Today's Robotics Pulse
NASA plans spacewalk to repair seized Canadarm2 wrist joint
NASA reported that the ISS’s Canadarm2 robotic arm has seized a wrist joint, stopping its motion after routine work on May 27. A spacewalk on June 30 will replace the faulty joint using a spare stored on the station. The 25‑year‑old arm, operating beyond its design life, remains critical for cargo capture and station maintenance.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Base10 Partners raises $850M for real‑economy automation funds
Robinson Unmanned – Software Engineer UAV
Robinson Unmanned, the UAV arm of Robinson Helicopter, is hiring a Software Engineer for its UAV Systems team in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The role covers flight software, ground control station customization, embedded systems, and cross‑platform mobile app development. Candidates must have at least three years of experience, strong C++ and Python skills, and familiarity with Linux, Docker, and drone communication protocols. The position offers a competitive salary, full benefits, and the chance to work on mission‑critical aerospace‑grade unmanned VTOL platforms serving defense, public safety, and industrial markets.
Unitree Releases Open-Source Whole-Body Teleop Dataset
🔥 Dancing and Kung Fu are just the warm up, #Unitree is building real world AI. Unitree Robotics just released open-sources the UnifoLM-WBT-Dataset: a high-quality, real-world dataset for whole-body teleoperation (#WBT) of humanoid robots in open environments. #OpenSource #humanoidtech #humanoid #robot #Robotics...
Amazon Accelerates Into Humanoid Robotics Market
🔥 Amazon makes a big move in the humanoid game. #amazon #humanoidtech #humanoid #robot #Robotics #AI #TechRevolution #TechInnovation #ArtificialInteligence #PhysicalAI @AlbertoEMachado @Eli_Krumova @postoff25 @Khulood_Almani @anand_narang @NutritiousMind @baski_LA @TanyaSinha_ @devaang @AlAmadi1 @jeancayeux @enilev @efipm @mvollmer1 @Nicochan33 @RagusoSergio @FrRonconi @Shi4Tech @sallyeaves @LaurentAlaus @Fabriziobustama...
PLCnext ROS Bridge: Enabling Hardware Interoperability Between Industrial PLCs and ROS
The PLCnext ROS Bridge introduces a Docker‑based ROS node that directly links the PLCnext Global Data Space with ROS topics and services, enabling bidirectional data exchange between industrial PLCs and robotic software. It leverages an Interface Description File to auto‑generate...
Open‑Source Tactile Sensors Make Robotic Touch Affordable
Robots can see. But they still can’t feel. An open-source, low-cost tactile sensing system built for real robots might change that. • flexible sensor pads • ~3 min fabrication • ~$2.5 per sensor • 100 Hz tactile streaming FPC-based design...
Swarm AI Moves From Light Shows to Real-World Impact
China just turned 10,000 drones into a single coordinated system 🤯 What looks like a light show is actually something deeper. 10,000 autonomous units moving in perfect coordination. No collisions. No chaos. Just precision. One wrong signal could collapse the entire formation. Instead, they...
Sub-$300 Mini Camera Drone Flies 4K/60fps Video and Obstacle Avoidance
Skyrover introduced the S1 Mini, a sub‑249‑gram camera drone priced under $300 that adds forward obstacle avoidance to the budget segment. It features a 1/2‑inch Sony sensor capable of 48‑megapixel stills and 4K / 60 fps video on a 3‑axis gimbal. The drone...
Eggie: A Robot Designed for Human‑Centered Interaction
Eggie: The #Robot Built for a Human-Centered World by @tangiblerobots #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #DeepLearning https://t.co/DBS5b5gcHY
Humanoid Robots Begin Self-Manufacturing the Next Generation
The Self-Manufacturing Future: Humanoid #Robots Building Robots by @Robo_Tuo #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/JMyNqdp8MU
Airbus Helicopters To Supply Flexrotor UAS To India’s Garuda Aerospace
Airbus Helicopters has signed a deal to deliver up to 18 Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems to Indian drone maker Garuda Aerospace. Garuda will lease the high‑end UAS for civil and parapublic missions, ranging from infrastructure inspection to disaster response. The...
Ukraine Deploys Phantom Humanoid Robots, First Combat Test of Exoskeletons
Foundation sent two Phantom humanoid robots to Ukraine for frontline reconnaissance, backed by $24 million in U.S. defense contracts. The trial pits cutting‑edge AI‑powered exoskeletons against ethical and strategic concerns about autonomous warfare.
Robots Showcase Package Sorting, Piano Playing and Food Prep at Beijing's Zhongguancun Forum
Robots demonstrated package sorting, piano playing and food preparation at Beijing's Zhongguancun Forum, underscoring the breadth of real‑world applications on display and drawing global attention to China's robotics momentum.
Chicago Investigates Delivery Robot Crashes Into Bus Shelters
Chicago officials are investigating a series of incidents in which autonomous delivery robots collided with public bus shelters, causing property damage and sparking debate over urban robot safety. The city has ordered a review of operating permits and is consulting...
Bizerba Unveils Fully Automated Sandwich Production Line
#Automated Sandwich Production Line by Bizerba by @MachinePix #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML #Innovation #FoodTech https://t.co/cvrdWsq4rs
Active Exoskeletons Enhance Industrial Worker Strength and Safety
exoIQ Active Exoskeletons: Boosting Worker Strength and Safety in Industrial Environments via @WevolverApp #Innovation #Technology #Engineering https://t.co/izCxgbZCdC
Morgan Stanley Lifts Alphabet Forecast on Waymo's Rapid Expansion
Morgan Stanley upgraded Alphabet's revenue forecast, pointing to Waymo's accelerating growth as a key long‑term driver. The analyst house said the autonomous‑driving unit is gaining market share and expanding its commercial fleet, prompting a more optimistic outlook for the tech...
Next‑Gen Robots Transform Smart Warehouse Operations
How Next-Generation #Robots Are Redefining Smart #Warehouses by @lukas_m_ziegler #AI #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood #Technology https://t.co/VvolzaqpF3
Agile Robots Teams with Google DeepMind to Pilot Humanoid Robots on Factory Floors
Agile Robots SE announced a collaboration with Google DeepMind to integrate the lab's Gemini Robotics foundation models into its Agile ONE humanoid platform. The partnership will run a series of development and deployment phases in high‑value manufacturing environments, seeking to...
Combat Drones Are Pivoting Into Green Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Combat drones and emerging ground robots are increasingly being powered by green hydrogen fuel cells, a shift driven by Ukraine’s rapid adoption and U.S. defense interest. Startups such as Sesame Solar have created mobile nanogrid refueling stations that can be...
Quadruped Robots Have Potential as Astronaut Surface Assistants, New Research Finds
Researchers at Oregon State University and NASA tested a battery‑powered quadruped robot in White Sands’ Mars‑like dunes, showing it can collaborate with astronaut scientists to collect soil data. The robot’s leg motors generate current that doubles as a terrain sensor,...
This Firmware Update Makes Avata 360 Ready for Real Flying
DJI has launched a day‑one firmware update (v01.00.0100) for the Avata 360, extending support to the new FPV Remote Controller 3 and enhancing the entire ecosystem, including RC 2, Goggles 3, and the Fly app. The update raises Sport mode’s top speed to 18 m/s,...
Frontier Robotics Are Arriving—Invest Now, Timing Irrelevant
Melania Trump walking the red carpet with Figure 03 was the third step forward for bots this week. We also saw $UBER commit $1.25B to robotaxis and Google DeepMind sign its third robotics hardware partnership in six months. Bottom line: We...
Uber, Pony.ai and Verne Launch Europe's First Robotaxi Pilot in Zagreb
Uber, Chinese autonomous‑driving company Pony.ai and Croatian robotaxi startup Verne announced a joint pilot in Zagreb, Croatia, using Pony.ai’s Gen‑7 system and Arcfox Alpha T5 vehicles. The partnership targets a fleet of thousands of driverless taxis across Europe within the next...
Omakase Robotics Completes Japan’s First Humanoid PoC at University of Tsukuba Hospital
ZEALS, together with venture Quick, completed Japan’s first hospital‑based humanoid robot proof‑of‑concept using the Unitree G1 equipped with the Omakase OS. Over three days at the University of Tsukuba Hospital, the robot demonstrated autonomous walking, obstacle avoidance, voice‑guided navigation and...
VR‑controlled Robot Swarms Expose Military AI Governance Gap
Drones disrupted modern warfare. Now, a vision of a single operator with a VR helmet directing a swarm of robots ready for combat. This isn’t an episode of Black Mirror. It’s the near-future. Tech is outpacing doctrine, law, and ethics. That gap is where...
Self‑Cleaning Solar Panels Powered by Autonomous Robots
#Autonomous Solar Panel Cleaning #Robots Work Without Human Workers by @XueJia24682 #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood #Technology https://t.co/CMoSpuWiQu
A Day in Class With Plato, the Melania Trump–Mandated Robot Teacher
Melania Trump’s 2026 "Be Best" initiative installed AI‑driven humanoid teachers called Plato in public classrooms, but only premium Be Best Platinum subscriptions unlock full instruction. Most districts are stuck on the low‑cost Basic plan, which delivers ads, occasional razor promotions,...
Deep Robotics Debuts Hyper-Realistic, Life‑Like Robot Horse
DEEP #Robotics Unveils a Hyper-Realistic #Robot Horse That Moves Like the Real Thing via @XRoboHub #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/VsMesNxtMC
Expressive Robot Faces Enhance Human-Machine Interaction
Robots with expressive faces could improve human-machine interaction. What do you think? 😕😠😅 https://t.co/XUfFCrkEBV @IntEngineering https://t.co/YoSy5a2mQ2
CNES Publishes Call for Drone Swarm to Monitor Launch Operations
CNES has launched a call for proposals to create an autonomous drone swarm that will monitor perimeter security and support launch‑operation activities at the Guiana Space Centre. The initiative is funded under the Flexible, Digital and Sustainable (FDS) programme, a...
Microsoft AI Teaches Robots Task and Location Awareness
New Microsoft AI trains robots to know what to do and where to act https://t.co/xDWNqP1UtG https://t.co/CC0vV6fSVf
Energy, Chemicals Industries Race to Fully Automate
Schneider Electric’s Global Autonomous Maturity Report surveyed 400 energy and chemical executives across 12 nations, finding that 31.5% view advancing autonomy as a top priority for the next five years and 44% see it as critical over the next decade....
Democratizing Access: How Community Hospitals Can Drive the Next Wave of Robotic Bronchoscopy
Second‑generation robotic bronchoscopy platforms now embed advanced imaging, delivering higher diagnostic accuracy for peripheral lung lesions while simplifying workflow. Community hospitals can adopt these systems using single‑use bronchoscopes, eliminating reprocessing costs and reducing procedure time. Relocating the service to endoscopy...
Iona Takes Flight: Drone Deliveries Set to Transform Ireland's Logistics Landscape
Iona, founded by French entrepreneur Etienne Louvet, is set to launch Ireland’s first commercial drone delivery service by the end of 2026. The startup has raised nearly €4.5 million (about $4.9 million) and is classified as a high‑potential venture by Enterprise Ireland....
Insufficient Source Data to Verify Navy Submarine Automation Funding
The claim that the U.S. Navy allocated nearly $1 billion to automate submarine production cannot be substantiated from the provided source material. Consequently, specifics about the program, its participants, and its impact remain undisclosed.
Chinese and Italian Universities Launch Joint Drone Vocational Training Program
Chinese and Italian higher‑education institutions have signed a partnership to roll out a joint drone‑based vocational training program. The initiative blends curriculum design, certification pathways and industry placement, aiming to boost technical skills for emerging drone markets.
Amazon's Project Kobe Aims to Build Walmart‑Style Supercenters with Robots
Amazon announced its internal Project Kobe, a blueprint for 225,000‑sq‑ft supercenters that blend grocery, general merchandise and a warehouse‑scale fulfillment hub. The pilot stores in Illinois and New Jersey will rely on AI‑driven assortment planning and warehouse robots, a move...
Netherlands Orders 12 V-BAT Drones as Arctic NATO Tests Prove Performance
The Dutch Ministry of Defence has ordered 12 Shield AI V‑BAT (MQ‑35A) unmanned aerial systems for deployment across eight Royal Netherlands Navy vessels. The vertical‑takeoff drones, which can operate for more than 12 hours on JP‑5 fuel, have already demonstrated...
96 Drones, One Operator — China Demonstrates Massive Drone AI Swarm in Precision Strike Test
China’s state media showcased the Atlas drone swarm system, a fully AI‑driven architecture that can launch and coordinate up to 96 fixed‑wing drones from a single operator. The Swarm‑2 ground combat vehicle carries 48 drones, while the command vehicle manages...
Episode 150: House Building Robots - Vikas Enti
In this episode, Claire Asher talks with Vikas Enti, co‑founder and CEO of Reframe Systems, about how their robotic micro‑factory platform enables mass‑customized, climate‑resilient homes. Enti explains the end‑to‑end workflow—from site analysis and automated design to robot‑guided panel fabrication and...
China Deploys Fighter Drones Near Taiwan Strait
China has positioned roughly 200 aging J‑6 fighter jets, retrofitted as strike drones, at six airbases in Fujian and Guangdong, directly overlooking the Taiwan Strait. Satellite imagery confirmed the deployments, which Reuters and the Mitchell Institute reported. The unmanned aircraft...
Antofagasta PLC – Copper Growth Delivery Going Hand in Hand with Innovation
Antofagasta PLC highlighted how its 2025 innovation program is driving copper growth and operational efficiency. Deployments include autonomous truck fleets at Centinela, AI‑powered SIRO platforms boosting SAG mill availability to 94.4% and recoveries, and a trolley‑assist trial with Komatsu and...
Ball‑shaped Hexapod Robot Rolls Any Direction
Ball-Shaped Transforming Hexapod #Robot That Rolls in Any Direction via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/9sQ6ljVeto
Heavy Equipment Manufacturers Are Using Robotics to Change Crane Trucks
Heavy equipment makers are embedding robotics‑driven assistance into truck‑mounted crane systems, shifting operators from direct control to supervisory roles. Integrated control units now fuse sensor data to monitor boom position, load weight, and vehicle stability in real time, delivering safety...
From Standards to the Shop Floor: Practical Robot Safety Steps Operators Can Apply
Robotic cells boost productivity but create safety hazards during non‑production moments such as setup, jams, or adjustments. The article outlines five practical steps operators can take: selecting appropriate tools, using controlled motion modes, performing thorough lockout/tagout with verification, keeping the...
EACON’s Autonomy Deployed on 120 Battery-Electric Trucks at Zhundong Mine
EACON’s ORCASTRA® autonomous haulage system is now running on 120 Tonly TLE138 battery‑electric trucks at China’s Zhundong open‑pit coal mine, creating one of the world’s largest single‑site electric fleets. The trucks, each with a 90‑ton payload, have collectively logged more...
Amazon Acquires Fauna Robotics, Enters Humanoid Robot Market
Amazon has bought Fauna Robotics, the maker of the $50,000 Sprout humanoid robot, adding a kid‑size, developer‑friendly bot to its growing robotics lineup. The deal, announced on March 24, positions Amazon against Tesla and expands its reach beyond warehouse automation...