Today's Robotics Pulse
XPeng CEO Takes Direct Control of Robotics Division to Accelerate IRON Humanoid Production
He Xiaopeng, XPeng's chief executive, is now leading the company's robotics unit as it prepares to mass‑produce the IRON humanoid robot this year, with commercial sales slated for next year. The move comes amid a 33% drop in Q1 vehicle deliveries to 62,682 units and a 17.6% revenue decline to $1.92 billion, underscoring a strategic shift toward physical AI.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Waymo acquires Apple’s Arizona Proving Ground for $220M
Battle Creek Unlimited Selects ResilienX for MICH-AIR Beyond Visual Line of Sight System
Battle Creek Unlimited has chosen ResilienX to build a ground‑based sense‑and‑avoid system that will enable routine beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) operations for the MICH‑AIR advanced air mobility hub at Battle Creek Executive Airport. The integrated physical‑digital environment will support public safety, infrastructure inspection, medical logistics, manufacturing, and defense missions. Funding includes a $7 million state appropriation and $10 million earmarked for aerial‑mobility infrastructure, aiming to attract aerospace investment and create high‑skill jobs. Deployment is slated for completion within 12 months and is designed to scale across Michigan and beyond.
Hirth Engines and ePropelled Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance High‑Efficiency Propulsion Systems
Hirth Engines and ePropelled have announced a strategic partnership to create hybrid propulsion systems that blend Hirth’s two‑stroke engines with ePropelled’s intelligent electric power‑management technology. The collaboration targets UAVs, advanced air‑mobility, defence, and specialized mobility markets, promising higher fuel efficiency,...
Adaptive Motion System Helps Robots Achieve Human-Like Dexterity with Minimal Data
Researchers at Keio University have introduced an adaptive motion reproduction system that uses Gaussian process regression to translate human grasping motions to robots with minimal training data. The model learns the relationship between object stiffness and required force/position commands, achieving...
Kardex Enhances StoreX Calculator for AutoStore Planning and Expansion
Kardex Solutions, together with iAutomate, has launched an enhanced StoreX Calculator to streamline AutoStore system design and expansion. The tool leverages real operational data to run scenario‑based models that forecast grid size, robot count, ports, costs, and implementation timelines. By...
Multiply Labs to Bring “Physical AI” Robotics Technology to Advanced Biomanufacturing With NVIDIA
Multiply Labs announced a partnership with NVIDIA to embed the latter’s Isaac Sim, GR00T foundation models, and perception tools into its robotic biomanufacturing platform. The collaboration creates high‑fidelity digital twins, AI‑driven manipulation skills, and perception pipelines that accelerate development of...
US Digital's New L2 Low Profile Motor Encoder
US Digital introduced the L2 Low‑Profile Motor Encoder, the company’s thinnest encoder at just 0.398 inches tall. It leverages the proven EM1 optical module, delivering up to 1 250 CPR (5 000 PPR quadrature) with a single‑ended output. The design features a snap‑on cover for...
New Gearbox Series for Dynamic Delta Robotics
Neugart has launched the NDFC gearbox series, a cost‑effective, application‑specific drive solution for delta robots used in high‑speed pick‑and‑place operations. The series offers three frame sizes (064, 090, 110) with two‑stage ratios from 16:1 to 100:1 and standard backlash under...
MassRobotics Opens Applications for 4th Annual Form and Function Robotics Challenge
MassRobotics has opened applications for its fourth annual Form and Function Robotics Challenge, partnering with AMD, Dassault Systèmes, Harmonic Drive, Maeden, Maxon and Mitsubishi Electric. The global competition targets university teams and offers a $10,000 grand prize, $1,000 for second...
Xsens IMUs Deliver Sub-5 Cm Real-Time Heave Accuracy for Precise Wave Motion Compensation.
Xsens announced a firmware‑based upgrade that adds a Heave measurement capability to its industrial‑grade Sirius and Avior inertial measurement units. The new feature delivers sub‑5 cm vertical displacement accuracy for wave periods up to 29 seconds and about 6 cm for longer 40‑second...
Second Front Systems and StirlingX Partner to Support UK Government with Secure, Sovereign Drone Deployments
Second Front Systems (2F) has partnered with UK drone specialist StirlingX to deliver sovereign, high‑assurance drone capabilities to the Ministry of Defence, national security agencies, and critical national infrastructure operators. The collaboration uses 2F’s Game Warden secure software deployment platform...
Choose OT Firewall by Risk, Not Features
Which firewall really makes sense in OT? 🔥 “We already have a firewall.” The real question is: does it match your risk? 🔹 Stateless firewall (Layer 3/4) ✔ simple, high performance ⚠ no context, no content awareness 👉 Suitable for...
Robots Learn From YouTube, Scaling Like Language Models
You know how ChatGPT got scary-good by reading the entire internet? Robotics couldn’t do that. With language models, you can scrape Wikipedia, Reddit, every book ever written. Trillions of words. All digital. All ready to train on. But robots? They...
Physical AI Is the Next Frontier - and It's Already All Around You
Physical AI, the integration of perception and reasoning into hardware, emerged as the tech industry's newest frontier at CES 2026. Executives likened its impact to the ChatGPT launch, signaling a shift toward machines that can understand context and act autonomously....
Robotic Hand Surpasses Human Reflexes in Speed
Faster Than Human Reflexes: A #Robotic Hand Redefining Speed and Precision by @sciencegirl #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/BmEVMLqLKS
Boston Dynamics Robot Becomes Versatile On‑Set Cameraman
Boston Dynamics' #Robot Evolves into Multi-Talented Cameraman by @aitrendz_xyz #MachineLearning #AI #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #ML #Innovation https://t.co/wM7GhT5uxS
Behind (The Walking) Hand of a Sci-Fi Icon: Animatronics Designer Jesse Velez Gets Into the Geeky Details
Animatronics designer Jesse Velez created a fully wireless, portable animatronic hand for the Netflix series “Wednesday.” The device captures a performer’s hand movements with Manus motion‑capture gloves and translates them in real time via custom software to a prosthetic‑based robotic...
New Platform Gives Industrial Robots Real‑World Vision
Visual Object Intelligence Platform: Empowering Industrial #Robots to See, Understand, and Handle the Real World via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/chGNhjh2gr
XTIM's Robot Mimics Bird Flight with Flapping Wings
This #Robot from XTIM is literally a flying machine that flaps like a real bird by @lukas_m_ziegler #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML #Innovation #TechForGood https://t.co/aCEtBs8jgt
CES 2026 Robotics Recap; 2026 Predictions
The episode recaps the most notable robotics announcements from CES 2026, highlighting breakthroughs in AI-driven mobility, advanced sensor suites, and collaborative robot platforms. It offers forward‑looking predictions for 2026, including wider adoption of edge AI chips, tighter regulatory scrutiny on...
Robots Tested for Next-Gen Earthquake Rescue
#Robots on the Frontlines: Testing Next-Gen Earthquake Rescue Systems by @HowThingsWork_ #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/BGC73h935d
Robot Gains True First-Person Vision Capability
Seeing Through Its Own Eyes: Building a #Robot with True First-Person Vision via @WevolverApp #AI #MachineLearning #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/Py1Z5j9A3y
TESOLLO Uses Own Actuator in DG-5F-S Humanoid Robotic Hand
TESOLLO Inc. unveiled the DG-5F-S, a new humanoid robotic hand that incorporates the company’s in‑house actuator technology. The hand delivers a five‑finger, 20‑degree‑of‑freedom layout while weighing under 1 kg, making it comparable in size to a human hand. Priced at roughly...
Chinese AI Swarm Enables Cooperative Drone Transport and Rescue
Chinese Researchers Create #AI Swarm System for Cooperative #Drone #Transport and Rescue by @tweetciiiim #EmergingTech #Innovation #TechForGood #Technology https://t.co/KBcWc29lo6
Telexistence Launches Massive Robotic Motion Data Hub
Telexistence Introduces Large-Scale #Robotic Motion Data Factory for #AI Training via @ZappyZappy7 #ArtificialIntelligence #MI #ML #Tech #Innovation https://t.co/Q43zRYjqCI
Robotic Nanoprobe Enables Precise Extraction of a Single Mitochondrion From a Living Cell
Researchers at HKUST have unveiled an automated robotic nanoprobe that can locate and extract a single mitochondrion from a living cell without fluorescent labels. The device integrates nanoelectrodes that sense ROS/RNS bursts and dielectrophoretic nanotweezers that capture the organelle within...
Teen Creates AI‑driven Mind‑controlled Prosthetic Arm
A 17-year-old built a mind-controlled prosthetic arm using #AI via @Khulood_Almani #Technology #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/A0Aib1IG5I
AI-Driven ROV Revolutionizes Subsea Exploration
FIFISH E-GO: QYSEA’s #AI-Powered Underwater ROV for Next-Gen Subsea Exploration via @WevolverApp #Robotics #Engineering #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/K0UhE1jXuZ
IDS Enters 2026 with Strong Momentum
IDS Imaging Development Systems is entering 2026 aiming for over 10% sales growth, backed by double‑digit order increases and the delivery of its two‑millionth camera. The German camera maker introduced a voluntary three‑year manufacturer’s warranty for all product lines, enhancing...
Humanoid Robot Takes On Heavy Load‑Bearing Work
Industrial Humanoid #Robot Tackles Physically Demanding Load-Bearing Tasks via @ZappyZappy7 #RPA #Robotics #Innovation #Technology #EmergingTech https://t.co/BBPwOWAAqM
MIT's Cheetah Robot Sets New Standard for Legged Speed
MIT Cheetah: The Agile Quadruped #Robot Redefining High-Performance Legged Locomotion by @IntEngineering #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/dHoPcQuAZk
Precision Drive Systems Partners with MachMotion
Precision Drive Systems (PDS) has entered an exclusive partnership with MachMotion to retrofit aging CNC routers and other machines with PDS‑branded spindles equipped with the Spindle Health Information Monitoring System (SHIMS). MachMotion will perform on‑site upgrades of servo controllers and...
Germany Buys Eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian(r) RPA Through NSPA
Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In‑Service Support, together with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), has signed a contract to acquire eight MQ‑9B SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft, plus four certifiable ground control stations, with first...
Prioritizing Safety in Mobile Robot Crowd Navigation
Safety First: Tackling Crowd Navigation in Mobile #Robotics by @lukas_m_ziegler #AI #Robot #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence https://t.co/OJIzBr8jOw
Swamp Dog Completes 5‑mile Autonomous Base Patrol
Swamp Dog. 5 miles autonomous base perimeter patrol at Tyndall USAF via @WevolverApp #Robotics #Innovation #Technology #EmergingTech https://t.co/b9bLZ0dMb7
Humanoid Robots or Human Connection? What Elon Musk's Optimus Reveals About Our AI Ambitions
Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot is positioned as a versatile assistant for factories and homes, with Musk pledging a million units within ten years. The design leverages recent advances in generative AI to give the robot conversational abilities that feel more...
Tensor's Robocar Delivers Full Level‑4 Autonomy for Personal Use
Meet Tensor’s Robocar — Full Level 4 Autonomy, Designed for You, Not Robotaxi by @TensorAuto #Automotive #Transport #EV #Technology #Innovation https://t.co/fssYGEaqRR
Locus Robotics and Radial Surpass 25 Million Picks Milestone as Demand for Scalable Fulfillment Intensifies
Locus Robotics and Radial announced that their Shepherdsville warehouse has surpassed 25 million picks, powered by roughly 300 LocusBots operating under a Robots‑as‑a‑Service model. The partnership has quadrupled throughput within the same footprint and added a peak fleet of 104 robots...
Boston Dynamics Unveils 24-DoF Exoskeleton Lifting 200 Lb
Boston Dynamics Exoskeleton: 24-DoF #Robotic Arms with 200-Pound Lifting Power via @Rainmaker1973 #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology #Engineering https://t.co/lfaeghTJXj
New Issue of T-MRB Published
The IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics released its August 2025 Issue (Volume 7, Issue 3), featuring 33 regular papers and five invited contributions from the Hamlyn Symposium 2024, totaling 478 pages. A dedicated special section titled “AI‑Driven Health: Transforming Care” showcases cutting‑edge...
Omnisys Introduces the Next Step in BRO™ C‑UAS Counter‑Drone Mission Planning and Threat Mitigation
Omnisys has launched the next‑generation BRO™ CUAS platform, an AI‑driven digital‑twin mission‑planning tool that shifts counter‑drone defense from reactive interception to proactive prevention. The system creates physics‑accurate battlefield models to reveal low‑altitude approach corridors, coverage gaps, and sensor/effectors’ detection envelopes,...
Parry Labs Advances Modular Mission Systems in AV’s P550™ for Army LRR Program
Parry Labs has teamed with AeroVironment to embed its Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA)‑aligned mission computing into the P550 uncrewed aircraft system for the U.S. Army’s Long‑Range Reconnaissance (LRR) program. The partnership leverages Parry’s STRATIA® platform, Model‑Based Systems Engineering expertise,...
Simbe Releases Tally 4.0 Mobile Shelf-Scanning Robot
Simbe Robotics has unveiled Tally 4.0, the newest generation of its autonomous shelf‑scanning robot that powers the Store Intelligence platform. The robot now runs up to 12 hours on a charge, features ultra‑high‑resolution imaging, 360° fisheye capture, and expanded reach...
Robotic Surgery Removes Tremor, Achieves Machine Precision
#Robotic Surgery Eliminates Human Tremors with Precision Machine-Level Accuracy by @MrLaalpotato #HealthTech #Tech #Technology #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/lLWUGV7I0b
Desktop AI Robot Turns Smartphone Into Interactive Companion
LOOI: The Desktop AI Robot That Brings Your Smartphone to Life by @Betraydan #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation #Tech https://t.co/ZUxMCoYuOj
I Tried Lumus' AR Waveguide Prototype at CES, and Saw Where AR Glasses Go Next
Lumus unveiled a 70‑degree field‑of‑view ZOE prototype and an upgraded Z‑30 at CES 2026, showcasing waveguide optics that combine wide immersion with thin, lightweight form factors. The Z‑30 2.0 iteration is 40% thinner and 30% lighter, while the original Z‑30...
ARM Institute Issues Education and Workforce Development Project Call
The Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing (ARM) Institute has launched an Education & Workforce Development Project Call, inviting members to submit manufacturing training programs for a free endorsement evaluation. The ARM Endorsement, powered by RoboticsCareer.org, highlights the most effective robotics curricula...
Robot Dog Collects Data in US Chip Factories
Robot Dog Deployed for #Data Collection in U.S. Semiconductor Production by @TXInstruments #AI #Robotics #Technology #Engineering #Innovation https://t.co/wYgIfCiEe4
Bipedal Robot Regains Balance After Falls on Rough Terrain
This All-Terrain Bipedal #Robot Keeps Its Balance—and Gets Back Up After Falling via @ZappyZappy7 #AI #MachineLearning #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology #AI #ML https://t.co/HIWIuBUfLm
C1: Cute Humanoid Robot for Senior Care
Meet C1: PHYBOT’s Cute Humanoid Robot Designed for Senior Care by @CyberRobooo #AI #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML #MI https://t.co/J7uOPRuhf8
Robot Dog Black Panther II Near Human Sprint Speed
MirrorMe’s Black Panther II: The #Robot Dog That’s Almost Faster Than Humans via @XRoboHub #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/NHGfcA7x6K