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
Panasonic Creates Group‑Wide Optimization Officer to Steer AI, Robotics
Panasonic announced a new executive officer structure effective April 1, 2026, establishing a Group‑Wide Optimization Officer to oversee AI, robotics and cross‑domain projects. The move is part of a 2025‑wide Group Management Reform aimed at faster decision‑making and renewed growth.
TJ-FlyingFish Drone Soars High, Dives Deep
TJ-FlyingFish: The #Drone That Flies High and Dives Deep by @lukas_m_ziegler #Innovation #EmergingTech #Technology https://t.co/DQqAbbGqU9
Robot Arms and Cameras Will Replace Humanoid Legs
This is a job for a robot arm or two + a camera. No need for the legs or battery pack. This use case will get relentlessly optimized until it's no longer a humanoid.
Mariana Minerals Restarts Utah Mine as World’s First Fully Autonomous Mine and Refinery
Mariana Minerals has resumed operations at its Copper One site in Utah, creating the world’s first mine and refinery that run entirely on autonomous systems. The restart, announced on April 27, 2026, ties together driverless trucks, autonomous drill rigs and...
Honda’s 1996 P2 Humanoid Robot Earns IEEE Milestone, Cementing Its Legacy in Bipedal Locomotion
Honda announced that its P2 humanoid biped, introduced in 1996, has been officially recognized as an IEEE Milestone. The ceremony in Saitama marked the second Honda technology to receive the honor, underscoring the robot’s lasting influence on control systems for...
Taiwan to Showcase Drones in Detroit
Taiwan’s Drone Diplomacy Task Force will lead a delegation to XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit, aiming to promote the island’s UAV industry and integrated diplomacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added drone pilots to its International Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program, recruiting 50...
AutoStore Conducts Pio Pilot with OBOS for Residential Storage
AutoStore announced a pilot of its Pio automated storage system in partnership with OBOS, a leading Nordic real‑estate developer. The pilot, located in the OBOS Living Lab in Oslo, installs a 20 m² grid with 150 bins that can store up...
Flexrotor: Nightwatch for the "Three Ds"
Precision Helicopters, an Oregon‑based fire‑suppression operator, has integrated the Flexrotor VTOL drone into its federal, long‑duration aerial mapping contract. The drone conducts night‑time perimeter flights, delivering real‑time video and infrared data that identify fire growth and hidden hot spots. By...
Skyways – Senior Flight Test Engineer
Skyways builds fully autonomous long‑range cargo aircraft, currently operating V2 and V3 models that transport 30 lb up to 500 mi and 100 lb over 1,000 mi respectively. The company flies missions on three continents under FAA oversight and supports U.S. military operations. Backed...
When Vision, AI and Control Converge: Designing Unified Industrial Systems in Real Time
Industrial automation is moving from isolated islands of vision, AI and control toward unified compute architectures that combine these functions in real time. By co‑locating perception, inference and deterministic control on a shared platform, manufacturers can cut latency, improve responsiveness,...
China Deploys AI‑Driven Smart Hubs Across Shandong Ports to Accelerate Cargo Handling
Chinese port authorities have begun rolling out AI‑driven smart hubs at major Shandong ports, replacing manual crane controls with mouse‑based interfaces. The technology promises faster cargo processing and lower labor intensity, marking a notable step toward fully automated port operations.
UC San Diego Health Performs First West Coast AI‑Robotic Spine Surgery
UC San Diego Health has completed the first AI‑driven robotic spine fusion on the West Coast, using a system that merges artificial intelligence, advanced imaging and robotic screw delivery. Surgeons say the platform boosts accuracy, reduces radiation exposure and could...
Flex and Teradyne Robotics Expand Partnership to Accelerate Global Intelligent Automation
Flex (NASDAQ:FLEX) and Teradyne Robotics announced an expanded partnership that will see Flex manufacture key components for Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots while deploying those cobots and AMRs in its own plants. The move builds on a two‑decade collaboration...
Elsight’s Halo, Its BLOS (Beyond Line-of-Sight) Connectivity Platform, Is Now Certified on the U.S. DCMA Blue UAS List, Enabling Faster...
Elsight's Halo beyond‑line‑of‑sight (BLOS) connectivity platform has been certified on the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Blue UAS List, confirming it meets the department’s rigorous supply‑chain and cybersecurity standards. The certification lets U.S. military units procure Halo directly through...
Apptronik Hires Waymo, Boston Dynamics and Amazon Veterans to Fast‑track Humanoid Robot Rollout
Apptronik announced a slate of senior hires from Waymo, Boston Dynamics and Amazon, bolstering its leadership as it prepares to launch the Apollo humanoid robot. The moves follow a $935 million Series A round and signal the company’s push toward mass‑market deployment...
Ukraine Participates in Exercise Aurora 26 as Part of an Enhanced Partnership with the Joint Expeditionary Force
Sweden’s Armed Forces have invited Ukrainian troops to join exercise Aurora 26, part of the newly‑signed Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF)‑Ukraine Enhanced Partnership. The drill will involve Ukrainian drone operators working alongside more than 16,000 Swedish personnel and roughly 1,500 allied troops...
Preparing for Major Events: NUSTL Field Guidance for C-UAS Planning
The Department of Homeland Security’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) released new field guidance to help agencies place counter‑unmanned aircraft systems (C‑UAS) sensors for upcoming large‑scale events such as the FIFA World Cup and America250. The guidance was field‑tested...
The Newest Docent at This Historic Italian Palace Is a Robot
Turin’s historic Palazzo Madama has deployed R1, a four‑foot‑tall AI‑powered robot docent, to guide visitors through its Baroque collections. Developed by the Italian Institute of Technology under Project Convince, the robot runs on a two‑hour battery and uses cameras to...
Why Microbot Medical Developed a Fully Disposable Surgical Robot
Microbot Medical received FDA 510(k) clearance in September 2025 for its fully disposable Liberty surgical robot, designed for peripheral endovascular navigation. The single‑use system combines a compact drive unit, remote controller, and mounting arm that can be set up in...
Drones Join Police Helicopters in Los Angeles’ Skies
The Los Angeles Police Department deployed drones more than 3,500 times in 2024, with half arriving before officers and helping cancel unnecessary units. A $1.2 million donation will fund an expansion from nine to 24 drones, adding launch pads across five...
FingerEye Bridges Touch and Vision to Improve Robot Handling Before and After Contact
Researchers at the National University of Singapore and RoboScience unveiled FingerEye, a compact vision‑tactile sensor that merges binocular RGB cameras with a compliant ring to deliver continuous perception before, during, and after contact. The sensor’s marker‑based pose estimation translates ring...
Why Delivery Robots Are Becoming Essential in Modern Automation
Delivery robots are emerging as a pivotal bridge between AI‑driven digital systems and real‑world execution, extending automation beyond factories into logistics, healthcare, and retail. Their autonomous navigation, sensor fusion, and edge‑cloud integration enable cost‑effective, 24/7 last‑mile delivery, addressing labor shortages...
Sony’s Table Tennis Robot Beat a Pro Player She Couldn’t Read
Sony unveiled its AI‑driven table tennis robot, Ace, which out‑performed professional player Mayuka Taira in a December 2025 exhibition. Taira noted the robot’s unpredictability and lack of emotional cues made it impossible to anticipate its shots. Ace leverages advanced vision‑tracking...
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Richtech Robotics announced that its flagship ADAM service robot has been installed at tm:rw, a high‑traffic tech store in Times Square. The robot now serves coffee and beverages to visitors, with NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal receiving the first cup. ADAM...
3D‑Printed 6‑DOF Arm with Custom Closed
Mini 6 dof Arm. 3D printed planetary gearboxs & more… [📍GitHub link below ] A mini 6-axis arm driven by stepper motors with custom 3D printed split ring planetary gearboxs and an inverted belt differential wrist with custom bearings, driven...
Affordable Drone Alternatives for US Ban & UK Shoppers
Whether you're a US shopper hamstrung by the DJI ban, or a UK buyer looking to explore your options, these are the affordable drones to consider. https://t.co/FgJyQsEO6D
Medtronic Secures CE Mark for Stealth AXiS Surgical System in Europe
Medtronic announced that its Stealth AXiS™ surgical system has earned a CE mark, allowing the integrated planning, navigation and robotics platform to be marketed throughout the European Union. The clearance follows earlier FDA approvals and positions the company to offer...
Robots Need Socially‑Aware Collaborative Foundation Models
A new Viewpoint calls for a shift towards collaborative robotic foundation models that are aware of social norms and can respond appropriately in different contexts. Learn more in Science #Robotics: https://t.co/gKSweo1Kti https://t.co/7FcpbFNnN2
Linker Hand06 Delivers Human‑scale Precision in Robotics
Next-Level #Robotics: Linker Hand06 Brings Human-Scale Precision by @CyberRobooo #Robots #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology #Tech https://t.co/TD00iI6Jr1
Kakao Mobility Rolls Out South Korea’s First Level‑4 Robotaxi Service in Seoul
Kakao Mobility has launched a Level‑4 robotaxi service in Seoul, marking the first fully autonomous ride‑hailing operation in South Korea. The rollout is a cornerstone of the company’s “physical AI” strategy that links driverless vehicles, robotics and a cloud‑based platform....
Space Should Be a Tourist Zone, Not a Worksite
The only humans sent to space ought to be tourists Robots should be doing all the science/mining/building/etc
1959 View: Automation Threatens Craft, Shifts Workers to Offices
On the subject of old-timey views of automation, this piece, from a 1959 issue of Harpers, laments the loss of artisanal skills amid the rise of factory automation. Many of the displaced workers mentioned in the piece of course moved...
Axon Leads $10.4 M Funding for Ukrainian Drone Firm Buntar, Boosting U.S. Counter‑UAS Push
Axon has led a $10.4 million financing round for Ukraine’s Buntar Aerospace and backed drone‑autonomy firm The Fourth Law, signaling a rapid expansion of its counter‑UAS capabilities. The moves position Axon to import battlefield‑tested drone and anti‑drone technology into the United...
Delta Drone Transforms to Fly and Roll Seamlessly
Delta: The Shape-Shifting #Drone That Flies and Rolls with Ease by @spaceandtech_ #EmergingTech #Engineering #Technology https://t.co/6HyCAQKvm5
GITAI's Centaur Robot Tackles Moon’s Harsh Terrain
GITAI’s Centaur-Like #Robot Is Built to Work on the Moon’s Harsh Terrain by @CyberRobooo #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML https://t.co/1pzYzZDBkz
China’s Unitree G1 Humanoid Robot Skates, Spins, and Flips in New Demo
Unitree Robotics released a video of its G1 humanoid robot gliding on roller‑skates and ice‑skates, spinning on one leg and performing front flips while staying balanced. The G1’s hybrid chassis lets it switch instantly between legged walking, wheeled rolling and...
Hiroshi Fujiwara and Robert Little Selected for 2026 Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) named Hiroshi Fujiwara, executive director of the Japan Robot Association, as the 2026 Leadership winner and Robert Little, co‑founder of ATI Industrial Automation, as the 2026 Application winner of the Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards. The awards, the...
Textron Debuts RIPSAW M1 Combat Robot at Marine Expo
Textron Systems and its Howe & Howe subsidiary unveiled the RIPSAW M1 unmanned ground vehicle at Modern Day Marine on April 28, 2026. The wheeled, all‑electric platform weighs 4,300 lb, can haul up to 2,000 lb of payload, and reaches 53 mph with a...
With a Swipe of a Magnet, Microscopic 'Magno-Bots' Perform Complex Maneuvers
MIT, EPFL and the University of Cincinnati unveiled a double‑dip fabrication method that adds magnetic nanoparticles to 3D‑printed polymer gels after printing. The technique overcomes light‑scattering problems that previously limited magnetic micro‑printing, enabling sub‑millimeter soft structures with spatially tunable magnetism....
Figure Robot CEO and Bot Debut on 60 Minutes
#ThisDayInTechHistory. April 28, 2024. CEO of @Figure_robot @adcock_brett and one of his #Robots are introduced on 60 Minutes. (CBS) #Robotics https://t.co/EO5jYbLkdV
Apptronik Poaches Top Robot Talent Amid Growing War
The humanoid robot talent wars are heating up ... >> Apptronik Teases New Robot, Stacks C-Suite With Waymo, Boston Dynamics, Amazon Vets https://t.co/uPY9OnVW7O
Patriot3 Shows Maritime SOF Systems at Modern Day Marine
Patriot3, a Virginia‑based small business, displayed its full maritime and ground‑operations portfolio at the Modern Day Marine expo in Washington, D.C., from April 28‑30. The showcase featured the Hammerhead submersible motor vehicle, the Hercules extra‑large unmanned underwater vehicle, the ARON wing‑in‑ground...
American Rheinmetall Shows Next-Gen Squad Systems at Modern Day Marine
American Rheinmetall showcased its Mission Master Silent Partner Hotel (MMSP‑H) autonomous amphibious UGV and Marom Dolphin’s Wild Goose drone at the Modern Day Marine expo. The MMSP‑H can haul 2,200 lb on land and 880 lb afloat, holds NAVAIR certification and is...
Humanoid Robots May Be About to Break the 100-Metre Sprint Record
In April 2026, Chinese smartphone maker Honor unveiled a humanoid robot that eclipsed the human half‑marathon record, while robotics firm Unitree fielded a biped that ran the 100‑metre dash within a second of the world‑record pace. Both feats highlight rapid...
Cardboard Drones Are Now Part of Japan’s Military Arsenal
Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met with Air Kamui, a startup that builds cardboard drones, after the Maritime Self‑Defense Force adopted the low‑cost platforms as aerial targets. The meeting underscores Tokyo’s ambition to become the world’s leading user of drones and...
Ukraine, Norway Agree to Jointly Produce Mid-Strike Drones
Ukraine and Norway have signed an agreement to jointly produce several thousand mid‑strike unmanned aerial vehicles in Norway for the Ukrainian defence forces, with the first deliveries slated for summer 2026. The project is funded by additional Norwegian resources that...
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Rollon will use Advanced Factories 2026 in Barcelona to demonstrate how its engineered linear motion systems tackle the toughest automation challenges. The company highlights recent real‑world projects in heavy robotic handling, high‑speed palletising and battery‑cell production, emphasizing load capacity, speed and...
Faraday Future Strategically Launches Its Embodied AI Developer Platform Purpose-Built for AI Natives, Marking 2026 as the Inaugural Year of...
Faraday Future announced the launch of its FF EAI Brain & Open Developer Platform, a suite of six tools and four infrastructure layers designed to make robot development as easy as software coding. The platform debuted at an San Francisco forum where the company showcased...
NJ Police Recover $870K Stolen Chemical‑Sprayer Drones, Heightening Defense Security Concerns
New Jersey State Police recovered 15 Ceres Air C31 drones valued at $870,000 that were stolen from CAC International in March. The drones, capable of spraying 40 gallons of liquid chemicals, have ignited worries about their potential use in chemical...
Automation and Robotics Drive Sustainable, Efficient Business Growth
Automation and robotics are becoming practical tools for sustainable business, guiding how organizations reduce waste, optimize resources, and align innovation with environmental responsibility while keeping operations efficient and ready for growth. Microblog by @antgrasso https://t.co/TVmEVjtLsE