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
NASA Begins Building Nuclear-Powered Dragonfly Drone for 2028 Launch to Saturn Moon Titan
NASA’s Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory has started building and testing the Dragonfly rotorcraft, a nuclear‑powered drone destined for a 2028 launch to Saturn’s moon Titan. The car‑sized craft will use a radioisotope power system, marking a shift from solar‑driven missions like Mars’s Ingenuity. The program carries a $3.35 billion price tag and will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy after integration at Lockheed Martin. Initial tests target the Integrated Electronics Module and power‑switching units, with further environmental testing planned through 2027.
Around the Commercial Drone Industry: Public Safety Partnership, Updates to Blue UAS List, and GrubHub Drone Delivery
DRONERESPONDERS signed a national operations agreement with the National Real‑Time Crime Center Association to fast‑track Drone‑as‑First‑Responder (DFR) programs across U.S. emergency agencies. The Defense Contract Management Agency took over the Blue UAS Cleared List from the Defense Innovation Unit, aiming...
The Rise of Frameless Motors in Collaborative Robots: Enhancing Dexterity and Safety
Frameless motors are reshaping collaborative robots by eliminating bulky housings and integrating directly into joints, delivering lighter, more compact cobots. Their direct‑drive architecture provides superior torque‑to‑weight ratios and enhanced thermal management, which translates into higher precision and longer service life....
Drone Companies Find Common Ground in Jaipur While Waiting on Part 108
At NestGen in Jaipur, drone innovators from across the globe gathered to showcase advances in automation, AI‑driven operations and UTM platforms, while acknowledging a shared anxiety over the pending FAA Part 108 rule for BVLOS flights. Attendees described the industry as...
RyderVentures Bets on ‘Physical AI’ to Break Warehouse Automation’s Biggest Barriers
RyderVentures is championing "physical AI," a blend of artificial‑intelligence models with warehouse hardware that lets equipment perform multiple tasks instead of a single, fixed function. The approach tackles the biggest hurdle to warehouse automation—high upfront capital outlays and the risk...
Skyrover S1: 4K, 3-Axis Gimbal, Forward Obstacle Avoidance, and Still Under 249g
The Skyrover S1 is a sub‑249 g drone that packs a 1/2‑inch Sony sensor capable of 4K 60 fps video and 8K photos, a true 3‑axis mechanical gimbal, and forward obstacle avoidance. It offers up to 40 minutes of flight per battery and a 39‑km...
Robbyant Open-Sources LingBot-VLA Model as a ‘Universal Brain’ for Robots
Robbyant, an Alibaba‑affiliated embodied AI firm, has open‑sourced LingBot‑VLA, a vision‑language‑action model positioned as a universal brain for robots. The model, pre‑trained on over 20,000 hours of real‑world data, demonstrated superior task success on the GM‑100 benchmark and the RoboTwin 2.0...
HighRes and Opentrons Showcase ‘Industry’s First’ AI Agent-to-Agent Lab Automation Workflow
HighRes and Opentrons have formed a strategic partnership to co‑develop the industry’s first AI agent‑to‑agent laboratory automation workflow. The solution links Opentrons’ Flex robotic platforms and OpentronsAI with HighRes’ Cellario orchestration software, allowing natural‑language inputs to generate and execute qPCR...
Airbus Prepares Valkyrie Combat Drone for German Air Force
Airbus is preparing flight tests of a Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie‑based uncrewed combat aircraft equipped with its European‑developed MARS mission system for the German Air Force. The two Valkyrie prototypes, being readied at Airbus’ Manching facility, are slated for maiden flights...
Human‑like Robots Aim for Acceptance, Not Just Function
Robots are starting to look more like us. Not just in shape, but in expression. New humanoid systems are being developed with synthetic skin, articulated facial muscles, and biomimetic structures that mimic human movement. Micro-motors can reproduce subtle expressions like smiling, blinking...
Autonomous Home Robot Startup Secures $165M Series B
They might be able to help with Thanksgiving dinner :) -> Sunday, which is building autonomous home robots, raised a $165M Series B led by Coatue at a valuation of $1.15B, and aims to begin testing in homes ...
Turkey’s Air-to-Air Drone Test and the Logic of Middle-Power Alliance Stress
In late 2025 Turkey successfully launched an air‑to‑air missile from its Bayraktar Kızıl Elma UCAV. The test marks the first indigenous unmanned platform capable of contesting sovereign airspace, shifting Turkey’s role from ground‑attack drone user to air combat actor. By building...
CIO Chris Ortega Automates Lake Michigan Credit Union
Lake Michigan Credit Union (LMCU) has leveraged robotic process automation (RPA) and generative AI to overhaul its mortgage processing, slashing cycle time from 55 hours to 10 hours while handling a 15% surge in applications. CIO Chris Ortega partnered with...
Ukraine Holds World's Most Advanced Drone Technology
Ukraine, as it turns out, has cards: the most advanced drone technology in the world
OM in the News: The Robotics Supply Chain
Industry Week highlights that the next two decades of robotics will be defined less by software breakthroughs than by the physical components that power machines. Cost analysis shows actuators and gearboxes consume 35‑40% of a robot’s bill of materials, followed...
Leonardo Plans to Fly Uncrewed Fighters Alongside M-346 Aircraft by Mid-2026
Leonardo announced that its M‑346 light‑attack trainer will act as a crewed "mother" aircraft to control two uncrewed fighter prototypes, with the first flight demonstrations slated for May 2024 and a public rollout by mid‑2026. The program, dubbed crewed‑uncrewed teaming...
Amazon to Build £400m Robotics Fulfilment Centre in Australia
Amazon Australia disclosed a A$750 million investment to build a four‑level, 150,000 m² robotics fulfilment centre in Brisbane, slated for completion in 2028. The warehouse will handle more than 125 million parcels per year and store up to 15 million small‑item SKUs across categories...
Uber and Motional Launch Robotaxi Service in Las Vegas
Uber and autonomous‑driving firm Motional have launched a commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas, deploying all‑electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles that can be summoned through the Uber app at no additional charge. The service is initially available at several designated zones...
Robots as Autonomous Systems: Which IT Powers the “Brain” Of Modern Machines?
Robots are evolving into fully autonomous systems that require on‑device AI processing rather than cloud reliance. Edge computing platforms place the computational "brain" directly on the robot, cutting latency to fractions of a second. Traditional rack‑mounted servers cannot meet the...
Automated Inspection and Packaging of 36,000 Syringes per Hour
Ward Automation delivered a compact robotic cell that inspects, labels, and palletizes 36,000 syringes per hour for a multinational pharma maker. The system uses three Stäubli robots, dual machine‑vision stations, and a dedicated lid‑sealing module, all built to meet 21 CFR...
Open Source for Awkward Robots
In this episode, host Ryan Donovan chats with Jan Lipart, CEO and co‑founder of OpenMind, about their open‑source robotics platform OM1 that lets humanoid robots communicate internally via natural language and be governed by immutable, blockchain‑stored rules like Asimov's laws....
Are We Ready for Home Robot Assistants?
Would you welcome a robot assistant into your home — or a loved one’s? 🤖 🧺 via @XueJia24682 #AI #robotics https://t.co/mWe9BpQBnN
Humanoid Robots Aren’t yet Ready to Replace Humans
Are Humanoid Robots Ready To Work With Humans Or Replace Them? https://t.co/9plTIyOEVA #humanoidtech #humanoid #robot #Robotics #AI #TechRevolution #TechInnovation #ArtificialInteligence #PhysicalAI
FET Launches Remote ROV Control Station for Subsea Operations
Forum Energy Technologies (FET) unveiled a remote control station that lets operators run ROVs from virtually any location using its ICE® Unity platform. The solution bundles advanced control chairs, a Remote‑Connect gateway and VisualSoft streaming software, and can be added...
China Unveils Rapid‑swap Modular Humanoid for Blue‑collar Work
China's new 'blue-collar' humanoid switches modular tools in seconds https://t.co/4BhoXPxj3G #bluecollar #humanoidtech #humanoid #robot #Robotics #AI #TechRevolution #TechInnovation #ArtificialInteligence #PhysicalAI
AI Gains Arms and Hands in Smart Factories
Delivering the opening keynote for the Association for Manufacturing Technology. Great connecting with @Bill AI is about to get arms and hands — connecting with robotics, IoT, APIs, and 3D manufacturing. Factories are entering a fascinating new chapter. #Manufacturing #AI #Robotics #Industry40 #Innovation
Iran Strikes Showcase American AI, Drone and Cyber Advances
U.S. strikes against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, showcased the Pentagon’s push toward an AI‑first warfighting posture. AI‑enabled planning tools allowed 900 attacks to be planned and executed within a 12‑hour window, while the low‑cost LUCAS one‑way attack drones provided...
Oxa Raises $103M to Automate Industrial Driving Tasks
UK‑based Oxa raised $103 million in a Series D round led by the National Wealth Fund, with participation from NVIDIA Ventures and other investors. The capital will fast‑track development of its Oxa Driver autonomous‑driving software and the Oxa Hub cloud platform, which...
Modular Yard Robot Mows Lawns, Plows Snow, Gathers Leaves and Trims Grass
The Yarbo M is a modular yard robot that can mow, trim, collect leaves, and plow snow using interchangeable modules. Available on Kickstarter in three versions (M10, M20, M20i), the top‑end M20i adds LiDAR and AI‑powered vision for obstacle detection...
Robots that Learn Everyday Tasks Can Free Humans From Repetitive Work
Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) unveiled the RoGeTA robot task AI, a system that learns everyday activities from human demonstrations and executes them through a hierarchical task‑execution framework. The platform combines task‑extraction, virtualized training environments, and step‑by‑step reasoning,...
HDT Robotics Deploys Hunter WOLF UGVs for Operational Testing
HDT Robotics has field‑tested its Hunter WOLF unmanned ground vehicle in a series of military training exercises, showcasing the platform’s ability to perform logistics transport, communications relay, casualty evacuation, and mobile power generation. The deployment involved several vehicles equipped with...
The Future of War Is Now: What Washington Needs to Hear From the Battlefield
Ukrainian drone operators have demonstrated that low‑cost autonomous systems can outpace NATO battalions, as shown in the Hedgehog wargame. Experts warn that current U.S. doctrine and training are obsolete in the face of rapid drone innovation and mass production in...
Introducing Robot-to-Robot Communication: How Chef Robots Coordinate to Maximize Throughput
Chef Robotics unveiled robot‑to‑robot (R2R) communication, allowing its Chef robots to exchange real‑time tray position data over built‑in wireless radios. The technology synchronizes multiple robots on a shared conveyor, letting downstream units know exactly when and where to deposit ingredients....
Humanoid Robotics Maker Sunday Reaches $1.15B Valuation to Build Household Robots
Sunday, a stealth‑launched humanoid robotics startup, announced a $165 million Series B round that lifts its valuation to $1.15 billion, granting it unicorn status. The round was led by Coatue Management with participation from Tiger Global, Benchmark, and Bain Capital Ventures. Sunday’s flagship...
Study Demonstrates Reliability of Real-Time Imaging Guidance in Robotic Bronchoscopy
Noah Medical’s MATCH 2 study, published in Respiratory Medicine, evaluated robotic‑assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) with embedded digital tomosynthesis (DT) and augmented fluoroscopy (AF) in 31 patients with peripheral lung nodules. The trial reported a 96.7% overall diagnostic yield and identical 96.7%...
Coming Soon: Capstan Medical’s Next-Gen Structural Heart Robotics System
Capstan Medical announced that its second‑generation robotic catheter delivery system will debut in 2026, following successful first‑in‑human mitral valve implants in Chile, New Zealand and Brazil. The company has expanded its valve sizing portfolio to include 37 mm and 42 mm implants and...
Search Robot Thinks for Itself
Researchers at TUM have built a broom‑shaped robot that fuses 3‑D image recognition with large language models to understand and search real‑world spaces. By constructing centimeter‑accurate spatial maps and translating internet knowledge into robot‑specific cues, it can locate misplaced items...
Dual-Use Autonomous Unmanned Helicopter for Long-Endurance & Heavy-Lift Missions
Swiss firm Roze Mobility has introduced the SH-917, an autonomous unmanned helicopter designed for both civilian and military missions. The platform delivers up to eight hours of endurance and can lift 250 kg, thanks to a carbon‑fiber airframe and a turbocharged...
Paper-Thin Robot Squeezes 3mm G
South Korean researchers built a paper-thin robot that squeezes through 3mm gaps and lifts 70x (!) its weight. The flexible robotic "sheet" mimicks myosin, the protein that powers muscle contractions in your body. Inside the sheet are dozens of microscopic air chambers...
Haptic Exoskeletons Boost Violin Duo Coordination Over Visual Cues
A new Science #Robotics study demonstrates that #haptic feedback from wearable upper body #exoskeletons can improve coordination between violin duos more effectively than visual cues. https://t.co/iLG2uygK1v https://t.co/ZWKc88BaUy
Able Innovations Deploys ALTA Robotic Patient Delivery Platform in the U.S.
Able Innovations, a Canadian medical robotics firm, has partnered with Lahey Hospital & Medical Center to launch its ALTA robotic patient‑handling platform in the United States, marking the first U.S. deployment. The system automates lateral patient transfers, allowing a single...
Slime Robots Poised to Transform MedTech and Manufacturing
#WhatsNext? Slime #Robots. Could be responsible for advances in #MedTech #Healthcare and #Manufacturing and more. #Robotics https://t.co/kuuATvv0Bo
Smart Robots Poised to Become Everyday Like Phones
Smart Robots Will Be Everywhere Like Smartphones: Here's Who Will Run the Next Machine Era #ArtificialDecisions #MCC @Ken_Goldberg @willknight https://t.co/ML9iLMrvpl
Diatom-Based Microrobots Show Promise for Targeted Photodynamic Therapy of Glioblastoma
Researchers at China’s Shenyang Institute of Automation have created magnetically controlled microrobots from diatom frustules for glioblastoma photodynamic therapy. The robots retain natural chlorophyll, serving as a built‑in photosensitizer, and can be steered via external magnetic fields to tumor sites....
Ukraine’s $1,000 Drones Inspire Global Defense Innovation
"These are Ukraine’s $1,000 interceptor drones the Pentagon [and now many countries] wants to buy." https://t.co/UK44ifiKp8 Through surviving daily Russian attacks / war crimes from missiles and drones with whatever means they could acquire comes an innovation that will save many...
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía Will Ensure the Safe Cross-Domain Operation of UAS to Protect and Safeguard Lives Through Advanced Hidden Threat...
UAV Navigation‑Grupo Oesía is joining the EU‑funded TICHE project to enable safe cross‑domain operation of UAV and UGV swarms for hidden‑threat detection. The consortium will integrate advanced sensors, AI‑driven data fusion and the company’s guidance, navigation and control (GNC) expertise...
UAVOS Utilizes In-House Manufactured Composite Curing Oven to Produce UAVRotor Blades with Extended Service Life
UAVOS announced the production of a new batch of high‑performance composite rotor blades for its unmanned helicopters, cured in the company’s proprietary OVEN‑500‑2000 composite curing oven. The blades, featuring a NACA 23012 airfoil and optional stainless‑steel leading‑edge insert, are rated for...
Taiwan Military Tests Drone Strike Tactics in Urban Training
Taiwan’s 58th Artillery Command UAV battalion conducted its first immersive FPV drone training in a simulated urban battlefield on March 10, 2026. The exercise paired long‑endurance reconnaissance drones with first‑person‑view attack drones to locate and strike mock enemy forces inside...
Epson Robots to Showcase Scalable Retail Automation at Shoptalk Spring 2026
At Shoptalk Spring 2026, Epson Robots will demonstrate scalable retail automation solutions, featuring its compact T‑Series SCARA robots and the RC+ industrial development platform. The showcase highlights applications from back‑office fulfillment—such as picking, packaging, and kitting—to customer‑facing kiosks, emphasizing ease...
On-Course Drones Coupled With AR Prove Powerful Duo at PLAYERS Championship
The PGA TOUR deployed four drones for the PLAYERS Championship, including two AR‑enabled units that project true 3D graphics onto the course. Virtual Eye integrated Unreal Engine‑driven visualizations, while robocams received identical AR capabilities for live tracing and putt‑path overlays....