Today's Robotics Pulse
ROBOTIS’s AI Sapiens learns K‑POP dance from a phone video
South Korean robotics firm ROBOTIS showcased its AI Sapiens humanoid robot mastering a complex K‑POP routine using only a smartphone video. The approach leverages video‑based motion capture, reinforcement‑learning simulation and Sim2Real transfer, removing the need for costly motion‑capture studios. The 1.3‑meter, 34‑kg robot is equipped with 23 DYNAMIXEL‑Q actuators.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Waymo acquires Apple’s Arizona Proving Ground for $220M
AI-Native Document Automation for SAP. Global Scale. Zero IT Drag.
Rossum announced its AI‑native document automation platform is now an official SAP partner. The integration uses AI agents to extract data from invoices, purchase orders and shipping documents and feed it directly into SAP modules such as accounts‑payable, order management and logistics. The service claims to convert complex documents into structured SAP data within seconds while requiring virtually no IT involvement. Rossum says the solution is built for global enterprises and can scale across multiple regions.
A New Era of Aerial Logistics: Project Jericho, JabX and the Future of Australian Defence
Australia’s vast, sparsely populated north forces the ADF to rethink supply chains, prompting the Royal Australian Air Force’s Project Jericho to trial autonomous aerial logistics. The centerpiece, the JabX unmanned aerial system, adapts the proven Jabiru 400 airframe to haul heavy...
U.S. Army Expands eBee VISION Fleet with New European Purchase
EagleNXT, through German integrator Dronivo, delivered three eBee VISION unmanned‑air system kits to the U.S. Army's 7th Army Training Command, bringing the service's total inventory to 34 units across six organizations. The platform, a hand‑launched fixed‑wing drone, offers up to...
Kassow Robots to Exhibit Extensive Cobot Capabilities at Automate 2026
Kassow Robots, a Copenhagen‑based maker of 7‑axis collaborative robots, will demo its latest cobot models at Automate 2026 in Chicago. The showcase features the new KR 1824 and KR 1240, which offer up to 50% higher joint torque, 20% faster wrist speeds and...
Bosch Rexroth to Showcase Smarter, Faster, and Best-in-Class Automation Solutions at Automate 2026
Bosch Rexroth will exhibit its full factory‑automation portfolio at Automate 2026 in Chicago, booth #2810, from June 22‑25. The showcase includes the new TS 7plus conveyor, capable of handling payloads up to 3,000 kg, and the ctrlX AUTOMATION suite featuring cabinet‑free ctrlX DRIVE, ctrlX CORE, and the high‑speed...
Advancing Autonomous Drone Constellations for the US Military
DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office issued a Request for Information seeking autonomous drone constellations and self‑sufficient storage containers for the U.S. military. The program targets Group 1‑3 drones capable of forming up to 500‑unit constellations with Level‑4 autonomy, requiring continuous power, low‑cost...
UK Pours £46.5 Million Into Drone ID System and Flying‑Taxi R&D
The UK government announced a £46.5 million investment to develop a real‑time drone identification system and accelerate flying‑taxi projects. Half the funding targets security, while the rest cuts regulatory barriers, positioning the UK for a potential £103 billion advanced air‑mobility market by...
Enhanced Datalogic Safety Laser Scanners From AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has launched enhanced Datalogic safety laser scanners that employ time‑of‑flight measurement to protect machinery, robotic cells, and mobile automation. The new models cover up to 72 m² with a 275° scanning angle, delivering reliable detection in demanding environments. Master, standalone...
Huayan Robotics to Debut in Broader America at FABTECH Mexico 2026 After HKEX Listing
Huayan Robotics, freshly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, will make its first broader American appearance at FABTECH Mexico 2026 from May 12‑14. The company will showcase its E12‑Pro ultra‑long‑reach welding cobot, the S50 heavy‑payload palletizing robot, high‑speed CNC loading/unloading solutions,...
China Makes AI‑Powered Robots Central to 15th Five‑Year Plan
China has embedded AI‑powered robots in its 15th Five‑Year Plan, aiming to boost industrial automation with an estimated 2 million operational units and capture 54% of worldwide robot installations. The move signals a shift toward high‑end intelligent robotics and reshapes global...
Robot Hand Mimics Human Habit, Wiping Egg Clean
A robot hand wiping some egg off its fingers with a towel is the most bizarrely human thing you'll see a robot do all week, and it's just the beginning https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/a-robot-hand-wiping-some-egg-off-its-fingers-with-a-towel-is-the-most-bizarrely-human-thing-youll-see-a-robot-do-all-week-and-its-just-the-beginning
Nvidia Taps Robotics Ecosystem to Scale Physical AI
Nvidia is expanding its physical AI push by rallying a global robotics ecosystem to bring AI‑driven perception and action to real‑world settings such as factories, hospitals and construction sites. The company leverages its Isaac open‑source robotics platform and Omniverse simulation...
No-Code AI Agents Automate My Entire Workflow
Ok this is wild. I just built a team of 5 AI agents in plain English. No code. > Inbox agent replying to emails in my tone 24/7 > Research agent pulling competitor intel every morning > Calendar agent booking and rescheduling meetings > Content...
Humanoid Robot Demos Getting Absurdly Theatrical
So if you dress up a robot in a habit does it become Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act? These humanoid demonstrations are just becoming ridiculous.
Tempering the Robot Revolution
Tilbury Douglas has become the first UK contractor to field a humanoid robot, dubbed Douglas, on an active construction site. The robot, built on Unitree’s off‑the‑shelf G1 platform, combines LiDAR, depth cameras and a custom AI layer for defect detection,...
China Launches Multi‑motion Machine to Drive Automation
China Unveils Innovative Multi-Motion Industrial Machine Powering the Next Wave of #Automation by @Hoxygo #Innovation #EmergingTech #Technology https://t.co/4UIqrA1X97
Autonomous Tractors: Technology Is Ready, but Farmers Remain Cautious
Autonomous tractors are technically ready, with GP Solutions’ iQuus retrofit kit already powering about 40 tractors across Europe and Australia. Yet Dutch farmers remain skeptical after previous over‑hyped promises and costly failures, such as a €0.5 million ($540,000) spot sprayer that proved...
FAA Releases Long-Awaited NPRM for Drone Restrictions Around Critical Infrastructure
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to create a petition‑based framework for restricting unmanned aircraft around critical infrastructure. The 181‑page proposal adds a new 14 CFR Part 74, introducing Standard and Special Unmanned Aircraft Flight Restrictions (UAFRs) with...
Rockwell Automation Lifts 2026 Profit Outlook as Automation Demand Surges
Rockwell Automation raised its 2026 profit forecast after reporting $2.2 billion in second‑quarter sales, up 12% year‑over‑year. The boost reflects accelerating demand for factory automation, data‑center robotics and semiconductor equipment, a trend echoed by peers Teradyne and Tesla.
Drones Over the Pitch: How Counter-UAS Technology and 3D Printing Are Securing the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Sentrycs, a subsidiary of Ondas Holdings, secured multiple multi‑million‑dollar contracts with federal, state and local agencies to deploy counter‑UAS systems at most of the 2026 FIFA World Cup venues across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament, the largest...
Savback Helicopters, Dufour Aerospace to Pioneer Long-Range Tiltrotor Drone Cargo Network in Sweden
Swedish operator Savback Helicopters and Swiss tiltwing pioneer Dufour Aerospace have signed an MOU to launch a long‑range drone logistics network in Sweden. The deal calls for an initial fleet of three Aero‑200 hybrid‑electric tiltwing aircraft, each capable of carrying...
Nuro Secures California Permit to Test Driverless Uber‑Backed Lucid Gravity Robotaxis
Nuro has been granted a California DMV permit to test its driverless Lucid Gravity robotaxis without a safety driver, allowing operations up to 45 mph in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. The approval clears a major regulatory hurdle for Uber’s...
Robotic Surgery Removes Tremors, Achieves Machine Precision
#Robotic Surgery Eliminates Human Tremors with Precision Machine-Level Accuracy by @amazingthings_ #HealthTech #Tech #Technology #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/aVJJU74sbF
RSI Europe Skipped the Crowded Drone Race — and It Paid Off
RSI Europe, a Lithuanian defence‑tech startup, pivoted from a planned drone programme to low‑cost remote‑initiation systems, delivering them to Ukraine within months. Bootstrapped with a €40,000 (~$43k) personal loan, the firm generated €170,000 (~$184k) revenue in its first year and...
Master AP Complexity with AI Agents
Rossum has announced its status as an official Coupa partner, delivering a native integration that embeds AI agents into Coupa’s procure-to-pay platform. The solution automates the entire accounts‑payable paperwork lifecycle, from invoice capture and e‑invoicing to coding, matching, and exception...
European UGV Maker Sends Hundreds More Ground Robots to Ukraine
European unmanned ground vehicle maker ARX Robotics secured a new contract to deliver several hundred additional GEREON UGVs to Ukraine, expanding its deployed fleet to five times its original size. Ukraine announced a plan to acquire 25,000 ground robots in...
China Deploys Drones for High‑Rise Firefighting
China Unveils #Drone Firefighting Tech for High-Rise Rescue and Fire Control by @MarchUnofficial #Innovation #EmergingTech #Technology #Tech #TechForGood https://t.co/BmZADitnoB
US DOW Doubles Down on Domestic Drone Production
On April 27 the U.S. Department of War released the Drone Dominance Program Supply Chain Framework, tightening procurement rules to favor domestic production of small unmanned aerial systems. The initiative earmarks $1.1 billion for 200,000 one‑way attack drones, targeting propellers, airframes...
Xiaomi Unveils H50 Pro Robot Vacuum With 15,000Pa Suction Power
Xiaomi has launched the H50 Pro robot vacuum, boasting a 15,000 Pa suction rating that ranks it among the most powerful consumer models. The unit features extendable side brushes and dual rear mops that reach corners and edges, while a laser‑mapping system...
Ubiqconn & Subsidiary RuggON to Showcase Next-Gen C5ISR & Edge AI Solutions
Ubiqconn Technology and its RuggON subsidiary will demo next‑generation C5ISR and edge‑AI solutions at XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit. The showcase features the SPARK 7 ground‑control system and SOL 7 rugged tablet, both built for long‑range, resilient communications. Partnering with DTC, a Codan...
Toronto Robot Mills Mass Timber to Within 0.06-Millimetre Precision
The University of Toronto’s Civil and Mineral Engineering department has installed a 3.5‑metre KUKA Quantec KR210 robotic arm, delivering industrial‑scale mass‑timber milling with 0.06 mm repeatability. The system, the largest robotic arm ever placed at a Canadian university, can sculpt solid...
Portable Automation Arrives With FANUC Ultra-Light CRX-3iA Cobot
FANUC America has launched the ultra‑light CRX‑3iA cobot, weighing just 11 kg (24 lb) and capable of rapid redeployment for high‑mix, low‑volume tasks. The robot offers a 3 kg payload, 692 mm reach, and flexible mounting options, making it ideal for welding, assembly, and...
Autonomous Robots Prioritize some Rules over Others
For #Autonomous #Robots, not all rules are equal by Iowa State University @TechXplore_com Learn more: https://t.co/nwi21eqoFg #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/kWr1fRdpZT
Autonomous Delivery Reaches Age of Expansion
Autonomous delivery is moving from concept to rapid expansion as Zipline and Coco Robotics announced aggressive growth plans at the 2026 Food on Demand Conference. Zipline will add service in Austin and Phoenix by the end of the quarter and...
Robots Climb Walls, Transform Warehouse Automation
Gravity-Defying #Robotic #Warehouse System: Ceiling- and Wall-Climbing #Automation via @ZappyZappy7 #Robot #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML https://t.co/yA7MuB9aqP
ABB Robotics Launches OmniVance Autonomous Surface‑finishing Cell
ABB Robotics unveiled the OmniVance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell, a self‑contained, plug‑and‑play system that automates sanding and polishing. The launch targets midsize manufacturers lacking robotics expertise, promising up to a 90% reduction in programming time.
Chinese Startup ZYT Moves to Mass‑produce Semi‑autonomous Trucks by Late 2026
Shenzhen‑based ZYT, a spin‑off from drone maker DJI, announced plans to begin mass production of semi‑autonomous trucks in the second half of 2026 after securing deals with China’s six largest heavy‑truck manufacturers. The move positions the startup as the first...
How Drone Warehouse Logistics Is Transforming Modern Supply Chains
Drone-based warehouse logistics leverages autonomous UAVs equipped with SLAM, LiDAR, RFID and AI to provide real‑time inventory visibility. By 2026 drones can audit over 10,000 SKUs per hour, cutting manual audit time from days to under an hour. Integrated with...
Dreame Unveils All‑in‑One Smart Yard Hub and Three AI‑Powered Garden Robots in San Francisco
Dreame Technology rolled out an All‑in‑One smart‑yard centre, the A3 AWD PRO robotic mower and the APEX multifunction robot at its Dreame NEXT: Autonomous Outdoors showcase in San Francisco on April 29. The launch signals the Chinese firm’s bid to...
Woot-Tech Juggernaut Gunship Armed Multirotor Drone
The Juggernaut Gunship, unveiled in April 2026, converts Woot‑Tech’s 50 kg octacopter from a mortar bomber into an armed multirotor with stabilized 7.62 mm and 5.56 mm machine guns. Pakistan’s Navy and special‑operations forces have reportedly inducted the system, giving them a low‑signature...
China Deploys Embodied AI Robots for Hazardous Industrial Work
RobotPlusPlus unveiled a 90‑kg climbing robot that can weld, scan and spray on vertical steel tanks, while a new subsea cable‑inspection robot and grain‑leveling machines expand China’s embodied AI push. The moves reflect the country's five‑year plan to make AI‑enabled...
Vote for Delivery Robots: Boost Local Business, Cut Congestion
Tomorrow, @CityofVancouver is voting on a pilot for autonomous delivery robots, including @ServeRobotics. They should approve it. This is personal. Vancouver is my home, and it’s where I was inspired to build Serve. It's where I fell in love with robotics....
Massive US Robot Data Factory Uses Intentional Failures
Inside the biggest humanoid robot data factory in the US: 100 robots, all named Sonny, mostly failing on purpose. SKU coverage cuts through the hype. https://t.co/Ryc00vrJoL
Google Suddenly Drops Its Bid To Build America's Drone Swarms
Google withdrew from the Pentagon’s $100 million Autonomous Vehicle Orchestrator contest after an internal ethics review, despite having advanced to the next stage. The pull‑out follows an open letter signed by hundreds of Google AI researchers urging the firm not to...
Shenzhen Emerges as Global Robotics Hub, Video Shows
This Video Proves It: Shenzhen Is the World’s Robotics Hub by @Robo_Tuo #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/JrzJtM1Pz3
AI Counts Potatoes on Line with Minimal Training
#AI on the Assembly Line: Instant Potato Counting with Minimal Training by @IlirAliu_ #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #ML #MI https://t.co/FqLAHp8d66
Roomba Inventor and iRobot Co-Founder Colin Angle Introduces Familiar Machines & Magic
Colin Angle, co‑founder of iRobot, unveiled Familiar Machines & Magic (FM&M) at the WSJ Future of Everything conference, introducing “Familiars,” embodied AI systems that learn, remember, and develop personalities. The first product is a quadruped robot with 23 degrees of...
Plant-Inspired Robot Grips Objects Gently
This Plant-Inspired #Robot Handles Objects with Care by @MIT #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/IpDoXtRMOa
Waiv Robotics Tackles Drone Deployment on Moving Vessels
Drones keep improving — longer range, better sensors, more autonomy. But getting them onto a moving vessel remains a major constraint for offshore use -- a problem that UK startup Waiv Robotics is setting out to solve. 🔗 https://t.co/S4ngtsmEq7 https://t.co/17ri5bYh9F
Tutor Intelligence Trains Picking, Palletizing Robots in Data Factory
Tutor Intelligence has launched DF1, a "Data Factory" of 100 bimanual robots that learn through real‑world tele‑operation rather than simulation. Remote tutors in Mexico and the Philippines guide the robots, enabling policy evaluation 100 times faster than traditional methods. The company...