Today's Robotics Pulse
Chinese startup Spirit AI tops global AI robot leaderboard, beating Nvidia
Spirit AI’s embodied intelligence model, Spirit v1.6, achieved a score of 1,924 on the RoboArena benchmark, surpassing Nvidia’s Cosmos3‑Nano‑Policy. The company also disclosed a ¥1.5 billion (≈$222 million) funding round to accelerate its robotics AI platform.
Also developing:
By the numbers: OneRobotics acquires Nanoleaf for $40M
AV to Deliver ISR Services to U.S. Navy with JUMP 20-X
AeroVironment (AV) has been chosen by the U.S. Navy to provide Contractor‑Owned, Contractor‑Operated (COCO) ISR services using its JUMP 20‑X unmanned aircraft system. The VTOL platform delivers fully autonomous, hands‑free operation with more than 13 hours of endurance, a 115‑mile (185 km) range and a 30‑lb payload capacity. AV will compete for delivery orders alongside other partners, offering a turnkey, multi‑sensor solution that can be rapidly deployed without bulky launch equipment. The contract builds on AV’s existing ISR support for naval and marine forces worldwide.
Locked Drone Frequencies Risk Jamming, Undermine Effectiveness
This is a potentially significant issue with the adoption of cheap UAS. Some UAS provided by Western companies to Ukraine only worked on a specific frequency, and the companies did not allow Ukrainians to change it or make other modifications....
Soft Sensor Gives Robots a Better Sense of Touch
Researchers from Zhejiang, Hangzhou Dianzi and Lishui universities unveiled a humanoid robotic hand equipped with an omnidirectional soft bending sensor that simultaneously tracks pitch and yaw at each finger joint. The hand features 18 active degrees of freedom and uses...
MODEX 2026: Sonair’s ADAR 3D Ultrasonic Sensor Makes Show Debut
Sonair unveiled its ADAR 3D ultrasonic sensor at MODEX 2026, marking the first North American debut of the sound‑based perception system. The sensor, built on patented MEMS transducer arrays from Norway’s SINTEF institute, provides a full 180°×180° field of view...
Columbia Engineers Create Self‑Repairing, Self‑Upgrading Robots
Self-Repairing, Self-Upgrading #Robots Developed at Columbia #Engineering by @tweetciiiim #AI #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML https://t.co/3ovnUfe9IR
MODEX 2026: Festo, CODI Manufacturing Showcase FlexStack Pro Palletizing Offering
Festo and CODI Manufacturing are debuting FlexStack Pro, a gantry‑style palletizing system, at MODEX 2026. The solution lifts 44‑ to 110‑lb boxes at 4‑10 per minute while occupying minimal floor space. It leverages Festo’s pre‑configured FPaKit “palletizer in a box”...
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KEITH Manufacturing Co. will showcase its Freight Runner® Dock‑to‑Trailer system at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. The automated conveyor replaces traditional dock plates, moving pallets without personnel or forklifts entering the trailer. It can load or unload a trailer in as...
RoboForce Raises $52M to Scale Physical AI Robo-Labor
RoboForce announced a $52 million oversubscribed funding round, bringing its total capital to $67 million. The investment, led by YZi Labs and backed by former Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang and Nobel laureate Myron Scholes, will fund the development of its physical‑AI foundation...
Tekpak Automation to Showcase Pick-and-Place Robotic Cell at Interpack 2026
Tekpak Automation will demonstrate its TD3/R Series pick‑and‑place robotic cell at interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf, offering a compact, three‑axis solution for food, beverage and pharmaceutical packaging. The system integrates with existing lines, fits tight spaces, and provides tool‑less changeovers for...
Massive Physical AI Hub Powers Next‑Gen Robotics
Inside a Large-Scale Physical #AI Training Center Powering Next-Gen #Robotics via @ZappyZappy7 #Robots #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology #ML https://t.co/YWSNm2MhUU
SiFly Q12 Breaks Guinness Record with 3‑Hour Electric Flight
SiFly Q12 Sets Guinness World Record with 3+ Hour Electric #Drone Flight via @WevolverApp #Innovation #TechForGood #EmergingTech #Technology #Tech https://t.co/ykU08St3ZE
New Soft Sensors Give Humanoid Robots Finger Finesse
Researchers from Zhejiang, Hangzhou Dianzi and Lishui Universities unveiled a hybrid rigid‑soft robotic hand equipped with omnidirectional optical bending sensors. The hand offers 18 active degrees of freedom and can independently measure finger pitch and yaw with an error of...
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Surge Tenfold, Funding Needed
Ukrainian drone strike ability is surging. In March they launched nearly 10x the number of drone strikes as a year ago. Give them the funding they need and these numbers will surge further. Ukraine will win.
Australia Tests AI Robots for Solar Farm Maintenance
Australian science agency trials AI robots for solar farms #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/1cum7O4u2V
Xiaomi’s New Robot Hand Can Feel Pressure, Heat, and Even Sweat
Xiaomi unveiled an upgraded CyberOne robotic hand that features full‑palm tactile sensing, artificial sweat‑gland cooling, and a 60 % smaller form factor matching human proportions. The hand can detect pressure, temperature, and slip across an 8200 mm² surface, enabling delicate manipulation such...
Scaling FPVs Demands Structure, Experience, Not Just Basics
I agree there is to some extent an easy adoption fallacy. Getting FPVs to a basic level of proficiency may not be hard, but it takes dedicated force structure, experience in employment, org capacity, C2 adaptations, to scale and get...
Hybrid Mobility Redefines Speed and Terrain Mastery
Lightyear #Robotics M1: Hybrid Mobility Redefining Speed and Terrain Mastery by @XRoboHub #Robots #EmergingTech #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/c03w894YtE
Amazon Acquires Swiss Robotics Company RIVR
Amazon has completed the acquisition of Zurich‑based RIVR Technologies, a spin‑out from ETH Zurich that builds four‑legged delivery robots. The robots can navigate complex environments, climb stairs and transport payloads up to 60 kilograms, extending Amazon’s physical AI and last‑mile...
Semi‑humanoid Robot Streamlines Solar Farm Installation and Inspection
Tracked Semi-Humanoid #Robot Enters Solar Farms for Smarter Installation and Inspection by @CyberRobooo #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/AaZYpNM75C
Drone Piloted in Spain Monitors a Hochtief Bridge Project in Germany
Skyports Drone Services is remotely piloting a "drone‑in‑a‑box" system from its Madrid centre to conduct weekly BVLOS inspections of Hochtief’s Rheinbrücke Leverkusen bridge project north of Cologne. The flights generate 2D and 3D survey outputs via DroneDeploy, replacing infrequent, manually‑operated...
VR‑Controlled Humanoid Robot Safely Welds at Height
#VR-Controlled Bipedal Humanoid #Robot Performs High-Altitude Welding Tasks Safely by @BotKepler #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood #Technology https://t.co/BLab1fCqBn
FCC Eyes Sweeping Reforms to Boost US Drone Power
The FCC has issued a public notice calling for sweeping reforms to accelerate the U.S. drone ecosystem, tying the effort to the Trump administration’s “American drone dominance” strategy. Chairman Brendan Carr highlighted drone production, deployment, and export as national‑security priorities...
FCC Backs US Drone Industry Amid Anduril Showcase
AMERICAN DRONE DOMINANCE I just visited with Anduril for demonstrations of their drone & counter-drone technologies. Today, the FCC is launching a proceeding to support our domestic drone industry. President Trump has been clear that America’s innovators will lead the way. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/IETZQ5S08H
March Sets Record: More Robots Built Than Ever
March marked a milestone: more robots manufactured than in our whole history to date. Congrats to everyone at BotQ who manufacture F.03 robots, made in California. https://t.co/10e0D5mN5k
Researchers Say Robotic Exoskeletons Using Haptic Feedback Help in Violin Duo Coordination
A European Union‑funded study shows that haptic feedback delivered through wearable robotic exoskeletons significantly improves coordination between violin duos. Researchers tested 20 pairs of musicians and found the highest performance when touch, sight, and hearing were combined. The CONBOTS project...
Researchers Build a Robotic Swarm with No Electronics, No Batteries and No Brains
Georgia Tech researchers have created an electronic‑free robotic swarm whose behavior emerges solely from its mechanical design. Tiny particle robots latch, release and reconfigure when exposed to external vibrations, eliminating the need for sensors, processors or batteries. The system scales...
ISA Seeks Help on Distributed Workflows
The International Society of Automation (ISA) has opened a 30‑day call for experts to join the newly formed ISA113 committee, which will develop a vendor‑neutral standard for distributed workflow interoperability. The standard will decouple workflow logic from execution locations, enabling...
Bird‑like Robots Deliver Superior Flexibility over Drones
Bird‑like #Robots promise greater flexibility and control than #Drones by Kitta MacPherson @TechXplore_com Learn more: https://t.co/xo6gI7k9Cn #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/m6rEo46qBc
Robot Executes Perfect Webster Backflip
This #Robot Just Nailed a Seamless Webster Backflip by @XRoboHub #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation https://t.co/nDQuMTjWJP
Video Wednesday
The April 1, 2026 "Video Wednesday" post serves as a launchpad for a weekly video series that highlights cutting‑edge medical robotics and pandemic‑response technologies. It references earlier "Flickstop" entries that showcased robotic surgery and COVID‑19 disinfection robots, providing visual context for readers....
Agile Robots Closes Acquisition of Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering
Agile Robots completed the acquisition of thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering’s assets, rebranding the unit as Krause Automation. The deal gives the Munich‑based AI‑robotics firm a strong presence in Europe and North America and adds over 75 years of engineering heritage. By...
Smart Robot Transforms Precision Pesticide Application
Smart Fumigation #Robot Revolutionizes Precision Pesticide Application by @MarchUnofficial #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/aWGCm4jYFX
Gig Workers Teach Humanoid Robots From Their Homes
The gig workers who are training humanoid robots at home | MIT Technology Review https://t.co/BYXaUmZJJ2
Ryder, International Launch Autonomous LT Near Laredo
Ryder System and International Motors have launched a joint autonomous trucking pilot on a 600‑mile daily route between Laredo and Temple, Texas. The pilot uses a factory‑integrated International LT equipped with PlusAI’s SuperDrive Level 4 software, with a safety driver on...
Commercial UAV Expo Announces 280+ Supporting Partners for 2026
Commercial UAV Expo announced more than 280 supporting partners for its 2026 show in Las Vegas. The event, scheduled for September 1‑3 at Caesars Forum, will feature extensive public‑safety programming, FAA certification resources, and the largest commercial drone exhibit floor...
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/BtTD0I1H72
Combining the Robot Operating System with LLMs for Natural-Language Control
Researchers from Huawei Noah's Ark Lab, TU Darmstadt and ETH Zurich unveiled an open‑source framework that fuses large language models with the Robot Operating System (ROS). The system interprets natural‑language commands and translates them into robot actions via inline code...
The Download: Gig Workers Training Humanoids, and Better AI Benchmarks
Micro1 is building a global gig workforce that records everyday tasks to train humanoid robots, now operating in over 50 countries and sparking privacy and consent debates. AI researchers argue that traditional benchmarks miss real‑world performance, proposing human‑AI, context‑specific evaluations...
The Strategic Advantage of Automation in Medical Device Manufacturing
Medical device makers face rising production demands, labor shortages, and tighter regulatory scrutiny, turning automation from a tactical upgrade into a strategic imperative. Integrion Automation argues that automation must be embedded in an integrated operational strategy that delivers repeatable precision,...
Irish Drone Delivery Firm Manna Confirms $50m Raise, Plans 400 New Jobs
Irish drone logistics firm Manna announced a $50 million Series B round, lifting total capital raised to $110 million. The financing, led by ARK Invest, Schooner Capital and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, will fund the creation of 400 high‑skill jobs—300 in Ireland...
The Gig Workers Who Are Training Humanoid Robots at Home
Micro1, a Palo Alto‑based data firm, is hiring thousands of gig workers in over 50 countries to record themselves performing everyday chores on iPhone headsets. The footage, paid at roughly $15 an hour, is sold to robotics companies developing humanoid...
Baidu Robotaxi Outage Halts Over 100 Vehicles in Wuhan, Stranding Passengers
Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi service suffered a system‑wide malfunction in Wuhan that immobilised at least 100 of its roughly 500 city‑wide vehicles. Passengers were left on busy expressways for up to two hours, prompting police intervention and fresh scrutiny of...
Finland – Authorities’ Instructions for when You See a Drone
Finland’s interior ministry issued detailed guidance on how citizens should respond to unusual drone sightings, emphasizing that every report is investigated. The authorities use a multi‑channel emergency warning system—including sirens, radio, television and the 112 Suomi app—to alert the public of...
Enabot Introduces EBO Max, an AI-Powered Family Robot Designed to Think, Learn, and Care
Enabot unveiled EBO Max, its most advanced AI‑powered family robot. Priced at £499.99 (about $635 after a £50 discount), the device combines a new AI brain with multimodal perception, long‑term memory and 4K imaging. The mobile robot can navigate homes,...
FedEx Turns to Berkshire Grey and Other Robotics Partners for Warehouse Automation
FedEx announced a multi‑year partnership with SoftBank‑owned Berkshire Grey to pilot the Scoop bulk‑unloading robot in its warehouses later this year. The move marks a strategic pivot away from building its own robotic fleet and toward leveraging specialist providers across...
New AV and Drone Safety and Traffic-Management Research in Kentucky
University of Kentucky computer scientist Yang Xiao has secured a $534,264 NSF CAREER grant to develop RESONET, a framework that enables real‑time, fault‑tolerant coordination between autonomous vehicles and drones. The five‑year project focuses on preventing cascading failures caused by sensor...
Relocalize to Build Fully Autonomous “Dark” Microfactory in Montréal
Montréal‑based Relocalize is set to launch its second autonomous microfactory, a fully “dark” facility that will operate without lighting or human shifts. The plant, slated for Q4 2024 near the Lachine Canal, will manufacture 100% water‑based cold packs for meal‑kit deliveries,...
How AI-Powered Echolocation Is Giving Small Drones Night Vision
Researchers have created an ultrasound‑based perception system for tiny aerial robots, mimicking bat echolocation to see in darkness. The design combines a physical acoustic shield that mutes propeller noise with a neural network named Saranga that extracts faint echo signals....
Hover UAV – Operations Manager
Hover UAV announced a newly created Operations Manager position on the Gold Coast, aimed at steering its expanding RPAS and Advanced Air Mobility services. The role will manage the Remote Operations Centre, coordinate client and internal programs, and act as...
Iranian Arash 2
Iran unveiled the Arash 2, a long‑range, one‑way attack drone operated by its army ground forces. The delta‑wing UAV can travel up to 2,000 km, stay aloft for 30 hours, and deliver a 150‑kg (potentially 260‑kg) warhead. Its rear‑mounted piston engine, solid‑fuel booster...