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
Xiaomi Trials Humanoid Robots in Its EV Factory — Says They're Like 'Interns'
Xiaomi has begun testing its self‑developed CyberOne humanoid robots on the production line of its electric‑vehicle factory. In a trial reported at Mobile World Congress, two robots completed roughly 90% of assigned tasks within three hours, keeping pace with a car exiting the line every 76 seconds. The company described the robots as "interns," emphasizing their early‑stage role rather than full‑time deployment. This experiment reflects a broader push by Chinese firms to integrate advanced robotics into manufacturing as the global market for humanoid robots expands rapidly.
Schaeffler Partners with China’s Leju Robotics for Humanoid Robotics
Schaeffler announced a strategic partnership with China’s Leju Robotics Technology to accelerate the development and industrial deployment of humanoid robots. The collaboration focuses on factory inspection, equipment support, logistics and human‑robot collaboration, with Schaeffler contributing actuators, sensors, motion‑control and energy‑management...
U.S. Marine Corps Buys More Titan Counter-Drone Systems
The U.S. Marine Corps awarded BlueHalo Labs a $22.8 million contract modification to purchase additional Titan SV MPv3 counter‑drone systems and spare‑parts kits under its Organic‑Counter Small Unmanned Aerial Systems program. Delivery is slated for on or before July 1 2026, addressing an...
Four More UK-Made ROVs to Join DOF’s Fleet
DOF Group has placed an order for four XLX EVO III work‑class remotely operated vehicles from the UK‑based Forum Energy Technologies. Deliveries are slated for April, June, July and August 2026, with the first two units mobilised in Singapore. The ROVs...
Where Is Warehouse Technology Heading with Gary Allen of Ryder
In this episode, Kevin Lawton chats with Gary Allen of Ryder about the rapid evolution of warehouse technology, focusing on automation and AI. Allen explains how automation—from autonomous mobile robots to autonomous forklifts and emerging humanoids—is becoming more affordable and...
Future Drive Success Demands Broader, Deeper Technical Knowledge
Drives are becoming more complex. And knowledge is turning into a key success factor. 🚀 Today we had an intensive exchange at GROLLMUS with Danfoss about training and future skill requirements. Marco de Jong and Mieslinger Christian joined us to...
New Framework Gives Robot Faces Realistic Multilingual Lip-Sync
Scientists have designed a framework that enables a humanoid robot face to produce realistic lip-audio synchronization across 12 different languages, including English, Russian, Korean, and Arabic. Learn more in Science #Robotics: https://t.co/Sk4UElC3o8 https://t.co/bHsnta8h5c
Hardware for Humanoid Robots: New Perspectives for Industrial Value Creation in Europe
Humanoid robots are emerging as a high‑growth market that could outpace the automotive sector, especially in Europe where manufacturers are seeking new value streams. A Fraunhofer‑IPA and P3 white paper reveals a fragmented hardware landscape lacking standardized architectures, with key...
Tesla Poised to Pioneer Humanoid AGI Breakthrough
Tesla will be one of the companies to make AGI and probably the first to make it in humanoid/atom-shaping form
$100K Operator Cost Drives Excavator Automation Push
#WhosNext? Excavator operators? At roughly $100,000 per oprator per year the incentive is there to implement #Automation. #Robotics https://t.co/PU2fE6SGyL
Fujitsu to Deploy Underwater Drones and AI for Ocean Digital Twin at Port of Barcelona
Fujitsu Spain and the BCN Port Innovation Foundation have launched a proof‑of‑concept to build an ocean digital twin for the Port of Barcelona. The project combines autonomous underwater drones with AI‑driven analytics to capture high‑resolution seabed imagery, quantify biodiversity, and...
Zio to Use NEO Battery Cells in Mobile Robots
Zio Robot Co. announced it will replace its Chinese‑sourced batteries with high‑energy lithium‑ion cells from Canada’s NEO Battery Materials for its Mobile Worker (MW) autonomous mobile robots. The partnership aims to boost energy density, high‑rate discharge capability, and overall robot...
Bioinspired Robot Eye Adjusts Its Pupil to Handle Harsh Lighting
Researchers have built a bioinspired robot eye that uses a liquid‑metal actuator to mimic the pupillary light reflex. The hemispherical sensor array provides an ultra‑wide field of view, while electrical spikes from light‑sensitive material expand or contract the artificial pupil....
Robotic Hand Achieves Human‑Like Dexterity with Multitask Policy
A recent Science #Robotics study highlights a multitask policy that enables a robotic hand to manipulate objects with humanlike dexterity, such as turning a bottle cap or sliding a snack sleeve out of a box. https://t.co/MUene2lPpC https://t.co/fdQzF3YyYZ
Mouser's Autonomous Vehicle Online Resource Center Addresses Real-World Deployment Challenges
Mouser Electronics has expanded its Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Online Resource Center to help engineers tackle real‑world deployment hurdles. The hub consolidates technical articles, eBooks and product data covering perception, deterministic networking, functional safety, cybersecurity and ethical decision‑making. It emphasizes software‑defined,...
Introducing Conveyor Connect: How Chef Robots Communicate With Different Conveyors
Chef Robotics unveiled Conveyor Connect, a capability that lets its AI‑driven Chef robots communicate directly with any type of conveyor, from continuous belts to indexing lines. The system uses a wireless Conveyor Companion Box attached to the conveyor’s VFD, providing...
NAPA Expands Use of Warehouse Robots
NAPA Auto Parts is expanding its warehouse automation by deploying over 100 AI‑powered mobile robots from Brightpick at a new distribution center. The rollout follows a 2025 pilot that demonstrated reduced picker travel time and improved order accuracy. Brightpick will...
Simulated Cats and Elephants with Touch-Based Memory Help Usher in New Age of Robotics
King’s College London researchers unveiled SimTac, a physics‑based simulator that models biomorphic tactile sensors such as cat paws and elephant trunks. By generating virtual training data, SimTac slashes the prototype development cycle from roughly eighteen months to a few weeks....
Isaac ROS 4.2 Launches with DGX Spark, Jetson Support
Our colleagues at @NVIDIARobotics have released Isaac ROS 4.2 which adds: 🤖NVIDIA DGX Spark hardware support 🤖JetPack 7.1 and Jetson T4000 support 🤖Improved visual mapping localization workflows 🤖FoundationStereo v. 2 🤖A new sim-to-real tutorial w/ a @Universal_Robot ⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/adIHQ2UADv
Formal Complaint – Late Publication/Notification of UAS-Only RA(T), Brecon, Powys (04 March 2026) – SkyWise SW2026/057 / BFS 011/2026
On 3 March 2026 the CAA published SkyWise notice SW2026/057 and Briefing Sheet BFS 011/2026 announcing a UAS‑only Temporary Restricted Area over Brecon, Powys for a Royal visit on 4 March. The restriction—1 NM radius, 2000 ft ceiling, 0800‑1800 UTC—was communicated less than 24 hours before it took...
Kaizen Aerospace and Uzbekistan Ministry of Agriculture Sign Memorandum to Advance Agricultural Drone Collaboration
Kaizen Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture and the State Scientific‑Design Institute “Oʻzdavyerloyiha” to explore UAV technologies for the country’s agricultural sector. The framework targets professional training, joint research, methodology development, and infrastructure for...
Galaxy 1 Partners with Viasat to Deliver Rapid, Scalable and Securecommunications for Uncrewed Aircraft
Galaxy 1 Communications has teamed with Viasat to extend the Velaris satellite service for uncrewed aerial vehicles and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) platforms. The partnership leverages Galaxy 1’s Distribution Partner‑as‑a‑Service (DPaaS) model, providing a managed layer that simplifies provisioning, billing,...
Learn How to Get Started with Warehouse Automation
Automated Warehouse is hosting a live webinar tomorrow at noon ET titled “How to Get Started With Warehouse Automation.” The session will outline a phased adoption strategy that begins with a detailed operational assessment and targets high‑impact, low‑risk tasks such...
Noble Machines Emerges From Stealth, Ships and Deploys Industrial General-Purpose Robots
Noble Machines Inc., founded by engineers from Apple, SpaceX, NASA and Caltech, has emerged from stealth and shipped its first industrial general‑purpose robots to a Fortune Global 500 customer within 18 months of launch. The company’s integrated AI‑hardware stack lets...
Can Robots Help Pizza Franchises Stay Competitive?
Pizza franchises are accelerating automation across ordering, kitchen, and delivery, with brands like Little Caesars deploying sidewalk delivery robots in Los Angeles and Donatos rolling out a fully automated airport store. AI-driven platforms from Google Cloud and Domino’s partnership with...
No Lidar, No HD Maps, Six Cameras, One Chip, Autobrains
Autobrains announced a strategic partnership with VinFast to develop an affordable autonomous robo‑car using a vision‑only system. The platform relies on six cameras, a single edge‑compute chip, and an agentic AI architecture that scales via modular skills. It replaces traditional...
Primoco UAV to Deliver Unmanned Aircraft to the Spanish Civil Guard Guardia Civil
Primoco UAV SE secured a €4 million contract with Spain's Guardia Civil to supply its One 150 medium‑weight UAV, marking the company's first major 2026 deal. The order follows a record 2025 where Primoco delivered 42 aircraft worth CZK 1.06 billion. To meet growing...
Corvus Robotics Deploys Autonomous Inventory System at Dermalogica Global Headquarters
Corvus Robotics has rolled out its Corvus One autonomous inventory system at Dermalogica’s global headquarters and distribution hub in Carson, California. The drone fleet conducts 52 aerial scans per year, boosting inventory imaging frequency by 600 percent while freeing roughly...
Humanoid Home Robots Arrive—Do We Really Need Them?
Humanoid home robots are on the market – but do we really want them? https://t.co/CuiGupKNk1
Hirebotics Promotes Co-Founder Matthew Bush to CEO
Hirebotics announced that co‑founder and COO Matthew Bush will assume the chief executive officer role, effective February 20, 2026, succeeding co‑founder Rob Goldiez who is retiring after more than a decade at the helm. Bush has overseen the company's electro‑mechanical...
MVTec Presents New MERLIC Version: New Features for Easier Integration and Use of Machine Vision
MVTec Software released MERLIC 26.03 on March 26 2026, adding unlimited camera connectivity, a Frontend Observability feature, and a new Beckhoff TwinCAT ADS plug‑in. The version adopts a YY.MM naming scheme and offers two licensing packages—MERLIC and MERLIC Professional—with optional deep‑learning and custom‑tool...
Kroger Taps Inventory Drones for Cold Chain Distribution Operations
Kroger has begun using Corvus Robotics’ Corvus One drones to automate inventory scanning in its ambient and sub‑freezing distribution centers. The drones autonomously locate and scan pallets, delivering weekly, facility‑wide visibility without requiring Wi‑Fi, markers, or warehouse modifications. Capable of...
US Defenders Easily Neutralize Small Drone Swarms
Defeating 1 or 2 drones isn't hard for skilled air defenders. The US military is the best in the world at it. @molkathcam & I examined past operations in the Red Sea and Iraq/Syria operations for our @CNASdc...
Aurrigo to Provide Ground Handling at EMA
Aurrigo International, a Coventry‑based developer of autonomy software and autonomous vehicles, has been granted a ground handling licence at East Midlands Airport (EMA). The licence, issued under the Airports (Ground Handling) Regulations 1997 and CAA compliance frameworks, allows Aurrigo to provide...
Skyeton Integrates Radiation Surveillance Sensors Into Raybird UAS & Expands Mission Capabilities
Skyeton has equipped its Raybird long‑endurance UAV with an internal gamma‑radiation sensor, completing rigorous trials in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The payload integration preserves aerodynamic balance and enables real‑time radiation data transmission over distances up to 2,500 km. In 2025 the...
Leonardo Awaits Next Steps for Proteus Demonstrator
Leonardo Helicopters UK has completed two short test flights of its Proteus autonomous rotary‑wing demonstrator, the final milestone of a £60 million Phase 3a RWUAS contract with the UK Ministry of Defence. The 3‑tonne, modular‑payload aircraft leveraged off‑the‑shelf components and a digital‑twin...
Blue UAS List Evolves and NW Blue Is Positioned for American Drone Dominance
The Department of Defense transferred stewardship of the Blue UAS Cleared List from the Defense Innovation Unit to the Defense Contract Management Agency in 2026, turning the list into a scalable procurement marketplace. DCMA’s Special Programs Unmanned Systems‑Experimental Command now...
AI Shifts to Edge, Demands Open 5G and Future 6G
#AI is leaving the data center for robots, sensors, drones, and #XR. 🥽 It needs open, programmable #5G now and AI-native #6G next. 5G SA brings slicing, automation, and open APIs. 🔗 Read more on Börje Ekholm’s blog: https://t.co/0AP5Zz84dm via...
Uncrewed Systems in the Arctic: Security, Surveillance, and NATO's Growing Role - Federico Borsari, CEPA
In this episode, Federico Borsari of the Center for European Policy Analysis explains how uncrewed systems are becoming essential for security, surveillance, and infrastructure protection in the Arctic. He outlines the shifting NATO threat picture—driven by Russia’s expanding presence, NATO’s...
Automation Streamlines Sweet Potato Packaging, Boosting Predictability
#WhosNext? Sweet Potato packers? Thanks to #Automation the packaging of Sweet Potatoes has become a lot easier and a lot more predictable. (Eshet Eilon) #Robotics https://t.co/i11AbtXK0Y
Tampa General Hospital Adopts LIBERTY Endovascular Robotic System
Tampa General Hospital has become the first health system in Florida to adopt Microbot Medical’s LIBERTY Endovascular Robotic System, following the device’s FDA 510(k) clearance. LIBERTY is a single‑use, remotely operated robot designed for peripheral endovascular procedures, promising greater precision...
Purdue Polytechnic Selected for FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative
Purdue Polytechnic’s Unmanned Aerial Systems program has been chosen for the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems‑Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS‑CTI). The selection validates the school’s safety‑focused curriculum and aligns its coursework with upcoming federal regulations. Students will receive hands‑on flight, maintenance, and...
U.S., Czech Firms Team up on TALOS Interceptor Drones
AdlerAerospace and Czech partner TRL Drones have unveiled the TALOS‑J and TALOS‑E fixed‑wing interceptor drones, built from Ukraine battlefield lessons. The drones deliver missile‑class performance at drone‑class cost, using human‑supervised autonomy to engage fast, low‑cost UAV threats. Interception probability is...
Witron Breaks Company Order Intake Record
WITRON announced a record-breaking order intake, fueled by new contracts with major food retailers such as REWE, Tesco, Walmart and Ahold Delhaize. The company also completed a transition to a dual‑foundation governance model, reinforcing its independence and long‑term stability. Parallel to...
Brain-Like Chips and LIDAR Sensors May Enable Safer Human-Robot Teamwork
Fraunhofer researchers unveiled NeurOSmart, a system that fuses high‑resolution LIDAR sensing with neuromorphic AI chips to enable safe human‑robot collaboration. The LIDAR sensor uses MEMS mirrors with AlScN material to create a 3‑D view, while AI algorithms pre‑process data directly...
Robotic Arms Deliver Unmatched Consistency in Motor Coil Winding
Robotic arms winding coils for motor manufacturing. Have you ever watched a robotic arm wind a coil? It's one of those processes most people never think about, but it's at the heart of every electric motor on the planet. Coil...
Iran Deploys First Successful Kamikaze Drone Boat Attack
Iranian Kamikaze Drone Boat Makes First Successful Strike Of War Iran, a pioneer in lower-end uncrewed surface vessel technology, used at least one to attack the oil tanker MKD VYOM in the Gulf of Oman. https://t.co/YGpQWjAl2y
‘It’s Not Just All the Big Companies’: Warehouse Robotics Use Expands
Warehouse robotics are moving beyond Amazon and Walmart as subscription‑based models lower entry barriers. A 2025 MHI study shows robot usage in warehouses jumped to 48%, with 64% of respondents adopting robotics‑as‑a‑service (RaaS) or SaaS solutions. Mid‑size firms like Superior...
RoboCup 2026 Launches Unified Smart Manufacturing League
RoboCup 2026 introduces the Smart Manufacturing League (SML): a new unified league combining logistics, mobile manipulation, and intelligent industrial automation. 📝 TDP and a performance video ⏳ Deadline: March 20, 2026 🔗 https://t.co/oSq94PUdVO #RoboCup2026 #SML #Robotics https://t.co/pYWpgRMSpf
Humanoid Robots Find Floor Pickup Harder Than Backflip
picking something up off the floor w/ a humanoid is more challenging than a backflip https://t.co/xvqORaNi7Q