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
Top 5 Global Robotics Trends 2026 – International Federation of Robotics Reports
The International Federation of Robotics outlines five pivotal trends shaping 2026, led by AI‑driven autonomy that enables predictive maintenance and adaptive logistics. Convergence of IT and OT is boosting real‑time data exchange, while humanoid robots are gaining traction for flexible, human‑centric tasks. Safety standards are evolving to address AI‑powered collaborative robots, and widespread robotics adoption is positioned as a remedy for global labor shortages.
CES 2026 | Linkerbot: 80% Market Dominance, Thousand-Unit Monthly Output
At CES 2026, Linkerbot announced it now controls 80% of the global high‑DOF dexterous robotic‑hand market and is the sole producer delivering thousands of units each month. Its new Linker Hand line includes the 370 g O6 model that can grip...
From Theory to Factory: Europe’s AI Industrialization Challenge
🎙️ In this episode, I talk with Prof. Dr. Marco Huber , Professor for Cognitive Production Systems at the University of Stuttgart : Marco shares his journey from a middle-class upbringing with no academic role models to becoming a leading...
Robotics & Automation News Launches In-Depth AMRs vs AGVs Trend Analysis
Robotics & Automation News has released its first long‑form market report, “AMRs vs AGVs: A 2026‑2030 trend analysis for mobile automation.” The 44‑page study examines whether autonomous mobile robots are displacing automated guided vehicles or if both follow distinct economic...
Free Comprehensive Mobile Robotics Course From Freiburg Experts
Learn mobile robotics from one of the strongest academic groups in the field. The University of Freiburg offers a full course on mobile robotics by Prof. Dr. Wolfram Burgard, one of the pioneers of probabilistic robotics and SLAM. Topics covered:...
Breaking Bottlenecks: Physical AI Gains Momentum
Lots of signs, including from our in-house labs, that we’re starting to break through many of the bottlenecks that have held back physical ai.
See the Latest Advancements in Precision Motion Control and Nanopositioning Automation
Physik Instrumente (PI) unveiled a suite of next‑generation precision motion‑control and nanopositioning solutions aimed at high‑tech manufacturing. The offerings target fast‑focusing, photonics array alignment, laser processing, semiconductor testing, and high‑resolution microscopy. PI emphasizes scalability for silicon photonics chip production, AI‑driven...
RealMan Robotics Showcases Embodied Intelligence Infrastructure at CES 2026
RealMan Robotics unveiled its embodied‑intelligence infrastructure at CES 2026, highlighting ultra‑light humanoid robotic arms, integrated joint modules, and the Global Labor Network powered by RealBOT wheel‑foldable robots. The arms deliver a 5 kg payload, 1.8 m/s speed, and a 50,000‑hour mean‑time‑between‑failures, while joint...
Goya Expands Spanish Warehouse Capacity with Mecalux Pallet Shuttle
Goya Foods’ European arm has upgraded its Spanish distribution centre with a semi‑automated pallet shuttle from Mecalux, adding roughly 3,000 pallet slots across five 7.9‑metre high racking blocks. The system accelerates inbound and outbound movements, cutting handling time and errors...
Grasshopper Wings Inspire Gliding Robot Design
Researchers at Princeton and the University of Illinois studied the hindwings of the American grasshopper to inspire untethered gliding robots. Using CT scans they 3D‑printed wing prototypes that varied in corrugation, shape, and smoothness. Tests in water chambers and free‑flight...
MIT Offers Complete Visual Navigation Course for Robotics
A full MIT course on visual autonomous navigation. If you work on robotics, drones, or self-driving systems, this one is worth bookmarking‼️ MIT’s Visual Navigation for Autonomous Vehicles course covers the full perception-to-control stack, not just isolated algorithms. What it...
Steel, Sensors and Silicon: How Caterpillar Is Bringing Edge AI to the Jobsite
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ATDev Develops Reflex to Bring Robotics and AI to Rehabilitation
Assistive Technology Development (ATDev) unveiled Reflex, a sub‑5‑lb wearable robot that guides knee rehabilitation through embedded sensors and remote monitoring. The startup has progressed from a university class project to securing venture capital—including a $200,000 SkyDeck check in 2022, a...
Universal Robots and Robotiq Showcase Next-Generation Palletizing Solution at CES 2026 in Collaboration with Siemens
Universal Robots, Robotiq and Siemens unveiled a next‑generation palletizing solution at CES 2026, pairing the UR20 collaborative robot with Robotiq's PAL Ready cell and Siemens' new Digital Twin Composer software. The system demonstrates real‑time photorealistic digital‑twin visualization alongside live hardware, using...
MagicLab Made Its Debut at CES, Accelerating Global Development
MagicLab made its first appearance at CES, unveiling three flagship robots: the full‑size humanoid Gen1, the high‑dynamic biped Z1, and the head‑tail coordinated quadruped MagicDog. Gen1 demonstrated multi‑unit collaboration in a home‑appliance plant, featuring 42 active degrees of freedom and...
PI at Photonics West: See the Latest Advancements in Nanopositioning Automation and Precision Motion Control
At Photonics West in San Francisco, PI showcased its latest nanopositioning, automation and precision‑motion‑control technologies aimed at scaling high‑tech manufacturing by 2026. The company highlighted solutions for silicon‑photonic chip production, wafer testing, laser micro‑machining, high‑resolution 3D printing, satellite communications, super‑resolution microscopy...
DexRobot Shines at CES 2026, Showcasing Its Flagship DexHand021 Pro and Closed-Loop Dexterous Solution
DexRobot debuted its DexHand021 Pro at CES 2026, presenting a 22‑DOF, 50 N payload robotic hand with millisecond tactile feedback and edge‑AI compute. The system includes the DexCap exoskeleton, capturing 65 DOF motion at 1000 Hz for closed‑loop skill learning. Priced between $14,000 and $28,000,...
Video Wednesday
Johnson & Johnson’s Verb division unveiled OTTAVA, a six‑armed robotic platform designed for minimally invasive surgery. The system combines advanced haptic feedback, AI‑driven motion planning, and modular tooling to handle complex procedures. Early trials report a 30% reduction in operative...
DAISCH Participation at CES 2026 - Advanced IMU Motion Sensor Technology Showcase
Daisch, a leading IMU motion‑sensor maker, announced its participation in CES 2026, showcasing its latest full‑temperature‑range calibrated sensors. The company will exhibit at Booth #10248 in the Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility hall from Jan 6‑9, targeting autonomous vehicles, humanoid robots, and consumer...
Oshkosh Acquires Core Technology Developed by Canvas
Oshkosh Corp. announced the acquisition of the core technology behind Canvas Construction’s 1200CX drywall‑finishing robot, bolstering its intelligent‑construction portfolio. Canvas, founded in 2017, claims the 1200CX reduces finishing time from five days to two and captures 99% of dust. The...
Meet the AI-Powered Robotic Dog Ready to Help with Emergency Response
Texas A&M engineering students have built an AI‑powered robotic dog that combines a multimodal large language model with visual memory to navigate chaotic environments. The prototype processes voice commands, interprets camera data, and plans paths while recalling previously traversed routes,...
Mobileye To Acquire Mentee Robotics to Accelerate Physical AI Leadership
Mobileye announced a definitive agreement to acquire Mentee Robotics for approximately $900 million, merging its autonomous‑driving AI with Mentee’s third‑generation humanoid platform. The deal aims to create a leader in Physical AI, spanning autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots, with proof‑of‑concept deployments...
Mobileye Acquires Humanoid Robot Startup Mentee Robotics for $900M
Mobileye announced a $900 million acquisition of Mentee Robotics, the humanoid‑robot startup co‑founded by its president Amnon Shashua. The deal consists of $612 million in cash and up to 26.2 million Mobileye shares, and is slated to close in Q1 2026. Mobileye frames...
Aetina Introduces AIB-AT Series, an Edge AI Platform Based on NVIDIA Jetson Thor for Physical AI and Robotics
Aetina unveiled the AIB‑AT series, edge AI platforms powered by NVIDIA Jetson Thor modules (T5000 and T4000). The devices deliver up to 2070 FP4 TFLOPS of compute, 128 GB memory, and 7.5× performance gains over prior generations, targeting physical AI and robotics. Compact 140 mm × 165 mm...
Amazon Acquires Rightbot, Adds to Robotics Delivery and Packaging Innovation Team
Amazon has acquired Rightbot Technologies, adding its robot‑unloading team to the company’s Robotics Delivery and Packaging Innovation (RDPI) unit. Rightbot’s mobile robot uses a suction‑gripper to handle unstructured loads from trucks and trailers. Amazon previously led a $4 million investment in...
Amazon Acquires Truck Unloading Developer Rightbot
Amazon.com Inc. has acquired Rightbot Technologies, a developer of a suction‑gripper robot that unloads trucks and trailers. The deal’s financial terms were not disclosed, but Amazon added Rightbot’s engineers to its Robotics Delivery and Packaging Innovation (RDPI) team. Rightbot previously...
When Digital Twins Meet Lean Palletizing on the Factory Floor
At CES 2026, Robotiq, Universal Robots, and Siemens showcased a next‑generation palletizing solution that merges collaborative robotics with real‑time digital twin technology. The system combines Robotiq’s PAL Ready cell, a UR20 cobot, and Siemens’ Digital Twin Composer to simulate and...
Hidonix to Showcase Next-Gen ION Spatial Intelligence Platform at CES 2026
Hidonix Industries announced its participation at CES 2026 to unveil the next‑generation ION Spatial Intelligence Platform. The showcase features the new Hido II rover, two wearable real‑time tracking devices, and the ION Content Management System. ION already powers navigation and asset tracking...
ANELLO Launches Compact Navigation System for Resilient Drone Operations
ANELLO Photonics unveiled the ANELLO Aerial INS, a compact inertial navigation system built around its Silicon Photonic Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG) technology. The unit delivers fiber‑optic gyro performance in a 1‑lb, 98% navigation accuracy without cameras. It is designed for UAVs,...
Aeva Introduces Omni, the First Compact Wide-View Short-Range 4D LiDAR Sensor for Physical AI Applications
Aeva unveiled Omni at CES 2026, the first compact short‑range 4D LiDAR with a 360° horizontal and 90° vertical field of view. Built on the company’s FMCW platform, the sensor delivers up to 80 meters of range in an 85 mm diameter package...
Lanner Unveils EAI-I351: Next-Generation Robotic AI Platform Powered by NVIDIA Jetson Thor and NVIDIA Blackwell Architecture
Lanner Electronics has launched the EAI‑I351, a rugged edge AI platform built on NVIDIA Jetson Thor and the Blackwell GPU architecture. It delivers up to 2,070 FP4 TFLOPS of compute within a 130 W power envelope, targeting autonomous mobile robots, industrial vehicles, and edge‑native...
Doosan Bobcat Introduces Smarter Machines for Simpler Operation at CES 2026
Doosan Bobcat unveiled a suite of AI‑driven and electrified technologies at CES 2026, highlighted by the on‑board Jobsite Companion that offers voice‑controlled, real‑time machine assistance. The company also introduced Service.AI for instant diagnostic support, a Collision Warning and Avoidance system, MicroLED...
Innoviz Technologies Announces First Sensor-Fusion Colored 3D LiDAR and Camera in InnovizThree
Innoviz Technologies unveiled InnovizThree, the first fully colored long‑range LiDAR that integrates an RGB camera in a single compact module. The sensor‑fusion unit is 60% smaller than the previous InnovizTwo and is designed for behind‑the‑windshield placement, drones, micro‑robotics and humanoid...
Ubicept Showcases Physics-Based Imaging at CES 2026 to Usher in the Next Generation of Smart Perception for Robotics and Autonomous...
Ubicept demonstrated its physics‑based imaging Toolkit at CES 2026, showcasing live reductions in blur and noise on both conventional CMOS and next‑generation SPAD sensors. The Toolkit, featuring the Ubicept Photon Fusion algorithm and FLARE firmware, enables high‑dynamic‑range and fast‑motion imaging by...
Rapid Drone Launches as Demand for Real-Time Aerial Intelligence Surges
Rapid Drone entered the market as a dedicated aerial‑intelligence services provider, capitalising on a commercial drone sector projected to expand from $30 billion in 2024 to over $54 billion by 2030. The company manages a fleet of USA‑Blue‑Certified drones, offering real‑time intelligence...
Caterpillar to Showcase Next Era in Industrial AI and Autonomy at CES 2026
Caterpillar Inc. will headline CES 2026 with a keynote and a live exhibit showcasing its next‑generation industrial AI and autonomous solutions. The company will demonstrate the Cat AI Nexus on a 306 mini excavator, offering real‑time guidance, safety features, and smart fleet...
IntBot to Debut First-Ever Unmanned CES Booth Run by a Robot; Humanoid "Nylo" Takes the Floor Solo
IntBot will showcase its flagship humanoid, Nylo, as the sole exhibitor at CES 2026, operating an unmanned booth for the entire first day. The robot will greet visitors, initiate conversations, and answer questions without any human assistance, demonstrating real‑time social autonomy....
XELA Robotics Unlocks Enhanced Automation for Humanoid and Industrial Robots
XELA Robotics unveiled its uSkin tactile sensor suite at CES, giving humanoid and industrial robots a human‑like sense of touch. The sensors, integrated into robot hands and grippers from partners such as Wonik, Weiss and Tesollo, provide 3‑D force, shape...
Electromate Expands Mobile Robotics Offering with Maxon HEJ 90 High-Efficiency Joint
Electromate Inc. announced the launch of the maxon HEJ 90 High‑Efficiency Joint, a compact, sealed actuator for mobile and legged robots. The joint delivers up to 140 Nm (configurable to 180 Nm) torque, 86 % efficiency, and speeds up to 13 rad/s within a 110 mm × 90 mm...
CIS News
A wave of breakthroughs is reshaping robotic surgery, highlighted by Johnson & Johnson’s FDA application for its OTTAVA system and Cornerstone Robotics’ first clinical validation of fully autonomous robot‑assisted procedures. Horizon Surgical Systems demonstrated AI‑assisted cataract surgery, while industry analysts...
Flickstop
Great Robotics unveiled its NewDawn AI‑Powered Endoscopic Surgical Robot Platform, performing the world’s first public, fully autonomous ex vivo spinal surgery. The demonstration took place at the 17th Annual Congress of the Chinese Orthopaedic Association, drawing attention from surgeons and...
CES 2026: Schaeffler Shows Motion Technology Portfolio for the Industry of the Future
Schaeffler showcased its motion‑technology portfolio at CES 2026, unveiling a planetary‑gear actuator for humanoid robots, high‑performance bearings for energy generation, and autonomous material‑handling solutions. The company emphasized the integration of AI‑driven data with mechanical precision to enable predictive maintenance, digital twins,...
Duravant Completes Acquisition of Matthews Automation Solutions
Duravant completed the acquisition of Matthews Automation Solutions for a total consideration of $232.1 million, slightly above the $230 million initially announced. The Matthews unit, which generated $72 million in fiscal‑2025 sales, brings autonomous mobile robots and leading warehouse execution and control software...
Global Impact Through Robotics & AI Bootcamp in Riyadh
The Robotics & AI Bootcamp in Riyadh, held Dec 30‑31 2025 and a Hackathon on Jan 1 2026, brought together K‑12 students from multiple schools for a free, three‑day immersive program. Organized by Dr. Abdul Matheen, the event was a joint effort between Meritus AI (India)...
Seyond to Showcase Complete End-to-End LiDAR Portfolio and Mass-Production-Ready Solid-State LiDAR at CES 2026
Seyond will unveil its complete end‑to‑end LiDAR suite at CES 2026, highlighted by the Hummingbird D1 solid‑state sensor that is ready for mass production and has secured a world‑first OEM design win. The portfolio now covers ultra‑long‑range Falcon K, long‑range Robin E1X, mid‑range...
Hygienic High-Precision Robotic Solutions From Stäubli Live at IPPE 2026
Stäubli Robotics is showcasing its next‑generation, food‑grade automation at IPPE 2026, including the six‑axis TX2‑90 robot designed for humid, wash‑down environments and the ultra‑compact FL1500 electric forklift for heavy meat‑processing loads. The company will host a TECHTalk on January 29 that explores...
Video Wednesday
On November 20, 2020, Verb Robotics and Johnson & Johnson unveiled OTTAVA, a six‑armed surgical robot designed to tackle complex, minimally invasive procedures. The platform combines Verb’s modular robotics expertise with J&J’s medical device portfolio, promising greater dexterity and precision in the operating room....
MIT Engineers Design an Aerial Microrobot that Can Fly as Fast as a Bumblebee
MIT engineers have created an aerial microrobot that matches bumblebee‑level speed and agility. By pairing a model‑predictive controller with a deep‑learning policy, the robot achieved a 447% boost in speed and a 255% rise in acceleration. The AI‑driven system allowed...
From Individuals to Crews, AI Brings Teamwork Into Construction Productivity Analysis
Researchers at National Taiwan University have unveiled an AI system that automatically identifies construction activities at both individual and crew levels using ordinary site video footage. The multi‑granular framework links worker actions, crew collaborations, and overall site operations, delivering a...
Top Industrial Robots List – December 2025
RoboticMagazine.com released its Top Industrial Robots List for December 2025, ranking FANUC’s M/R‑series, ABB’s IRB 6700 and FANUC’s CRX cobot as the leading machines. The list, compiled through editorial research and AI‑weighted scoring, covers articulated, collaborative, SCARA and gantry robots from 20...