What's happening: BMW pilots humanoid robots at Leipzig plant
BMW Group launched its first European pilot of humanoid robots at the Leipzig plant, partnering with Hexagon Robotics and its AEON robot to test multifunctional tasks such as high‑voltage battery assembly and component manufacturing. The project extends BMW’s ‘Physical AI’ strategy that blends artificial intelligence with real machines, building on a prior U.S. pilot at Spartanburg.
Also developing:
Exotec has inaugurated its new 25,000 m² headquarters, Imaginarium, in Northern France, consolidating design, production and support for its warehouse robotics portfolio. The facility houses over 700 employees and features an 8,560 m² production floor equipped with 11 operational Exotec systems. Imaginarium serves as a strategic hub for the company’s European‑centric growth and global expansion, hosting teams from offices worldwide. The opening coincided with the first Exosummit, bringing together customers, partners and the broader ecosystem.
Physik Instrumente (PI) has issued a new brochure positioning the company as a long‑term OEM partner for high‑precision motion control, nanopositioning and piezo solutions. The catalogue highlights fast steering mirrors, 6‑DoF hexapods, granite‑based multi‑axis platforms and nano‑focus motors tailored for...
Geekplus is sponsoring the world’s first AI‑driven, immersive shoppable runway hosted by THG Studios and Topshop on Feb. 26, 2026 in Manchester. The event blends a fashion catwalk with a live Fulfilment Zone where Geekplus’ autonomous P‑series mobile robots perform real‑time picking...
SunRobi, Sunstall’s robotic‑assisted construction arm, became the first certified operator of Cosmic Robotics’ autonomous module‑installation system, Cosmic‑1A, after multiple live utility‑scale deployments across the United States. The certification confirms SunRobi’s ability to embed the robot into end‑to‑end EPC workflows, delivering...
3D printed differential robot arm wrist. [👇 GitHub Link - Open Source ] High demand, so they open sourced it early. A differential mechanism released as a test fixture for future robots. Built around their Spectral micro BLDC driver. Parts, STL files, example code...

Interstuhl Büromöbel has integrated Dürr’s EcoSupply2 Core robotic coating system to automate the interior coating of foam moulds used for its industrial and laboratory chairs. The solution combines an EcoGun AS Auto pro spray gun, a 2K EcoAUC control unit and six compact paint‑supply stations,...
Maybe the bitter lesson for robotics that goes against all the current narratives is that a small amount of in-domain demos is really hard to beat, especially when it comes to e.g. industrial use cases, where variability is limited.

RobCo, the Munich‑based modular robotics firm, opened a U.S. headquarters in San Francisco and announced a $100 million Series C round to accelerate its AI‑driven automation roadmap. The company commissioned Sapio Research to survey 400 U.S. industrial decision‑makers, publishing the Automation Readiness...
Harvard SEAS researchers unveiled a mathematical framework that designs rolling‑contact joints—curved surfaces that roll and glide like a human knee—to meet specific force trajectories. The optimization simultaneously shapes each joint component, embedding task‑specific mechanics directly into hardware. Prototypes demonstrated a...
Fraunhofer FKIE has built a highly automated unmanned aerial system that can locate radioactive sources within a few metres in just minutes. The drone combines a gamma detector with electro‑optical and infrared cameras, an Intel NUC processor, and advanced sensor‑fusion...

Wingtra has launched a comprehensive training programme for WingtraRAY drone operators, covering the full workflow from equipment setup through flight planning with WingtraPRO to post‑flight data processing using WingtraUNLIMITED. The curriculum emphasizes safety protocols, repeatable accuracy, and user experience, and...
A collection of Python robotics algorithms (localization, SLAM, path planning, motion planning). (📍GitHub ) Python sample codes and textbook for robotics algorithms. GitHub: https://lnkd.in/eBZXA22n —— Weekly robotics and AI insights. Subscribe free: scalingdeep.tech
Delta Line has launched two new brushless DC servo drives, the Leo B3800 and Leo B860, expanding its Leo family. The B3800 delivers up to 3800 W and 80 A rms, targeting the most powerful Delta Line motors, while the B860 provides...

RAF Shawbury’s airspace includes a 2‑nautical‑mile Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) and rectangular Runway Protection Zones (RPZs) extending 5 km by 500 m up to 2,000 ft. Operators must obtain permission from Station Operations to fly within these red‑marked areas, using the standard Drone...
KUKA Robotics will showcase its autonomous mobile robot (AMR) portfolio at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, highlighting the new KMP 250P platform. The exhibition features four AMR models—KMP 250P, 600P, 1500P, and 3000P—covering payloads from 250 kg to 3 tons and integrated with KUKA.AMR FLEET management software....

Carbon Robotics unveiled its Large Plant Model (LPM), an AI system that instantly identifies plant species, eliminating the need for manual retraining of its LaserWeeder robots. The model was trained on more than 150 million labeled photos collected from over 100...

Draganfly Inc. has secured a contract to supply its Flex FPV drones and comprehensive training to U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command units, partnering with DelMar Aerospace. The program will deliver first‑person‑view (FPV) instruction at DelMar’s Camp Pendleton range, with the...

The U.S. Navy has chosen L3Harris Technologies to develop and produce Red Wolf vehicles for the Marine Corps’ Precision Attack Strike Munition (PASM) program. The decision follows more than 50 test flights, including a low‑altitude launch from an AH‑1Z helicopter, and...
A team from Johns Hopkins has demonstrated an autonomous retinal vein cannulation (RVC) system that combines two Steady‑Hand Eye Robots with deep‑learning vision models. The workflow uses three convolutional neural networks to guide a 100‑µm needle and a medical spatula...

Richtech Robotics has teamed with Microsoft’s AI Co‑Innovation Labs to embed Azure‑powered agentic AI into its flagship Adam robot. The upgrade adds vision, voice and contextual reasoning, letting the robot factor in time of day, weather, promotions and equipment status....
A motorized Almond Coupling, or Bent-Arm Joint. No supports or hardware needed. (📍 Link to Makerworld) It was invented and patented around 1885 as a right angle transmission coupling for steam and gas engines. 📍 https://lnkd.in/eMUV_Kgp —- Weekly robotics and AI insights. Subscribe free: scalingdeep.tech
Anyone in SF have a Unitree Go2 EDU I can test deploy a few RL policies to? https://t.co/whZVHLj59P

Cyngn announced that autonomous vehicle orders for its DriveMod Tugger platform tripled in 2025 versus the prior year, reflecting accelerating enterprise adoption across manufacturing and industrial sites. The surge was driven by extensive on‑site demonstrations, software upgrades and fleet‑readiness work performed...

#IROS2026 will convene in Pittsburgh from Sept 27 – Oct 1! As one of the largest & most dynamic robotics conferences, IROS brings together world-leading researchers, educators, govt. leaders, startups, industry innovators, practitioners, & investors👇 https://t.co/zWIb6SZtCO https://t.co/A12L5450Aw

CES 2026 demonstrated that robot hardware has reached a performance plateau, with machines easily executing complex movements like dancing and back‑flipping. The real challenge, according to IntBot, is now social intelligence—robots must understand context, people, and environments autonomously. IntBot highlighted its...

Stuff Manufacturing has opened a silicone‑molding facility in Lake Elsinore, California, to provide U.S. brands with a domestic alternative to Chinese production. Founder Hans Dose launched the plant after 25% tariffs and shipping delays eroded margins for his own product...

Libiao Robotics has installed 240 autonomous robots at Correo Argentino’s Monte Grande parcel hub, the first AI‑driven robotic sorter in Latin America. The system, based on the T‑Sort Sorting System, can process up to 9,000 parcels per hour, tripling the facility’s previous...

Louisiana’s economic development agency signed a memorandum of understanding with Persona AI to launch a humanoid‑robotics pilot at SSE Steel Fabrication’s plant in St. Bernard Parish. The program will collect real‑world data on human movement and task execution in a...
Enzymatic microbubble robots—tiny gas‑filled carriers powered by catalytic enzymes—are emerging as a versatile platform for precision drug delivery and real‑time imaging. Recent studies demonstrate urease‑driven bubbles that self‑propel, breach dense tumor stroma, and release therapeutics directly at bladder cancer sites,...
Our Teslas have far more AI inferencing power than a Mac Mini. Mine is sitting in my garage right now unused. Another in the driveway. I dream of a day when I can run @openclaw (or a competitor) on them. Along these...
Intuitive Surgical projects worldwide da Vinci surgical system procedures to grow 13‑15% in 2026, a slowdown from the 18% growth recorded in 2025. The forecast was disclosed in the company’s fourth‑quarter earnings release and outlines the full‑year outlook. Despite the...

GlobalLogic, a Hitachi Group digital‑engineering firm, has broadened its 15‑year partnership with automotive‑software leader Elektrobit to speed the creation of software‑defined vehicle (SDV) platforms. The expanded alliance adds GlobalLogic’s high‑performance computing, functional‑safety and cybersecurity capabilities, ensuring compliance with ASPICE 4.0 and...

Microsoft Research introduced Rho‑alpha, a vision‑language‑action‑plus (VLA+) robotics model that adds tactile sensing to interpret natural‑language commands for complex bimanual tasks. Built on the Phi series, the model relies heavily on synthetic data generated through Nvidia's Isaac Sim and reinforcement‑learning pipelines....

Ondas Inc.’s Optimus drone, built by American Robotics, has earned Blue List status from the Defense Contract Management Agency, placing it on the Department of War’s approved UAS directory. The designation confirms compliance with stringent cybersecurity, supply‑chain and operational standards,...

Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters successfully used live data from two drones and ground sensors via a mesh network to engage a moving vehicle. The Eagles Eye trials demonstrated a hybrid air wing where crewed aircraft act as airborne command centres,...

MassRobotics, together with Festo, Novanta and Mitsubishi Electric Automation, announced the 11 startups selected for the fifth Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst cohort. The five‑month program, running January‑May 2026, pairs founders with senior experts, a medical advisory board, and a Boston‑based...

In this episode Nathan Lambert and Sebastian Raschka dissect the 2026 AI landscape, covering the geopolitical AI race between China and the US, the competitive standings of major LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok, and the evolving role of...
MBARI, in partnership with USGS and READI‑Net, unveiled FIDO – a 22‑kilogram autonomous robot that filters and preserves up to 144 eDNA samples for aquatic biosurveillance. Built on the two‑decade‑old Environmental Sample Processor, FIDO offers a lightweight, low‑cost alternative that...
Researchers from Korea University, ETH Zurich and UCLA unveiled a dog‑training‑inspired framework that lets humans teach four‑legged robots using touch, gestures and spoken commands. A training rod serves as a temporary guide, after which the robot responds directly to human...
A new review in npj Robotics details rapid progress in electronic noses for robots, highlighting gains in sensor sensitivity and odor source identification. The analysis shows e‑noses now detect faint chemical signatures and pinpoint their origins more reliably. These capabilities...
Researchers have created an all‑in‑one dielectric elastomer actuator that simultaneously bends out‑of‑plane and emits light using a single electrical input. By tuning ZnS:Cu2+ phosphor concentration and employing an asymmetric electrode design, the device achieves a high curvature of 4.71 cm⁻¹, a...

Sharpa unveiled its full‑body robot North at CES 2026, where it played autonomous ping‑pong matches and completed long‑horizon tasks such as 30‑step windmill assembly and card dealing. The demonstrations, running eight hours a day for four days, highlighted the company’s progress...

Covvi announced two new wrist configurations for its advanced prosthetic, the Straight Wrist and the Friction Wrist, both lighter and shorter than the original Flex Wrist. The Flex Wrist still offers 27 degrees of lockable flexion, while the Straight Wrist...

Omron Robotics has broadened its TM S collaborative‑robot line with three new models—TM30S, TM20S and TM6S—each delivering higher payloads and longer reach. The hardware upgrades include IP65 protection and, for the larger units, an integrated joint‑6 force‑torque wrist sensor. Alongside the...

Universal Robots VP Anders Billesø Beck outlines four physical AI trends reshaping robotics through 2026. He predicts a shift from reactive control to predictive mathematics, enabling robots to anticipate impacts of motion. Imitation learning will turn isolated cobots into cooperative,...

Electric air taxi pilots missed their high‑profile Paris 2024 Olympic debut due to certification, technical and environmental setbacks. Vertiport infrastructure is already in place and test flights continue, positioning a commercial launch for around 2026. The technology promises to add...

Deepgram announced a $130 million Series C round that lifts its valuation to $1.3 billion, led by AVP and joined by strategic backers such as Twilio, ServiceNow Ventures, SAP and Citi Ventures. The capital will accelerate the expansion of its real‑time voice AI...

Wing has launched its drone delivery service for Walmart customers across Greater Houston, marking the company’s most ambitious expansion to date. The service promises deliveries of everyday essentials, groceries, and OTC medicines in as little as 30 minutes using lightweight...

Danish robotics firm 4XRobots announced a U.S. expansion aimed at automating commercial greenhouse operations across North America. The company appointed Nick Chambers as head of global market development and joined the Association for Advancing Automation to forge partnerships with local...
If you're tired of writing code that only lives on a screen, join us in building software that gives people their time back in the real world. Sunday is hiring Software Engineers of all levels to bring our home robot to...