Today's Robotics Pulse
Spirit AI tops global robot AI leaderboard, secures $222M funding
Chinese robotics startup Spirit AI’s embodied intelligence model, Spirit v1.6, achieved the highest score of 1,924 on the RoboArena benchmark, overtaking Nvidia’s Cosmos3‑Nano‑Policy. The company also announced ¥1.5 billion (≈$222 million) of funding to accelerate its technology.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Shifters raises $10.2M seed round
The African Drone Forum (ADF) Announces First-Ever ‘Africa Pavilion’ at XPONENTIAL Europe 2026
The African Drone Forum (ADF) announced the debut of an Africa Pavilion at XPONENTIAL Europe 2026, the continent’s first unified presence at the premier uncrewed systems exhibition. The pavilion, running March 24‑26 in Düsseldorf, is backed by Germany’s BMZ and GIZ under a triangular‑cooperation project aimed at digital innovation. It will showcase export‑ready African drone and robotics firms to global industry, government, and investment audiences. The initiative signals a strategic push to integrate African drone technology into the broader European market.
Hire for Judgment: AI's Weakest Skill Is Taste
I've been running a thought exercise with my team at UiPath . Start the company over with two people. A seller and a builder. Who's the third hire? The fourth? It sounds simple but it isn't. It forces you to...
Figure 03 Humanoid Outperforms Unitree G1 in Package Sorting
Truly impressive video of the Figure 03 humanoid autonomously sorting deformable packages and placing them labels-down for the scanner down the line. It is far better than the Unitree G1 version humanoid that I currently have at home. And they are...
Combat Drone Startup Emerges as US‑UK Underwater Drone Countermeasure Program Unveiled
A stealth‑mode startup announced its entry into combat drone production, and the United States and United Kingdom revealed a joint program to detect and neutralize hostile underwater drones. While funding and technical specifics were not disclosed, experts warn the moves...
How China Made Itself Tariff-Proof
In this episode, Keith Bradshirp explains how China has become virtually tariff‑proof by rapidly expanding its advanced, robot‑driven manufacturing capacity. The discussion highlights four key factors: diversification of export markets, indirect shipments through third‑party countries, a deliberately weakened yuan, and,...
Robots Detect Microscopic Rail Flaws, Prevent Outages
Railway maintenance is becoming precise, fast, and increasingly automated. In China, a robot is now repairing track cracks at up to 10,000 RPM, while detecting flaws as small as 0.1 mm. That level of accuracy changes the game. Instead of reacting to visible damage, systems...
Russia Intends to Deploy Additional Systems in Belarus
Russia plans to install four ground‑control stations for long‑range strike drones in Belarus, expanding a network first deployed in late 2025. The stations will enable rapid UAV‑guided attacks on Ukraine’s northern regions, from Kyiv to Volyn. Belarus, a long‑time Russian...
Appliance Makers Place the Future of Home Robots on Display at AWE 2026
At the 2026 Appliance & Electronics World Expo in Shanghai, traditional appliance manufacturers pivoted toward embodied intelligence, unveiling a range of home‑service robots. Companies such as Dreame, Ecovacs, Haier, TCL, Hisense and Tesla demonstrated prototypes for chores, elder care, and...
Saving the Planet From Humans: How Robots Are Transforming Environmental Monitoring and Cleanup
Robotics and autonomous systems are rapidly becoming the backbone of environmental monitoring and cleanup, shifting the industry from periodic, reactive actions to continuous, data‑driven operations. Drones, autonomous surface vessels, and underwater robots now provide real‑time intelligence on air quality, methane...
Fanuc to Invest $90 Million in US Robot Manufacturing Capacity Expansion
Fanuc America announced a $90 million investment to build an 840,000 sq ft robot manufacturing plant in Michigan, slated for completion in late 2027. The expansion will add 225 jobs and bring Fanuc’s U.S. footprint to 3 million sq ft, reflecting nearly $300 million invested since 2019. The...
Nvidia GTC Showcases Hug‑Worthy Robotic Olaf
Taking a closer look at the robotic Olaf at @nvidia GTC Yes I want to hug it! #gtc #nvidia
Oceanbotics Expands SRV-8 Series with Compact & Cost-Effective ROV
Oceanbotics has introduced the SRV-8C, a 15‑inch‑tall ROV that fits the vehicle, tether and accessories into a single rolling case. The compact unit retains the maneuverability and software of the broader SRV-8 series while offering a more affordable price point....
ROBOTAXI WAR – TESLA VS NVIDIA. ELON VS JENSEN
Nvidia reports 19 automotive partners working on robotaxi technology, though most currently only field driver‑assist systems. The partners lack sufficient robotaxi‑grade Lidar units and the billions of miles of driving data needed to train the new AI chips. Consequently, they...
RIKON Delivers Final A-RMG Cranes to Madrid Intermodal Terminal
JSC RIKON has delivered the final two A‑RMG automated rail‑mounted gantry cranes to the Madrid‑Vicálvaro Intermodal Terminal, completing the fleet slated for the $327 million project. The terminal, a €300 million investment, will handle roughly 150,000 intermodal units each year, linking Atlantic...
Oxford Spinout Raises From Amadeus Capital and OSE to Solve Long-Term Memory Problem in Robotics
Stateful Robotics, an embodied‑AI spinout from the University of Oxford, announced a $4.8 million pre‑seed financing round. The round was led by Amadeus Capital Partners and Oxford Science Enterprises, with angel investor Stan Boland also participating. The capital will be used...
ADMARES Unveils High-Tech Housing Manufacturing with ABB Robotics
Swedish modular housing firm ADMARES announced a strategic partnership with ABB Robotics to equip its upcoming Smart Factory with AI-driven robotics, software and hardware. The collaboration brings together a network of technology partners, including Porsche Consulting, Siemens, NVIDIA and EDAG,...
Optimus Robot Serves Water in Downtown Austin
Optimus serving water in Austin Downtown. #optimus #tesla #humanoidtech #humanoid #robot #Robotics #AI #TechRevolution #TechInnovation #ArtificialInteligence #PhysicalAI @sonu_monika @enilev @Jagersbergknut @TysonLester @chidambara09 @labordeolivier @BetaMoroney @tlloydjones @Nicochan33 @jeancayeux @RLDI_Lamy @pierrepinna @pierrecappelli @pchamard @JeromeMONANGE @thierry_pires @MaiaGabunia @amalmerzouk @NewsNeus @mary_gambara @PawlowskiMario @XavierAncelin @drsharwood @kalydeoo...
China Deploys Autonomous Spherical Police Robot
China Unveils High-Speed Spherical Police #Robot Capable of Netting Criminals Autonomously by @Rainmaker1973 #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood #Technology https://t.co/xA0m1PRrQv
Galbot Robotics' 4‑Foot Humanoid Beats Human in Real‑Time Tennis Demo
Galbot Robotics unveiled a compact, 4‑foot humanoid that can rally tennis shots with a human opponent in real time. The robot, powered by the LATENT system on a Unitree G1 platform, hit forehand shots with up to 96% success in...
Zurich Startup Creates Physical AI to Teach Robots Human Skills
Zurich-Based Startup Builds Physical #AI to Teach #Robots Human Skills by @mimicrobotics #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/gVymMFNGjp
Inspection Robots Are Revolutionizing Maintenance Across Industries
Why Inspection and Maintenance #Robots Are Taking Over by @lukas_m_ziegler #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/zfzsEpnq8O
KRICT Researchers Develop 4D Printed Polymers Redefining Soft Robotics
Researchers at Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) have created a sulfur‑based polymer that can be 4D‑printed into soft‑robotic components. The material, derived from abundant industrial sulfur waste, can change shape in response to heat, near‑infrared light, or magnetic...
Robot Turns Pixels Into Torque for 30+ Motors
this is fully autonomous...the robot is reasoning from camera pixels and computing torque to control it's 30+ motors
Robotic Kitchen Lets Chefs Automate Skills Solo
#WhosNext? Sous Chefs? @GoodBytz Robotic Kitchen's latest stations enable head chefs to replicate and #Automate their abilities effortlessly. No further assistance or assistants required. #Automation https://t.co/f3wNQtNefZ
MODEX 2026: NORD to Showcase Modular Drive Technologies for Intelligent Automation
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS will exhibit its latest high‑efficiency drive technologies at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, booth B14136. The lineup includes IE5+ permanent‑magnet synchronous motors delivering up to 95% efficiency, a range of centralized and decentralized NORDAC electronic controls, and the modular...
Peruvian Entrepreneur Profits From Drone Facade Cleaning
Peruvian Entrepreneur Earns Big with #Drone-Powered Building Facade Cleaning by @Arcfunmi #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation https://t.co/uBnjYbLnhS
Sony Debuts Versatile Surgical Robot Tested on Animals
#WhosNext? Surgeons? Sony recently unveiled their new Surgical Robot by having it slice and stitch a kernel of corn. It can also auto-switch between its different tools, and has successfully been tested in animal surgery. #Robotics...
MODEX 2026: Swisslog to Showcase Flexible, Scalable Warehouse Technologies
Swisslog used MODEX 2026 to unveil AgileStore, a 4‑way roaming pallet shuttle designed for high‑density, flexible storage, and its SynQ orchestration platform that unifies WMS, WES and WCS functions. The AgileStore system can travel forward, backward, laterally and vertically, allowing...
XBot‑L Becomes First Humanoid to Scale Great Wall
#WhosNext? Chinese border patrol guards? Meet XBot-L, the first humanoid robot to climb the Great Wall. #Robots #Robotics https://t.co/PpRvpEFWT2
Treventus Robot Scans 2,500 Pages Hourly
Treventus Scan #Robot Digitizes Up to 2,500 Pages Per Hour by @AadityaAnand_11 #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #Technology https://t.co/BJ6iZCUonv
McDonald’s Pilots Humanoid Service Robots in Shanghai Restaurant
McDonald’s has begun a pilot at a Shanghai restaurant using lifelike humanoid robots from China’s Keenon Robotics to greet guests and deliver meals. The rollout, which has gone viral on social media, highlights a new wave of automation in fast‑food...
From 3‑DOF to Human‑like Dexterity in 16 Years
2009 @CarnegieMellon I built a robotic hand that could listen to a song and replay its tune on a Casio keyboard (~4 keys/sec). Getting it to work 3 degrees of freedom felt like a massive upgrade. Watching the level of...
Delivery Bugs Revealed Zipline’s True Product‑market Fit
Keller Rinaudo Cliffton from Zipline thought making the drones would be the hardest part. It was only 15% of the problem. The company spent 9 months figuring out delivery for one hospital. Weeks of all-nighters. Building inventory software in a...
Terra Drone Announces Strategic Entry Into the Defense Equipment Market, As Drones Emerge as Game-Changers in Modern Defense
Terra Drone Corp., a Japanese leader in drone and urban air mobility technology, announced a full‑scale entry into the defense equipment market and will establish a U.S. subsidiary, Terra Defense, by the end of fiscal 2026. The move leverages the...
Radiate Engineering & Design Introduces FlyBlocks – a Production-Ready Structuralairframe Platform for Long-Range VTOL UAV Applications
Radiate Engineering & Design AG of Zurich launched FlyBlocks, a production‑ready structural airframe platform targeting professional B2B VTOL UAVs focused on long‑range missions. The modular system includes three scalable models—VT‑14, VT‑22 and VT‑30—covering MTOW from 5 kg to 28 kg and ranges...
Pendleton UAS Range and Gambit Partner to Deliver Red Force as aService for Counter UAS Testing and Training
Pendleton UAS Range and AI‑focused firm Gambit have teamed up to deliver a Red Force as a Service offering for counter‑UAS testing, validation, and operator training. The integrated capability creates realistic, coordinated multi‑aircraft threat scenarios within a controlled, FAA‑approved airspace,...
US and UK Teaming up to Destroy Underwater Drones
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit has issued the Robotic Exclusion and Engagement Framework (REEF) solicitation, inviting commercial solutions to detect and neutralize underwater drones threatening ports and critical waterways. The program seeks AI‑driven sensor suites, sensor fusion,...
Steadicopter Launches Dedicated UAS Academy to Train GlobalOperators and Technicians on Advanced Rotary UAV Missions
Steadicopter, a developer of rotary unmanned aerial systems, announced the launch of its Steadicopter UAS Academy, a global training program for operators, mission commanders and technicians. The curriculum emphasizes the unique capabilities of rotary UAVs—persistent hover, precision deployment and flexibility—across...
Launching Deployed: Inside Jeff Wilke’s 22‑Year Automation Mastery
Everyone has a Physical AI take now. Most of these folks have never deployed a robot in production. Tomorrow I'm launching Deployed. First guest: @jeffawilke, who spent 22 years building arguably the most sophisticated automation operation on earth. We talk...
SenseGlove R1 Brings Force Feedback to Robotics
SenseGlove R1 Enables Force Feedback and Precise Finger Tracking for #Robotics by @SenseGlove #Robots #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/xyI6SnpkCo
Carbon Robotics Surpasses $100 Million in Annual Revenue as Agricultural AI Adoption Accelerates
Carbon Robotics reported annual revenue surpassing $100 million for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026. The company now operates in 15 countries across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It introduced a Large Plant Model trained on 150 million plants to power its...
Robotic Vessels Skim Waves Like Water Striders
These #Robotic vessels glide over waves like water striders by @gigadgets_ #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/CwrgjcQYes
Investing 892 Hours to Automate a 30-Second Task
Currently 892 hours into automating a 30-second task I do 4 times a year It's gonna be so worth it once I get everything working
Humanoid Robots Are Learning Tennis — and It’s a Big Leap for Real-World AI
Chinese researchers have unveiled LATENT, a reinforcement‑learning framework that enables humanoid robots to play tennis in real time using imperfect human motion data. By decomposing strokes and footwork into learnable components, the system achieved a 96.5% success rate over 10,000...
Roadrunner: One‑Wheel Biped Redefines Micro‑Mobility
Meet Roadrunner 🏁 A new wheeled biped that stands, balances on one wheel, and adapts in real time. A glimpse of where micro mobility is going. More stable. More accessible. More human. Small device, big shift. 🤖 @rai_inst #Robotics #MicroMobility https://t.co/ZlMiuMkoTi
LEGO‑style Modular Robots Adapt to Any Task
Modular #Robots That Reconfigure Like LEGO for Any Task or Environment via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #Technology https://t.co/kGyGT43Cy9
Caterpillar and Fortescue Extend Command for Hauling Agreement for Western Australia Mines
Caterpillar has renewed its MineStar Command agreement with Fortescue’s Chichester Metals and FMG Solomon to supply and operate autonomous haulage software at three Western Australian mines. The extension continues a decade‑long deployment that began in 2012, reinforcing safety, reliability and...
Noetix N2 Survives Harsh Tests, Still Keeps Walking
Noetix N2 endures some serious abuse but keeps walking by @TheHumanoidHub #Robotics #ML #EmergingTech #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/Bz1uPir4g3