Today's Robotics Pulse
Chinese robotics startup Spirit AI tops global AI benchmark, secures $222M funding
Spirit AI’s embodied intelligence model, Spirit v1.6, achieved the highest score on the RoboArena leaderboard, beating Nvidia’s offering. The firm also announced a ¥1.5 billion (≈$222 million) financing round to accelerate its technology.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Shifters raises $10.2M seed round
Why SkeyDrone’s Partner Approach Matters in Today’s Drone Ecosystem
SkeyDrone, an independent software provider for unmanned aerial systems, emphasizes a partner‑centric, hardware‑agnostic strategy to address complex drone challenges. By maintaining non‑exclusive relationships across hardware manufacturers, service firms, and industry groups, the company can integrate best‑in‑class components into a plug‑and‑play platform. The approach was showcased at the Belgian TIE, where SkeyDrone combined multiple detection technologies into a layered system. This model positions the firm to deliver tailored, future‑proof solutions in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.
Ultralightweight Sonar Plus AI Lets Tiny Drones Navigate Like Bats
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have created an ultralight ultrasound‑based perception system that lets tiny drones navigate using bat‑like echolocation. By pairing a bio‑inspired acoustic shield with a neural network called Saranga, the drones can filter out propeller noise and...
Richtech Robotics Inc. Now Available in the Microsoft Marketplace
Richtech Robotics Inc. (Nasdaq: RR) announced that its fleet of AI‑driven service robots and data services are now listed on the Microsoft Marketplace, allowing customers to deploy solutions directly through Azure. The move leverages the company’s work with Microsoft’s AI...
GFT Takes AI From Visual Inspection to Physical Action For Auto Manufacturers
GFT Technologies unveiled an AI‑powered robotic line that not only inspects automotive components but also physically removes defective parts from the assembly line. The system combines a camera‑equipped gripper, a marking robot, and a third arm that repositions or extracts...
Eval Board Simplifies GaN-Based BLDC Motor-Drive Design
Efficient Power Conversion unveiled the EPC91121 evaluation board at APEC 2026, a compact 79 × 80 mm three‑phase inverter built around its Gen‑7 EPC2366 40‑V eGaN transistor. The board delivers up to 70 A peak (50 A RMS) from 18‑30 V inputs and supports 150 kHz PWM, enabling...
Nikon Begins Commercial Deployment of Its Next-Generation APDIS MV5X Laser Radar System Powered by Aeva
Nikon Metrology has started commercial shipments of its next‑generation APDIS MV5X Laser Radar, which incorporates Aeva’s Eve high‑precision sensor. The system delivers micron‑level accuracy, faster data acquisition and a compact footprint for automated inspection in automotive, aerospace and energy manufacturing....
Elmo Launches the Next Generation of the Elmo Application Studio (EASIII)
Elmo Motion Control has unveiled the third generation of its Elmo Application Studio, EASIII, a unified software platform for configuring, tuning, programming, and diagnosing its full line of motion controllers and servo drives. The new suite adds a modern graphical...
Reflex Robotics Selects Manufacturo to Scale Robot Production With Built-In Traceability and Quality Control
Reflex Robotics, a New York‑based maker of low‑inertia humanoid robots, has partnered with Manufacturo to embed a cloud‑based manufacturing management platform into its production line. The solution creates a single system of record that captures as‑built history, tracks design revisions,...
ARX Robotics, Supacat Collaborate on Robotic Mobility for Land Forces
ARX Robotics and UK‑based vehicle specialist Supacat have signed a memorandum of understanding to co‑develop autonomous and optionally crewed land systems for British and NATO forces. The deal pairs ARX’s uncrewed ground vehicles and Mithra AI software with Supacat’s high‑mobility...
Simulate Robots First: Eliminate Downtime, Optimize Processes
If you’ve ever said “Don’t touch the robot… it’s finally running” this is for you. I’m at KUKA in Augsburg today, listening to the team from DUALIS GmbH IT Solution . Robots don’t underperform due to the hardware… but because...
Ukraine to Procure 25,000 Unmanned Ground Vehicles for Frontline Logistics by 2026
Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced a plan to purchase 25,000 unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) by mid‑2026, targeting 100% robotic handling of frontline logistics. The move follows recent footage of a rescue robot evacuating a civilian in eastern Ukraine, underscoring the operational...
Salesforce Launches Agentforce Operations to Automate Back-Office Work
Salesforce unveiled Agentforce Operations, an AI‑driven platform that automates back‑office tasks across email, ERP and collaboration tools. The solution promises to halve or even cut cycle times for processes such as auditing and onboarding by 50‑70% and reduce manual data‑entry...
Surgeries Are Moving to ASCs. Distalmotion Wants Its Robot to Drive the Shift.
Distalmotion, a Swiss medtech spinoff, is targeting the rapid migration of low‑risk surgeries to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) with its Dexter robotic system. The robot, cleared by the FDA for inguinal hernia, gallbladder removal and hysterectomy, offers a compact 125‑sq‑ft...
Innovative FAULHABER Drive System for Smart Logistics
FAULHABER unveiled DualGear, a compact drive that fuses its BX4 brushless motor with GPT planetary gearheads, delivering two synchronous movements from a single unit. The system is offered in 42 mm and 68 mm motor lengths, allowing flexible integration into tight conveyor...
Door Open for Taiwan to Enter 'Non-Red' EU Drone Supply Chain: Expert
European policymakers are wrestling with fragmented economic‑security authority, making it difficult to build a unified "non‑red" drone supply chain that limits reliance on China. Experts say the split between EU‑wide trade rules and national defence control creates policy gaps that...
Robotics
Ekso Bionics' Ekso GT™ exoskeleton became the first FDA‑cleared wearable robot for stroke rehabilitation in May 2016. The device enables individuals with lower‑limb paralysis to stand and walk during therapy sessions. It also secured clearance for certain spinal‑cord‑injury patients, marking a...
Hexapod Built with 8 Servos, Rack‑pinion Eliminates IK
Full video link in bio. I built a simple Hexapod with only 8 servos and an ESP32 remote. It uses rack and pinions so each axis moves in a straight line, then we don't need to calculate any inverse kinematics....
Wilson Sons Pilots Drone Delivery for Offshore Operations
Brazilian maritime logistics leader Wilson Sons has begun a proof‑of‑concept trial using Speedbird Aero drones to deliver and retrieve documents for offshore supply vessels in Guanabara Bay. The unmanned aircraft, approved by Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency and the Department...
Teledyne FLIR OEM Launches Prism C-UAS Software for Extended Small-Drone Detection Range
Teledyne FLIR OEM unveiled Prism C‑UAS, a software stack that pushes small‑drone detection beyond conventional thermal systems by identifying targets with fewer than four pixels. The solution blends patented denoise and up‑sampling algorithms with AI‑driven perception, delivering longer detection windows...
Van Oord’s First Sea-Going USV Makes Multi-Day Offshore Debut
Van Oord’s newly christened sea‑going USV, VO:X Barentsz, completed its first multi‑day offshore operation at the Hollandse Kust West wind farm, supporting monopile and cable installation alongside vessels Boreas, Nexus and Subsea Viking. The 7‑meter autonomous craft is the fifth...
Arrive AI Deploys NVIDIA Tech for Autonomous Delivery Training
Arrive AI announced it is using NVIDIA’s Isaac Sim and Blackwell‑based GPU workstations to accelerate training of its autonomous delivery systems. The physics‑based simulation platform creates labeled data in virtual environments, allowing parallel model training without extensive field collection. The...
Robotics Development Platform Links EBV Ecosystem for System Design
EBV Elektronik launched MOVE, a robotics development platform that aggregates processors, AI accelerators, sensors, motion control, connectivity, memory, power and display components into a single resource hub. The platform targets engineers designing next‑generation robots across industrial automation, logistics, healthcare, agriculture...
UK Robotic Construction Company All3 Raises $25M in Seed Round Funding
All3, a UK‑based construction robotics startup, closed a $25 million seed round led by RTP Global to accelerate its AI‑driven building platform. The company combines site‑specific AI design, off‑site robotic factories, and autonomous on‑site robots—chiefly the four‑legged Mantis—to fabricate and assemble...
Sheffield’s New Cancer Robot Cuts Its Own Ribbon
Sheffield Hospitals Charity donated a record £1.45 million (about $1.84 million) to install a dual‑console da Vinci Xi surgical robot at Northern General Hospital. The system enables surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures on lung, oesophageal, stomach, bowel, liver, pancreas and kidney...
Ukraine Claims Record 33,000 Russian Drones Shot Down in March, Boosting Drone Warfare
Ukraine’s defence ministry announced that more than 33,000 Russian drones were intercepted in March, the highest monthly total since the invasion began. The claim coincides with Ukraine’s own long‑range attack drones striking a Russian Black Sea oil refinery for the...
I've Covered Robots for Years. This One Is Different
Eka, a Cambridge‑based robotics startup, unveiled a new generation of manipulators that combine lifelike dexterity with large‑language‑model intelligence. In live demos the robot gently grasped a raspberry, chased a rolling light bulb, and screwed it into a socket without human...
RCG to Start Using Intramotev’s Autonomous Wagons
Rail Cargo Group (RCG), Austria’s state‑owned rail freight operator, will deploy Intramotev’s battery‑electric TugVolt autonomous wagons on its network. The rollout marks Intramotev’s first regulated use case outside the United States and its inaugural international deployment. The wagons can travel...
Textron Unveils a Smaller, Low-Cost Variant of the Ripsaw Family of UGVs
Textron Systems and its subsidiary Howe & Howe Technologies introduced the Ripsaw M1, a smaller, lighter and lower‑cost uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) aimed at U.S. Marine Corps littoral missions. Unveiled at the Modern Day Marine 2026 expo on April 28, the M1 is...
DJI Users Are Creating Videos You Won’t Believe
DJI and SkyPixel announced the winners of the 11th Annual SkyPixel Photo and Video Contest, drawing nearly 95,000 entries from 96 countries. The aerial video award went to "Africa Unseen," a seven‑minute film shot with a full DJI ecosystem that...
Locus Array: The Next Leap in Warehouse Fulfillment Automation
In this episode, Kevin Lawton interviews Kate Peterson of Locust Robotics about the Locus Array, a 10‑foot, fully autonomous fulfillment robot that handles picking, packing, put‑away, inventory counting, and re‑slotting without human intervention. The robot uses AI‑driven cameras, an omnidirectional...
Schaeffler Partners with Vietnamese Humanoid Robot Manufacturer VinDynamics
Schaeffler has partnered with VinDynamics, the humanoid‑robot arm of Vietnam’s Vingroup, to supply high‑torque planetary gearboxes and co‑develop data‑driven actuator improvements. The collaboration includes joint collection of robot‑operation data to enable predictive‑maintenance services and accelerate real‑world robot deployments. It marks...
Interview with the CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories: ‘Uncertainty in the Real World’
Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL) CEO Anthony Vetro says the biggest hurdle for robotics is the gap between controlled labs and unpredictable real‑world environments. MERL is advancing perception, force control, predictive sensing, and “physical AI” to embed physics into AI...
Inside Fraport’s Digital Transformation Journey: Scaling Innovation, Embracing AI and Robotics, and a Culture of Experimentation
Fraport has scaled more than 50 digitalisation projects and 65+ minimum‑viable products in the past five years, embedding AI, robotics and workflow optimisation into airport operations. The company attributes this speed to clear governance, modular project structures and strong business‑unit...
5G Enables Reliable Data Backbone for Industrial AI
We talk a lot about AI and humanoid robots in industry. But what about the infrastructure for the data? 📡 At Hannover Messe, I took a closer look at the 5G solution from Siemens Industry . It enables private, interference...
Ukrainian Drones Down Russian Helicopters 150km Behind Lines
Video of UAS strikes by the 429th Achilles Unmanned Systems Brigade and 43rd Artillery Brigade on Russian Mi-28 and Mi-8/17 helicopters in Voronezh oblast, more than 150km from the front line. https://t.co/r5hgTqX9sZ https://t.co/0cZTbz6r2y
Starship Passes 10 Million Deliveries as Autonomous Delivery Moves Toward Mainstream Adoption
Starship Technologies announced it has completed over 10 million autonomous deliveries using more than 3,000 sidewalk robots deployed in 300+ locations across eight countries. The fleet has logged 22 million kilometres, crossed 200 million roads and now performs roughly 125,000 road crossings per...
Optimus Could Soon Drive Any Car or Truck
A big 'what if' for Tesla Optimus humanoids: what if it can drive any car/truck?
Giant Humanoid Robot Revolutionizes Japan’s Railway Maintenance
A New Humanoid Giant Is Transforming Railway Maintenance in Japan by @CyberRobooo #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/o6CFudzxMb
ABB Robotics’ Autonomous Mobile Robot Wins Prestigious Design Award
ABB Robotics announced that its Flexley Mover P603 autonomous mobile robot has been awarded the 2026 iF Design Award. The P603 combines AI‑driven Visual SLAM navigation, a compact footprint and load‑sensing capability for up to 1,500 kg, eliminating the need for...
Robots Create Digital Twins of Dm Stores at Night
Nighttime #Robots Build #Digital Twins of dm-Drogerie Markt Stores by @lukas_m_ziegler #Robotics #ML #EmergingTech #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/WWrYcf32qZ
Skyrover S1 Mini Offers DJI‑Level Value at Low Price
The Skyrover S1 Mini is going cheap right now at Amazon - this lesser-known DJI alternative could beat its rival for sheer value. https://t.co/vM0EgGYUJU
China Suspends New Robotaxi Permits After Baidu's Wuhan Outage, Report Says
China has suspended the issuance of new robotaxi permits after a mass outage of Baidu’s Apollo Go fleet in Wuhan. The incident on March 31 left several autonomous vehicles stalled on busy overpasses, prompting a safety review by three regulatory agencies. The...
Who to See at XPO USA 2026
The AUVSI XPONENTIAL (XPO USA) trade show will run May 11‑14, 2026 at Detroit’s Huntington Place, gathering global leaders in autonomous systems and robotics. Over 200 exhibitors—including navigation, power, AI, BVLOS, and counter‑UAS firms—will showcase products, demos, and keynote sessions....
Metrology-Driven Automation Enables Circular Engine Remanufacturing
Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation (IFF) and Rolls‑Royce Solutions Magdeburg have completed a joint automation project to clean and refurbish diesel‑engine connecting rods for reuse in overhauled engines. Using industrial robots equipped with force/torque sensors and 3D‑touch‑probe scanners,...
360° Drones Reveal Stunning 3D Gaussian Splats
360 drones are epic for capturing immaculate 3d gaussian splats. Wait till the virtual camera flies through the tree canopy down to ground level - bloody magnificent ! https://t.co/SmYs7vDVyJ
Intel and Vietnam’s FPT Partner to Deliver AI-Driven Digital Manufacturing Platform for Autonomous Factory Optimization
Intel Corp. and Vietnam’s FPT Corp. have teamed up to deliver an end‑to‑end AI‑driven digital manufacturing platform that blends Intel’s high‑speed simulation and digital‑twin capabilities with FPT’s data‑platform and system‑integration suite. The joint solution, featuring Intel Automated Factory Solutions and...
Sereact Raises $110 Million Series B to Commercialise AI ‘Robotic Brain’
Sereact, the Stuttgart‑based AI robotics software firm, closed a $110 million Series B round led by Headline. The funding will accelerate development of its Cortex 2.0 “robotic brain” and fund a new U.S. office, aiming to make robots adaptable across manufacturing...
Volvo Boosts Robot-Heavy Truck Assembly at New River Valley Plant
Volvo Trucks has expanded robot use at its New River Valley plant in Dublin, Virginia, deploying 170 collaborative robots for paint and door‑attachment tasks after a $500 million investment. The move, described by Volvo’s Magnus Koeck as a step toward full...
XPENG Unveils Full‑Stack Physical AI Ecosystem at Auto China 2026
XPENG showcased a complete physical‑AI ecosystem at the 19th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, unveiling new EV models, a humanoid robot and a flying car while reporting a 118% month‑over‑month rise in Ultra series orders. The rollout of VLA 2.0 and upcoming...
Autonomous Picking Scales to 6 Billion Orders
#Autonomous Picking Power: 6 Billion Orders and Counting by @LocusRobotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/A24K0whoNa