.4 billion for missile‑defense, including hypersonic and space‑based interceptors, while boosting the Defense Innovation Unit’s budget to $2 billion for autonomous...
U.S. Air Force Tests YFQ-44 ‘Fighter Drone’ with AMRAAM Missile
The U.S. Air Force unveiled the first image of Anduril’s YFQ‑44 Fury drone carrying an inert AIM‑120 AMRAAM, marking the start of captive‑carry weapons integration testing under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The tests focus on airworthiness, structural performance,...
New Illustrations Show Mystery DARPA LongShot Missile Drone
DARPA has unveiled new illustrations of its X‑68A LongShot program, an air‑launched unmanned aircraft designed to carry air‑to‑air missiles. Built by General Atomics, the drone can be released from a variety of host platforms and operate ahead of crewed formations....
XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit Showcases an Industry Ready to Scale
XPONENTIAL 2026, held May 11‑14 in Detroit, is the world’s largest showcase for uncrewed systems, robotics, and autonomy across air, ground and maritime sectors. The event emphasizes production‑ready technology, with exhibitors demonstrating integrated platforms, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable deployment at...
SteerAI Launches xRift Autonomous & Versatile Flat-Deck Platform for Rugged Terrain
SteerAI unveiled xRift, an autonomous flat‑deck all‑terrain vehicle at Abu Dhabi's Unmanned Systems Exhibition. The platform replaces a traditional cab with a modular deck, supporting up to 500 kg of payloads ranging from ISR kits to weapon systems. Powered by the...
Titan Dynamics Joins Department of War’s Drone Dominance Gauntlet I
Titan Dynamics Inc. has been named one of the top 25 firms to compete in Gauntlet I of the U.S. Department of War’s Drone Dominance Program, the first live‑testing phase for small unmanned aerial systems. The initiative evaluates performance, production readiness,...
Robotics Future Lies in Bio‑Inspired Foot Design
The future of robotics might not start with the brain. It may start with the foot. For millions of years, evolution perfected how we walk. Shock absorption. Balance. Energy return. Adaptation to uneven ground. Now engineers are catching up. The SoftFoot Pro, developed by...
Deterministic ROS Executor with Zero‑Copy IPC Released
Looking for a fully deterministic #ROS executor and true zero copy message passing / IPC to boost your system performance? Our colleagues at @AutowareFdn have rolled out Agnocast and Callback Isolated Executor (CIE) as drop-in replacements to RCLCpp / and...
CCAs Start Carrying Inert Missiles, Live Fire Shots Expected Later This Year
The U.S. Air Force has equipped its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) prototypes – General Atomics' YFQ-42A and Anduril's YFQ-44A – with inert AIM‑120 missiles, marking the first weapons‑carriage milestone for the uncrewed fighter program. Live‑fire testing is scheduled for later...
Bionic Eye Mimics Animal Pupils for Sharper Focus
A new Science #Robotics study describes a #bionic eye that can simulate irregular pupils such as a cat’s vertical pupil for precise focus while hunting and a toad's heart-shaped pupil for improved depth perception. https://t.co/p1uZy6rbky https://t.co/uE8l7VpDSq
RoboCup 2026 Calls for Papers, New Open Tools Track
CFP for RoboCup International Symposium 2026! 🆕 This year introduces the Open Platforms & Tools Track, focused on interactive tools, open-source hardware, and software frameworks. 📅 Submission deadline: 8 April 2026 🔗 https://t.co/M728hTtutJ #robocup2026 https://t.co/2UPO8jzMr7
Inside Pakistan’s Pivot: From Assembling Kits to Designing Advanced Defence Solutions
At the 2026 World Defence Show in Riyadh, Pakistan’s defence industry announced a strategic shift from licence‑based kit assembly to indigenous design and systems integration. State‑run firms displayed a range of home‑developed products, including GIDS’s Shahpar UAVs and Blaze loitering...
STEAM Empowers Robots: Professor Highlights Black Women Innovators
#Noire #AI #Avatar #Robotics #Engineering #Professor teaches us how #STEAM makes robots amazing. #STEM #NoireSTEMinist #BlackWomenInSTEM #WomeninSTEM #BlackInSTEM https://t.co/LYuLerwMaR https://t.co/bLVZSgO4sH
Robots Dream in Latent Space to Accelerate Learning
new essay on how robots can dream in latent space to learn tasks faster and generalize better...dropping on @airstreetpress in a few hours https://t.co/x0WlFWESvS
DHL Supply Chain Completes 1B Picks with Locus Robotics
Logistics giant DHL Supply Chain announced it has completed one billion picks using Locus Robotics’ autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) across more than 40 global sites. The deployment, which began in 2017, has delivered 30%‑180% higher pick rates and an 80%...
Northrop Grumman Renames Fighter Drone Talon Blue
Talon Blue Is The New Name For Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A ‘Fighter Drone’ Talon harkens back to the company's T-38 Talon heritage, while Blue is likely a reference to Tacit Blue, which was a technological leap at the dawn of...
Chinese Ship Completes First Autonomous Docking and Cargo Handling
Four years after launching the world’s first autonomous electric feeder, China’s 300‑TEU vessel Zhi Fei completed its first fully autonomous docking at Qingdao Port, completing the maneuver in just 30 seconds. The ship, capable of crew‑managed, remote‑controlled or unmanned navigation, operates...
Ottonomy Unveils Platform Connecting Robots, Drones and Smart Infrastructure on NVIDIA
Ottonomy unveiled Ottumn.AI, a cloud‑based platform that orchestrates autonomous robots, drones, and smart infrastructure across healthcare, manufacturing, and commerce. The solution runs on NVIDIA AI hardware, leveraging Jetson edge devices, Isaac Sim digital twins, and cloud GPUs for sub‑30 ms decision...
Picogrid and Guardian RF Partner to Deliver Drone Defense for Space Launch Operations at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Picogrid and Guardian RF have secured a joint contract to protect Vandenberg Space Force Base from unauthorized drone activity. The deal integrates Guardian RF’s low‑SWaP Scout passive RF sensors with Picogrid’s Expeditionary Command and Control Nodes, creating a unified, real‑time...
Pursuing Universal Embodied AI for Global Vehicle Autonomy
Here's the recording from my lecture where I posed the question I started working on a decade ago at @Cambridge_Uni: "how to build Embodied AI that can drive any vehicle, anywhere in the world." https://t.co/kYuUhiCs0n
Video‑trained AI Performs Real‑world Tasks Across Software, Design, and Driving
Pretty soon computer use models will feel like you’re standing over the shoulder of a colleague and asking them to do stuff — in blender, autocad or even piloting a drone. Except this colleague is unconstrained by wall clock time...
Robodock: Autonomous Depots For Robotaxis
Robodock, a startup founded by two Stanford graduates, is automating robotaxi depot operations with mobile charging robots and AI‑driven visual inspections. The system docks with vehicles to manage power transfer and scans exteriors for damage, aiming to cut manual labor...
IROS2026 Allows 8‑Page Papers, No Extra Fees
Good news: #IROS2026 papers can be 8 pages with no extra-page charges, and author responses can be concise summaries of revisions. 📅 Due Mar 2 Learn More 🔗: https://t.co/e1S9AX37CF