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
Hiding in Plain Sight: The Biomimetic Drone Patrolling Our Coastlines in the Guise of a Seagull
Guard From Above unveiled the Seagull Evo, a sub‑1.5 kg fixed‑wing drone that replicates a seagull’s silhouette and flight dynamics for covert maritime surveillance. The platform carries electro‑optical or infrared payloads, flies up to 59 minutes, and can launch by hand in under three minutes. Designed for littoral environments, it offers a low‑visibility alternative to traditional quadcopters and larger UAVs. A three‑step training regimen equips operators with simulation, hands‑on RC practice, and field maintenance skills.
BEUMER and Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML Launch “Enterprise Lab”
BEUMER Group has entered a three‑year strategic partnership with Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML to launch an "Enterprise Lab" dedicated to mobile robotics. The lab, located at Fraunhofer’s Dortmund site, will host five full‑time researchers working alongside...
Generative AI Improves a Wireless Vision System that Sees Through Obstructions
MIT researchers have combined generative AI with millimeter‑wave (mmWave) radar to reconstruct hidden 3D objects and entire indoor scenes. The new Wave‑Former system fills gaps in partial reconstructions, boosting shape‑accuracy by roughly 20 % over prior methods. An expanded system called...
OMRON Introduces Detection Module for Clean Suit Environments
OMRON Electronic Components launched the B5T‑007003 Human Vision Component (B5T HVC‑P2), a compact camera module designed to detect workers wearing clean‑room garments. The device uses specialized firmware to recognize human presence despite protective clothing, supporting multiple viewing angles for flexible...
MTR Lab Teams with Beijing’s ZGC Science City to Boost AI and Robotics Startups
MTR Lab, the venture arm of Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation, has signed an ecosystem partnership with Beijing Zhongguancun Science City Ltd. The deal will channel joint investment and cross‑border expansion for AI, robotics and smart‑city firms, leveraging more than 2,950...
Noire Explains Braitenberg Vehicles for Light‑Tracking Robots
#Noire teaches us about Braitenberg Vehicles for robot light tracking. #STEM #STEAM #Robot #BlackWomenInSTEM #Engineering #Professor NoireSTEMinist.com
Power, Precision, and Practical Efficiency
Electric motors drive most industrial motion, accounting for roughly two‑thirds of factory electricity use. Servo systems, unlike fixed‑speed motors, operate across a wide torque‑speed envelope, making a single efficiency rating impossible. Engineers rely on efficiency maps and design practices—right‑sizing, material...
German Startup eternal.ag Launches Fully Autonomous Harvesting Robot to Tackle Greenhouse Labor Shortage
German agritech startup eternal.ag unveiled Harvester, a fully autonomous tomato‑harvesting robot designed for greenhouse production. The robot can operate up to 22 hours daily, using AI‑driven vision and a modular platform that continuously learns from field data. Eternal.ag raised €8 million...
Untitled
Developed with Scale AI, the new AI Trainer signals a tectonic shift in robotics, moving applications from pre‑programmed scripts to fully AI‑driven tasks. The system leverages massive datasets generated in specialized AI training cells where robots imitate human operators, creating...
Allient to Show Drive Systems for Mobile Robots at LogiMAT 2026
Allient Inc. will showcase its newest generation of drive solutions for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) at LogiMAT 2026 in Stuttgart from March 24‑26. The exhibit features the KinetiMax high‑power‑density brushless DC motor series, integrated wheel‑hub...
Caution Creeps In, But Automation Spending Holds Strong
The 2026 Peerless Research Group Industry Outlook shows companies adopting a more cautious stance on capital spending, yet automation investments remain robust. About 24% of respondents are postponing projects and 42% are adopting a wait‑and‑see approach, but interest in autonomous...
India Targets 2030 Drone Hub as Defence Minister Calls for Full Self‑Reliance
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the National Defence Industrial Conclave in New Delhi, demanding a completely indigenous drone ecosystem by 2030. He warned that reliance on foreign components, especially from China, jeopardises strategic autonomy and highlighted the need for MSMEs...
AI Accelerates Modbus Tool Development for Training
Understand Modbus without real hardware? That is exactly why we built our own tools with AI for our training courses. 🤖 For practical exercises we needed a web based Modbus simulator and an additional Modbus server as an EXE. Instead...
Agility Robotics Plans Fully Automated, Robot-Staffed Factory
#WhosNext? Assembly line workers in a humanoid #Robot factory? Agility Robotics is looking to populate its entire factory with working examples of its own product. #Robotics #Manufacturing #Automation https://t.co/ZYEwn9dOQf
Why American-Made Propulsion Is the Future of Global UAV Missions
Northwest UAV (NWUAV) is reshaping UAS propulsion by delivering heavy‑fuel engines that run on JP‑8, JP‑5, and Jet‑A, eliminating the need for gasoline in tactical drones. The company’s all‑American, AS9100D‑certified supply chain guarantees secure, kill‑switch‑free components, aligning with NATO’s Single‑Fuel...
Robotics Revolutionizes Supply Chain, Logistics, and Warehousing
#WhosNext? Mail sorters? Package sorters? Just look at the revolution in #SupplyChain, #Logistics and #Warehouse Operations that #Robotics makes possible. Amazing or what? (GiGadgets) https://t.co/dDvWhJ7TkA
Anduril: New Factory Will Start Making Drone Wingman in Just ‘Days’
Anduril announced that its new Arsenal-1 manufacturing plant in Columbus, Ohio, will start producing the YFQ-44A Fury drone wingman within days, ahead of the originally slated July 2026 start. The 5‑million‑square‑foot facility, adjacent to a dual 12,000‑foot runway airport, enables...
Ukrainian Drones Log 105,200 Hits in February as Russia Ramps Up Drone Troops to 101,000
Ukrainian unmanned aerial systems knocked out more than 105,200 Russian targets in February, a quarter of them credited to the dedicated Unmanned Systems Forces. Russia responded by accelerating its own drone programme, aiming for 101,000 drone‑troop personnel by 1 April and...
Hong Kong: AI, Robotics Drive New Aerospace Technologies
A research partnership between Hong Kong’s Space Robotics and Energy Centre and Southeast University is accelerating autonomous space‑robotics, AI‑enabled navigation, and deep‑space energy management. The collaboration, supported by HKUST labs, targets rugged robotic platforms, precision manipulation, and modular power systems...
Free Robotic Learning Event in Northern Nevada
OnRobot is hosting a free, in‑person “Build Your Automation Roadmap” event in Reno on April 9, 2026, showcasing FANUC robots and end‑of‑arm tooling for manufacturers. The session targets metal fabrication, CNC machining, electronics, aerospace, food & beverage, and industrial equipment firms...
Self‑Healing Living Robot Oscar Redefines Future Tech
Meet Oscar: The Living #Robot That Can Heal Itself by @pascal_bornet #Robotics #AI #Biotech #Innovation #FutureOfTechnology https://t.co/RbpAhRT8po
RevolveSurgical Gains FDA Clearance for Table‑Mounted Surgical Robot
🦾@RevolveSurgical just received FDA 510(k) clearance for their surgical robot platform. They built a system that mounts directly to the operating table—zero footprint, one-person setup. Their goal is to bring physical AI to operating rooms at scale. https://t.co/CWRG5009yK https://t.co/smBh8Hc9nN
Yale Lift Truck to Share Automation Experience at MODEX
Yale Lift Truck Technologies will showcase a suite of automated lift trucks and operator‑assist solutions at the MODEX supply‑chain exhibition in Atlanta. The booth features an interactive Automated Lift Truck Portal that lets visitors map routes without coding, the Reliant...
XPeng's IRON Robot Shows Humanoids Ready for Everyday Tasks
XPeng’s IRON #Robot Proves Humanoids Are Ready for Daily Tasks by @TheHumanoidHub #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/PLuJmT3teW
US Air Force Special Operations Seeks Kamikaze Drones
The U.S. Air Force is issuing a Request for Information to acquire small, one‑way attack drones for its Special Operations Command. The desired system must fly 10‑20 km, carry a 1.5‑3 kg fragmentation warhead, and be operable by one or two soldiers...
MAXOLUTION® Introduces a Standardized Mobile Robotic Platform with Contactless Charging
MAXOLUTION, an SEW‑EURODRIVE company, launched the Mobile Robot Platform 1600 (MR P1600), a standardized, modular robot designed for pallet transport in factories and warehouses. The platform offers up to 1 600 kg payload, 1.6 m/s speed, and optional contactless inductive charging via MOVITRANS solutions....
Rocket Science Expertise Powers Factory Robotics Innovation
From Rocket Science to #Robotics: Noble Machines Brings Elite Engineering to the Factory Floor by @CyberRobooo #Robots #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/al2o9V6iaG
Bonus Episode: The Future of Home Assistant Robots
In this bonus episode, a panel of four academic experts discusses the emerging role of home assistant robots, covering applications from daily chores and rehabilitation to companionship. They highlight research on user‑centered design, such as the Robot House testbed, robots...
Intention-Aligned Imitation Learning Empowers Coordinated Multi‑Step Robot Teams
A new intention-aligned imitation learning framework enables teams of robots to perform multi-step tasks by decoding the underlying intentions and matching actions to them. Learn more in Science #Robotics: https://t.co/mNAEjWNtxu https://t.co/rSDbqxbR8E
Blackwater Founder Backs Ukrainian Drone Tech Sales to US
Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, has joined the board of Ukrainian drone‑software firm Swarmer and is championing its sale to the U.S. military. Swarmer raised $15 million in a Nasdaq offering, saw its shares jump roughly 500 % and claims its platform...
Atlas Robot Advances From Walking to Heavy Lifting
From Walking to Heavy Lifting: Atlas Shows Off Next-Level Skills by @lukas_m_ziegler #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #MI #ML #Tech https://t.co/4uksEsmm3c
Compact Six-Axis PiPER Arms Deliver Industrial Versatility
PiPER #Robotic Arms: Compact Powerhouses with Six-Axis Precision and Industrial Versatility by @IntEngineering #Robots #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation https://t.co/cVTBeXATHt
Volatus Aerospace Receives NRC-IRAP Funding to Support Condor XL Development
Volatus Aerospace announced it has been approved for up to $320,000 in non‑dilutive funding from the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC‑IRAP). The money will fund development of the Condor XL heavy‑lift uncrewed aerial system, focusing...
TEKEVER and EPE Announce Strategic Partnership to Support Advanced Autonomous Systems Capability in New Zealand
TEKEVER, a pan‑European AI‑centric defence tech firm, has entered a strategic partnership with New Zealand‑based EPE to deliver advanced autonomous systems to the NZ market. The deal combines TEKEVER’s AR5, AR3 EVO and ATLAS platforms with EPE’s local customer relationships and support...
Volz Servos Powers Quantum Systems’ Twister eVTOL with Customised Actuator Technology
Volz Servos is supplying customized DA‑15N servos, equipped with the ARINC 825 CAN protocol, to power Quantum Systems' Twister eVTOL. The servos control the aircraft’s wing flaps, a mission‑critical function for the vehicle’s vertical‑take‑off, fixed‑wing transition. Twister weighs 4 kg, can fly...
Mouse-Inspired Robot Mimics Brain for Place Recognition
How a Mouse-Inspired Robot Learns to Recognize Places Like a Brain by @lukas_m_ziegler #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/mYyjnlLD6k
MANUFACTURING & AUTOMATION eXCHANGE (MAX) DEBUTS NEXT WEEK IN NASHVILLE, SPOTLIGHTING THE FUTURE OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IN THE SOUTHEAST
The Manufacturing & Automation eXchange (MAX) launches March 24‑26 in Nashville, bringing together the full manufacturing ecosystem to spotlight AI, robotics, and digital transformation in the fast‑growing Southeast. Produced by BNP Media, the event features six pre‑conference workshops, a two‑day...
Robotic Hand Beats Human Reflexes in Speed, Precision
Faster Than Human Reflexes: A #Robotic Hand Redefining Speed and Precision by @sciencegirl #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/bVb1cWuWTx
Drone Wars: Countries Are Looking for Answers but Do Companies Have the Solutions?
Manufacturers are accelerating counter‑drone (CUAS) development as nations rush to buy systems for battlefield and homeland protection. Recent Middle‑East flare‑ups, including the US‑Israeli strike on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks, have underscored the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems highlighted...
Drone Spraying Proposal Comes with Opportunities, Risks
Health Canada has opened a public consultation on proposed rules that would permit pesticides to be applied by drones already registered for aerial use. The move follows years of pressure from the House of Commons agriculture committee and the Alberta...
Swapping Batteries for Hydrogen Gives Drones a Whole New Range
Researchers at Norway's SINTEF have built a hydrogen‑fuel‑cell drone that swaps its battery for a lightweight hydrogen tank, delivering multi‑hour flight endurance. The prototype can inspect long stretches of power lines, conduct search‑and‑rescue missions, and map terrain, offering a cheaper,...
K-State Salina Drone Safety Summit to Connect First Responders with UAS Experts
Kansas State University Salina will host a Public Safety UAS Summit on April 22, bringing together law enforcement, fire, and emergency management agencies with drone experts. The day-long event features FAA briefings on Part 107, BVLOS, and emergency waivers, as well as...
Former Uber CEO Says Waymo ‘Obviously’ Ahead of Tesla in Robotaxi Race
Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said Waymo is clearly ahead of Tesla in the robotaxi race, citing Waymo’s proven sensor suite, lower hardware costs and 400,000 weekly rides across ten U.S. cities. He contrasted this with Tesla’s vision‑only approach, which...
IdeaForge Receives Its First Purchase Order in the United States for Its Drones to Ensure Student Safety in a School...
IdeaForge Technology Limited secured its first U.S. purchase order, deploying Indian‑made drones to secure schools in Texas. The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District will use the SWITCH and Q6 V3 UAVs across 20‑25 campuses for aerial monitoring and rapid threat response....
China’s New Horse-Inspired Robot Can Haul Gear, Climb Stairs
Hangzhou‑based DEEP Robotics unveiled a limited‑edition robot horse to mark the 2026 Year of the Horse. Weighing 66 lb and standing half a meter tall, the bionic quadruped can haul up to 110 lb, climb 25 cm stairs and tackle 45‑degree slopes while...
Hybrid Rescue Robot Transforms Into Drone for Fast Response
Hybrid Rescue #Robot: Humanoid with Transformable #Drone for Rapid Emergency Response via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #Tech #Technology https://t.co/1VNcaQhnyw
Video Wednesday
On November 20, 2020 Johnson & Johnson’s Verb division unveiled OTTAVA, a six‑armed robotic platform designed for minimally invasive surgery. The system combines modular hardware with AI‑driven control to perform simultaneous tasks, promising greater precision and efficiency. Early trials indicate up to...
Texas National Guard Drone Teams Support Border Partners, Strengthen Guard Readiness
The Texas National Guard’s 640th Technology Integration Cell deployed small unmanned aircraft systems to support Operation Lone Star, delivering real‑time thermal imaging and aerial overwatch for Border Patrol agents. The drones accelerated terrain assessment, enabling faster decision‑making and contributing to...
Inside Modern Humanoid Robots' Cutting‑Edge Assembly Process
Inside the Assembly of Modern Humanoid #Robots by @CyberRobooo #AI #Robotics #EmergingTech #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/fK4zOXQMRj
Russia Is Changing Its Drone Strike Tactics
Ukraine’s armed forces say Russia has altered its Shahed drone strike tactics, flying them at altitudes below 100 metres and deploying larger swarms. The low‑level approach hampers radar detection, while some drones are now equipped with jet engines, increasing speed....