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
The Army Wants to Use Bullets, Mortars, and Artillery to Take Out Small Drones
The U.S. Army is evaluating its existing small‑arms and artillery ammunition as low‑cost counter‑UAS solutions, aiming to replace expensive $1 million missiles with rounds that cost a few thousand dollars or less. Demonstrations have shown that the 30 mm XM121 high‑explosive proximity round can destroy cheap $1 k drones by detonating near them. The Army plans to adapt platforms ranging from Bradley fighting vehicles to infantry‑level Mk‑19 grenade launchers, and even explore dropping modified mortar or artillery shells from drones. This effort is part of an inter‑agency task force to field dedicated counter‑drone systems using legacy munitions.
The Rise of Humanoid Robots to Catalyse Labour Relations
Hyundai is moving to install Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robots across its car factories and has taken a controlling stake in the robotics firm. The South Korean union has warned that the rollout could trigger a massive employment shock, demanding...
DJI Avata 360 Drone Launch Delayed in US
DJI announced that its new Avata 360 drone will launch in the United States on March 30, a few days after the global rollout slated for March 26. The delay is attributed to heightened regulatory scrutiny and import hurdles that have become common...
PDW Validates Extended Range & Autonomous Navigation in Texas Flight Trials
Performance Drone Works (PDW) completed a three‑day flight test at Texas’s 9 Mile Training Center, executing 114 sorties to prove the extended range and autonomous capabilities of its C100 and AM‑FPV platforms. The C100, equipped with a Range Extension Kit and...
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/voofupOVbE
Light Dynamix to Host Exclusive Drone Show Discovery Event
Light Dynamix will host its second Discovery Event on Thursday 30 April 2026 at The Duke of Cumberland’s Head in Banbury. The invite‑only evening gathers drone‑show operators, event professionals and industry leaders for panels on scaling operations, commercial realities, and a full‑scale...
Good Intentions Fuel Bad Ideas: Embrace Non‑Human Robot Forms
This is how good intentions spread bad ideas. Human shaped robots are inferior to weird evolved droids that do things thru engineering that defy what evolution yielded humans. Why limit to two hands and two legs
Robots Deploy 100 MW Solar on 1‑GW AES Project
Robots install 100 MW of solar panels on 1-GW AES project #energysky -- via Solar Power World: https://t.co/twW6hPg4bg
Northwestern AI‑Driven Legged Metamachines Self‑Repair After Damage
Northwestern University scientists have built AI‑generated legged metamachines that can traverse gravel, sand and mud and continue locomotion after losing limbs. The breakthrough compresses billions of years of evolution into seconds, opening a path to adaptive, self‑repairing robots for rescue...
Automation Slashed Easter Peep Production Time From Days to Minutes
#HowThingsAreMade? Easter Peeps? In 1953, Bob Born of Just Born applied #Automation to Peep production reducing the manual time of 27 hours a tray down to 6 minutes. (Business Insider) #FoodProcessing #Manufacturing https://t.co/303bnDz5nV
Decathlon Doubles Order Capacity with Exotec Robots at European Warehouses
Decathlon, the world’s largest sporting‑goods retailer, announced that its seven European warehouses using Exotec’s Skypod robots have seen productivity surges, including a 100% increase in orders at its Portugal hub. The automation cut picker walking distance by up to 90%...
Fish‑like Micro‑robots Poised to Revolutionize Medicine
Tiny Swimming #Robots That Move Like Fish Could Transform Medicine and Science by @IntEngineering #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/smfTSXZyHx
Robotic Mouse Alerts You When Workday Ends
#WhatsNext? How about a robotic mouse that lets you know when the workday is over? (GiGadgets) #Robotics #RemoteWork https://t.co/Rr885iCziy
How Chef Robots Coordinate to Maximize Throughput
Chef Robotics unveiled robot‑to‑robot (R2R) communication, allowing multiple Chef robots on a shared conveyor to exchange real‑time tray position data via built‑in wireless radios. This coordination lets downstream robots target trays precisely, boosting line speeds to as high as 150...
Melody: AI‑Powered Multilingual Humanoid Girlfriend Unveiled
Meet Melody—The #AI-Powered, Multilingual Humanoid Girlfriend by @MarioNawfal #Robotics #Technology #ArtificialIntelligence #MI #ML #Innovation https://t.co/UxgmkXOlxn
Air Force Officials Say They’re Beating Cost Goal for CCA Drones
The Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program has surpassed former Secretary Frank Kendall’s target of delivering drone wingmen at roughly one‑third the cost of an F‑35, achieving unit costs at or below $34 million. Semi‑autonomous drones such as the YFQ‑44A...
New Platform Gives Industrial Robots Real‑World Vision
Visual Object Intelligence Platform: Empowering Industrial #Robots to See, Understand, and Handle the Real World via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/aXMz0KoKHn
Amazon Acquires Fauna Robotics, Adding $50,000 Sprout Humanoid to Its Portfolio
Amazon has purchased New York‑based Fauna Robotics, the two‑year‑old startup behind the $50,000 Sprout kid‑size humanoid robot. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, expands Amazon’s robotics reach beyond warehouse automation into the emerging personal‑robot market.
Comau and Reis Robotics Sign a Cooperation Agreement to Pursue Advanced Automation Projects Across Multiple Industries
Italian automation leader Comau and German specialist Reis Robotics have signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop advanced automation products for multiple industries. The partnership will initially target shipbuilding, intralogistics, giga‑casting, battery production, heavy industry and critical infrastructure in Germany,...
Official: UAS Marketplace Likely Not Army’s ‘Primary’ Option For Buying Launched Effects
The Army’s new UAS Marketplace, designed as an "Amazon‑like" portal for Group 1‑3 drones, will likely not serve as the primary acquisition channel for its launched‑effects programs. Capability executive Rodney Davis warned that launched effects demand massed capability and scale, which...
Army’s SkyFoundry Plan To Build Own Cheap Drones Has ‘Evolved,’ Official Notes Commercial Involvement
The Army’s SkyFoundry program, originally slated to internally produce 10,000 cheap drones per year, has pivoted to a fully commercial partnership model. Rich Martin, AMC’s supply‑chain director, emphasized that the service cannot scale drone manufacturing alone and will rely on...
Humanoid Robots Remain Luxury, Not Mass‑market Purchase
Good skepticism about @1x_tech's humanoid robot's prospects. I've done a lot of consumer research getting into people's homes around the world. While everyone "want" one, when they start thinking of $500 a month, and the privacy implications of having a...
GM's AI Drives 50,000× Faster for Unpredictable Scenarios
@generalmotors is working on systems to ensure its autonomous vehicles behave even in the most unexpected scenarios. Its scalable driving AI operates 50,000 times faster than real-time. https://spectrum.ieee.org/gm-scalable-driving-ai
Flying Fox – Fox Lightening
Flying Fox Engineering is developing the Fox Lightning, a low‑cost, fixed‑wing UAV priced around $2,500 per unit. The drone offers a 25‑mile range and a 5.5‑lb payload, targeting rapid, large‑scale deployment in electronic‑warfare and GPS‑denied environments. The company has entered...
PDW Raises Over $110M to Expand Military Drone Production
Performance Drone Works (PDW) announced a Series B round that raised over $110 million, led by Ondas and joined by strategic investors such as Hood River, Cedar Pine, Hanwha’s venture fund and Booz Allen Hamilton. The capital will fund a hiring...
Exclusive: Lockheed Martin's Martell Says Warfare Requires Human-Machine Teamwork
Lockheed Martin CTO Craig Martell told Axios that future warfare will rely on human‑machine teaming, not fully autonomous cognition. He emphasized that operators must train alongside AI systems to understand their limits and assume responsibility for any errors. Martell cited...
Melania Trump Wants a Robot to Homeschool Your Child
First Lady Melania Trump introduced a Figure AI humanoid robot, dubbed “Plato,” at a White House press conference to launch the "Fostering the Future Together" initiative. The robot delivered a brief speech promoting AI‑driven, personalized education and symbolized the administration’s push...
So Robot Is Really Taking over Complex Job...
Figure 03, an autonomous robot developed by Figure AI, can sort a package every four seconds with 95 % barcode‑scan accuracy, handling soft bags, padded envelopes and rigid boxes without human guidance. Backed by OpenAI, Microsoft, NVIDIA and Jeff Bezos, the system—named Helix—combines...
30 Years Ago, Robots Learned to Walk Without Falling
In 1996 Honda unveiled Prototype 2 (P2), the first self‑contained bipedal robot that could walk dynamically without falling, standing 183 cm tall and weighing 210 kg. The robot’s real‑time posture control, multi‑joint coordination, and stair‑climbing capability earned it IEEE Milestone status, with a...
Robotics Sector Reaches Critical Inflection Point Amid AI Integration
The robotics and automation sector is at a pivotal inflection point as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in physical systems, expanding the market beyond traditional industrial applications. Zeno Mercer of VettaFi highlighted rapid advances in autonomous aerial and ground robots, driven...
Attabotics Launches Metal ASRS Bin to Mitigate Fire Risk
Attabotics introduced the Guardian bin, a metal‑based storage container designed to lower fire risk in automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). The bin replaces combustible plastic with galvanized steel, contains leaked liquids, and improves fire‑suppression fluid distribution. Its flat‑pack design...
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Sonair is launching its award‑winning ADAR 3D ultrasonic sensor at MODEX 2026, marking the technology’s first North American debut. The sensor provides a full 180°×180° field of view and real‑time 3‑D perception using sound, eliminating blind spots and overcoming optical...
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CaPow will showcase its Power‑in‑Motion™ Genesis platform at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, demonstrating wireless energy delivery to two distinct robot models—Ocado Chuck and MiR600—via a modular charging pad. The live demo highlights continuous power transfer that eliminates traditional docking stops, promising...
Friendly Bubble Robot Tackles Senior Loneliness in U.S.
EXCLUSIVE: in a sea of Terminator-looking bots, Aussie founder Grace Brown took a different direction for her robot, Abi: color, bubbles, and fun. Now her startup Andromeda, which has raised $16.6M, is launching for senior homes across the U.S. - with...
Wuji Hand Unveils Next‑Generation Robotic Dexterity
Meet the Wuji Hand: Next-Gen #Robotic Dexterity Begins by @wuji_global #Robots #Innovation #EmergingTech #ML #Technology https://t.co/ckMcura9sA
Ukrainian Drones Hit Russian Icebreaker Under Construction at Vyborg Shipyard
Ukrainian drone operators targeted a Russian icebreaker being built at the Vyborg shipyard, marking a rare strike on a high‑value naval asset. While the attack’s damage assessment was not disclosed, analysts say it signals a widening of Ukraine’s drone campaign...
UAV Countermeasures Known; Implementation Remains the Challenge
Lots of discussion of countering UAVs at the moment. @Justin_Br0nk and I published this in 2024: https://t.co/dsSGyI9mfx Lots of others with similar conclusions. The answers have been known for some time - the problem is implementation. @RUSI_org @roberttollast
AI Drives Hyper-Realistic Robot Revolution
The Rise of Hyper-Realistic #Robots Powered by #AI by @Khulood_Almani #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/JZjFKkn824
McDonald’s Deploys Humanoid Robots at Shanghai Museum Restaurant for Grand Opening
McDonald’s partnered with Chinese firm Keenon Robotics to place a squad of humanoid robots at its Shanghai Science and Technology Museum restaurant for a four‑day grand opening. The robots greeted patrons and delivered trays but performed no kitchen work, prompting...
Humanoid Robot Chats with Staff on the Way Home
A humanoid #Robot talking to staff in the car on the way home from an event via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/9fIdsqFuJH
Human‑Scale Bipedal Robot Ready for Real‑World Tasks
Human-Scale Bipedal Humanoid #Robot Designed for Real-World Tasks via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #RPA #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/j5P47UBkpQ
Rivian Locks $1.25 B Uber Robotaxi Deal, Secures Thousands of R2 Orders
Rivian has secured a multi‑year partnership with Uber that could bring as much as $1.25 billion in cash and a commitment to buy up to 50,000 R2‑based robotaxis through 2031. The deal gives Rivian a guaranteed deployment pipeline while Uber expands...
China Rolls Out AI Electric Mining Trucks, Automating Industry
China Deploys #AI-Powered Electric Mining Trucks, Driving Heavy Industry Toward Full #Automation by @IntEngineering #SelfDrivingCars #AutonomousVehicles #ArtificialIntelligence #Automation #Automotive #Transport https://t.co/IEENy7uDyD
Microscopic Robot Delivers Targeted Drugs Inside Bloodstream
Microscopic #Robot Navigates the Bloodstream to Deliver Targeted Medication by @CeoImed #MedTech #Healthcare #HealthTech #Tech #Technology https://t.co/LBJeDdwTuq
First Lady Melania Trump Welcomes Humanoid Robot to White House
Figure 03 humanoid robot makes a surprise visit to the White House, alongside First Lady Melania Trump, who is ready for robot teachers. https://t.co/SGx9ozuSmn
Dual‑Arm Bipedal Robot Tackles Heavy‑Load Logistics
Dual-Arm Bipedal #Robot Designed for High-Payload Logistics Operations by @tweetciiiim #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation #Tech https://t.co/B2oykv52XF
FPV Drones Threaten Parked U.S. Aircraft at Home and Abroad
Drone Attack On Parked U.S. Army Black Hawk In Iraq A Harbinger Of What’s To Come The ballooning threat from FPV drones pose a major risk to American aircraft parked on ramps in war zones and in the United States. https://t.co/VnieHpJqsL
Bat-Inspired Denoising Lets Tiny Drone Avoid Invisible Obstacles
A bat-inspired approach denoises ultrasound echolocation signals, enabling a palm-sized drone to navigate challenging environments while avoiding transparent or thin obstacles. Learn more in Science #Robotics: https://t.co/utyw7UGfJ9 https://t.co/eesQvK3IJU
AI-Driven Humanoid Robots Promise Universal, Elite-Level Healthcare
Humanoid robots + AI will mean everyone on Earth has access to better medical care than the richest person alive today. THAT is what abundance looks like.
Vine-Inspired Robot Lifts Objects with Gentle Precision
This Vine-Inspired #Robot Can Gently Lift Almost Anything by @MIT #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/lfKLB58nJB