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
Robin Radar to Support Counter-UAS Operations at FIFA World Cup 2026
Robin Radar Systems announced that its IRIS plug‑and‑play radar will be deployed by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, state agencies and FEMA for counter‑UAS operations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The system offers 360‑degree, 12‑km detection, can be set up in under 15 minutes by a single operator, and runs 24/7 with minimal human input. IRIS builds on its proven use at the Paris 2024 Olympics and carries a TRL 9, conflict‑proven pedigree. The deployment underscores growing demand for rapid, scalable airspace security at high‑visibility events.
Review: Robotic Weed Control in Rice Shifts Toward AI, Sensor Fusion and Amphibious Platforms
A new review of 191 papers highlights that robotic weed control in rice is moving toward AI‑driven sensor fusion and amphibious platforms. Paddy fields pose extreme challenges—water, mud, glare and plant similarity degrade detection and mobility. Researchers argue that edge...
AMD VEK385 Versal AI Edge Gen 2 FPGA Evaluation Kit Plugs Directly Into a PCIe Gen5/Gen4 Slot
AMD unveiled the VEK385 evaluation kit built around the Versal AI Edge Gen 2 XC2VE3858 SoC FPGA. The board combines eight Cortex‑A78AE cores, ten Cortex‑R52 cores, a Mali‑G78AE GPU, 144 AI Engine‑ML v2 tiles delivering up to 184 INT8 TOPS, and 20 GB...
Ascend Engineering Strengthens PX4 Ecosystem Through Upstream Contributions & Flight Testing
Ascend Engineering has delivered a suite of upstream contributions to the PX4 open‑source drone ecosystem, including a new UAVCAN hardpoint command node, a major QGroundControl joystick refactor, and drivers for the Lightware GRF‑500 rangefinder. The company also fixed a critical...
Cellula Robotics Joins Canadian Technology Accelerator for UK Maritime Defense & Security
Cellula Robotics has been chosen for the Canadian Technology Accelerators Maritime Defence and Security program in the United Kingdom. The initiative, led by the Canadian High Commission and BMNT, connects Canadian ocean‑technology firms with UK defence and industry stakeholders. In...
Function-First Robot To Redefine Factory Automation
Midea Group unveiled the MIRO U, a six‑arm robot mounted on a mobile wheeled base that prioritizes function over humanoid form. The platform can perform parallel operations, reducing cycle times and consolidating tasks traditionally spread across multiple fixed robots. Its mobility...
Shark-Inspired Electronic Skin Gives Robotic Hands the Ability to Sense Objects without Touching Them
Researchers at Harbin Institute of Technology have created a shark‑inspired electronic skin that combines electrostatic non‑contact scanning with tactile triboelectric sensing. By embedding a pre‑charged ePTFE electret within a stretchable Ecoflex matrix, the e‑skin amplifies the electric field, achieving detectable...
Essential Steps and Pitfalls for STEP 7 Classic Migration
Planning to migrate a STEP 7 Classic project to TIA Portal and wondering what really matters? In my new video, I walk you through the key steps and the typical pitfalls of a structured migration from STEP 7 Classic to...
Flickstop
NVIDIA has introduced the SimReady Medical Assets library, a collection of high‑fidelity virtual models designed to train surgical robots across a range of procedures. The assets simulate realistic tissue behavior, instrument interaction, and operating‑room environments, allowing AI algorithms to practice...
Toyota's Digit Robot Works Without Coffee Breaks
Meet Digit: Toyota’s newest worker doesn’t need coffee breaks? https://t.co/LlWBpCwmlz via @YouTube #Toyota #humanoidtech #humanoid #robot #Robotics #AI #TechRevolution #TechInnovation #ArtificialInteligence #AI Q@PawlowskiMario @chidambara09 @Ym78200 @CurieuxExplorer @efipm @bigfundu @sayedflah @Ronald_vanLoon @cyngn @belindabeibi @odisseiaalfa @DigitalColmer @MyCompanionsAI @KirkDBorne @patricegorissen @jeffkagan @EdwardKens50830 @enilev...
Comau Expands Wearable Robotics Portfolio with MATE-XT GO Exoskeleton
Italian automation leader Comau unveiled the MATE‑XT GO, a lightweight wearable exoskeleton aimed at improving arm and shoulder ergonomics. Weighing less than 3 kg, the device can be donned in 30 seconds and removed in 10, delivering up to 50 % reduction in perceived...
Israeli Firm Develops Shadowfax Drone with SAURON Turret
Israeli robotics firm Macushla unveiled the Shadowfax unmanned ground vehicle equipped with the SAURON remote‑controlled weapon station ahead of the Enforce Tac Nuremberg 2026 exhibition. The platform is lightweight, highly modular and can be re‑configured for combat, engineering or rescue missions. Demonstrations...
Occupied Donetsk Sells ‘Baba Yaga’ Drone for $8K
Ukraine's Drone Bombers - The Feared "Baba Yaga" https://t.co/BW3oTdMqsy Reportedly, a trophy "Baba Yaga" drone can be purchased at the market in occupied Donetsk for approximately 600,000 rubles ($7,860 USD). Some drones are cheaper. Sellers are reportedly willing to arrange a "test drive"...
Robots Achieve Zero Downtime Through Autonomous Swapping
Running 24/7 without any human babysitters has been really hard We want robots operating at all times - even at 2am, on weekends, or on Christmas Day The robots run until their battery is low. When one heads to dock for recharging,...
Hype Vs. Deployment: Derek Yan on Humanoid Robotics, KOID ETF, and the Global AI Arms Race
In this episode, Derek Yan, Senior Investment Strategist at KraneShares, explains why humanoid robotics is moving from hype to real-world deployment, highlighting current enterprise pilots in factories and logistics that address chronic labor shortages. He stresses that investors should focus...
Automation Won’t Replace Truck Drivers Anytime Soon
This isn’t true. While there will be a lot of automation, we won’t see the elimination of truck drivers in 4 years. Perhaps we will see some local deliveries using robotics, but we are a long way off from point...
CMU's RPL Enables Robots to Conquer Complex Terrain
In my career I visited many of the world's best universities. One stands out: Carnegie Mellon and particularly its robotics lab. So when I see it releasing research about robotics I pay extra attention and so should you.
How Eyes Affect Our Perception of a Humanoid Robot's Mind
Researchers at Tampere University and the University of Bremen used AI‑generated images to compare humanoid robots with and without eyes. Participants consistently rated the eye‑equipped robots as possessing higher agency and experience, regardless of age‑like appearance or eye placement. The...
Myanmar Passenger Plane Struck in Alleged FPV Drone Attack at Myitkyina Airport
On 20 February 2026 an ATR‑72‑600 operated by Myanmar National Airlines was struck by an alleged first‑person‑view (FPV) drone while preparing for take‑off at Myitkyina Airport. The impact caused minor damage to the nose, mid‑body and tail, but no passengers or crew...
Visual Drone Detection Moves Into Critical Infrastructure Playbooks
Unauthorized drone activity around critical infrastructure is surging, prompting agencies like CISA to issue updated guidance for operators. Incidents have risen dramatically—over 217% across facilities and up to 300% at European airports—driving demand for specialized visual detection systems. The global...
Digital Twins and the New Warehouse Reality
Digital twins are emerging as a practical solution for warehouse managers to test automation, layout changes, and staffing scenarios without disrupting live operations. By integrating CAD drawings, inventory data, and historical performance, these virtual replicas provide a 360‑degree view of...
Video: Drone Aids N.J. PD in Locating Missing Teenager Evading Officers
Ocean Township police in New Jersey deployed an all‑weather DJI M30T drone equipped with a thermal camera to locate a 13‑year‑old runaway. Using Life360 data from the teen’s mother, officers narrowed the search and found the boy in a dense...
U.S. Marine Corps Awards New ROGUE-Fires Missile Carrier Deal
The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Oshkosh Defense a $16.8 million contract modification to procure ROGUE‑Fires autonomous missile carriers. The JLTV‑based, crew‑less launchers can fire Naval Strike Missiles or Tomahawk cruise missiles, supporting the Navy and Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System. Fielding...
Programmable Pin Grid Enables Tool‑Free Rapid Moulding
Polymorphic moulding: a manufacturing method that forms parts using a grid of computer-controlled pins: Each pin can move up or down independently, so together they shape a surface that acts like a custom mould. Instead of building a fixed mould...
NVIDIA Open‑Sources Robot World Model Trained on 44K Hours
NVIDIA releases open-source robot world model trained on 44,000 hours of human video https://t.co/RqlVawEDXa @NVIDIA #AI #MWC26 https://t.co/hQFacKuAkl
Tekniker Unveils Robotic Metrology System Combining Collaborative Robots and Digital Measurement at BIEMH 2026
Tekniker showcased a new robotic metrology system at BIEMH 2026, merging a Kuka 7‑axis collaborative arm with Zeiss’s DuraMax measuring head and Schunk handling tools. The integrated solution automatically identifies, picks, positions, measures and classifies parts of identical geometry, delivering in‑process...
Ukrainian UAVs Evolve Fast—NATO Should Buy Now
I think this is an additional argument for purchasing Ukrainian FPVs and other UAVs. Ukrainian companies update their UAVs regularly to meet the changing requirements on the battlefield and Russian adaptations. Makes sense for NATO members to benefit from these...
Ghost Robotics: Innovating for Safety
In this episode, Gavin Kenneally, CEO and co‑founder of Ghost Robotics, walks listeners through the company’s evolution from a startup to a leader in legged robotics, highlighting how four‑legged platforms outperform wheeled robots on rough terrain. He explains the critical...
National Guard Team Clinches Award for Clawed Drone at Army Competition
The Pennsylvania National Guard’s 28th Infantry Division won the Best Innovation award at the Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition for Project RED, a system that locates, identifies, and retrieves downed drones using AI and a robotic claw. The solution employs...
National Guard Team Clinches Award for Clawed Drone at Army Competition
Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 28th Infantry Division won the Best Innovation award at the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition in Huntsville, Alabama. Their Project RED system employs AI and a 3D‑printed carbon‑fiber claw to locate, retrieve,...
EnVista Launches enMotion WES for Automated Warehouses
enVista unveiled enMotion WES+, a cloud‑based warehouse execution system designed for highly automated distribution centers. The platform integrates third‑party WMS, WCS and robotic assets, using a visual Material Flow Graph to model every process from inbound to outbound. Machine‑learning analytics...
Humanoid Home Robots Are on the Market—But Do We Really Want Them?
Norwegian‑US startup 1X launched Neo, a $20,000 consumer‑ready humanoid robot that can fold laundry and load dishwashers, but it relies on remote operators wearing VR headsets to handle complex tasks. The robot records video of its actions for future AI...
XPENG's Humanlike Robot Erases the Uncanny Valley
They SLICED OPEN a "human" on stage... and IT WALKED AWAY. XPENG's IRON robot just shattered the uncanny valley—silicone skin, fluid steps, zero humans inside. Sci-fi is NOW. But is this the future we want? Creepy genius or dystopian nightmare?...
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A Diffusion Foundation Model for Bimanual Manipulation. RDT-1B is a 1B-parameter (largest to date) imitation learning Diffusion Transformer pre-trained on 1M+ (largest to date) multi-robot episodes. GitHub: https://lnkd.in/dUmGRibU ——- Weekly robotics and AI insights. Subscribe free: 22astronauts.com
AI Impact Summit: Meet ‘LuSI’, the ‘Made in India’ AI-Integrated Robotic Baby Revolutionising Medical Training
At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Maverick Simulation Solutions unveiled LuSI, a 2.5 kg AI‑integrated robotic newborn that replicates real‑time respiratory conditions for high‑fidelity medical training, already adopted by AIIMS, AFMC and PGI. The same event highlighted PhonePe's launch of...
CharterUP Partners with Holon to Deliver Scalable Autonomous Mobility Solutions
CharterUP has teamed up with Holon to fuse Holon’s autonomous vehicle ecosystem with CharterUP’s AI‑first mobility platform and nationwide network. The deal enables CharterUP to roll out Holon’s self‑driving shuttles across campuses, airports, transit agencies and community settings. By offering...
When It Comes to Drones, the Pentagon Should Mind the Experience Gap
The article argues that the Pentagon’s biggest hurdle with drones is technology adoption, not a lack of options, and stresses the need for experienced defense partners to field reliable unmanned systems. It highlights that trust, scalability, and maintainability hinge on...
How Commercial Drones Make the Pentagon’s ‘Blue UAS Select’ List
The Department of Defense has launched the first phase of its Drone Dominance Program, dubbed “the Gauntlet,” to evaluate commercial uncrewed aerial systems from 25 vendors at Fort Benning. Ahead of testing, the Pentagon’s Blue UAS List, maintained by the...
Humanoid Robots that 'Catch Themselves' Instead of Falling: What a New Walking Algorithm Changes
Georgia Tech researchers unveiled a real‑time planning and control framework that lets bipedal robots recover from instability without human input. Implemented on the Cassie robot, the algorithm uses signal‑temporal‑logic‑guided model predictive control to adjust upcoming steps when perturbations are detected....
A3 Presents ‘Age of Automation,’ Global Film Series Produced by BBC StoryWorks
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) launched “Age of Automation,” a global film series produced by BBC StoryWorks that showcases how automation is reshaping industries and daily life. The series combines short films and articles that highlight real‑world applications in...
Around the Commercial Drone Industry: Training Schools, New NPRM Comments, El Paso Airport Closure
A new UAS training centre at West Wales Airport aims to certify over 120 drone operators in 2026, offering hands‑on and simulator instruction for both line‑of‑sight and BVLOS flights. The FAA briefly reopened comments on its Part 108 BVLOS NPRM, drawing...
Norway’s Trener Robotics Closes $32 Million Series A to Turn Industrial Robots Into Adaptive Teammates
Trener Robotics announced a $32 million Series A round, bringing its total funding to over $38 million. The capital, co‑led by Engine Ventures and IAG Capital Partners with strategic investors Cadence and Nikon, will accelerate development of Acteris, a robot‑agnostic AI skills platform...
Allonic’s 3D Tissue‑Braided Robots Mimic Human Connective Tissue
The technology is undeniably impressive — but it carries a distinct 'Westworld' vibe. Anybody else feeling it? Allonic, a robotics startup based in Hungary, is developing humanoid robot bodies using a proprietary 3D "Tissue Braiding" system. The process weaves high-strength fibers, elastic...
Project OVERMATCH Scales UK Drone Production
Project OVERMATCH - how one company is scaling up production of #drones in the UK #avgeek https://t.co/sEEOjJQprt https://t.co/PjEtX67uHA
Robot Talk Episode 145 – Robotics and Automation in Manufacturing, with Agata Suwala
Technology manager Agata Suwala at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is steering advanced robotics projects that modernise aerospace production lines. Her team integrates automation to replace labour‑intensive steps, cutting cycle times and error rates. The latest initiative targets a circular‑economy...
Learn to Build Realistic Gazebo Terrains with Satellite Data
Join us next Wednesday, February 26th, at 2pm PST for our monthly virtual Gazebo Community Meeting. Our guest speaker will be Sai Aravind, who will discuss how he generates realistic Gazebo terrains using satellite imagery and digital elevation map data. https://t.co/STbNOOw0Nh
Dielectric Elastomer Powers Wearable Fluidics at Household Voltage
A new Science #Robotics study highlights a high-performance #dielectric #elastomer that can operate at household voltages and drive wearable fluidic circuits and untethered soft robotic crawlers. https://t.co/zAb0uHec2c https://t.co/rXz1K9J9G1
U.S. Air Force Deploys Skiron X Drone in Counter-UAS Training
The U.S. Air Force employed Aurora Flight Sciences’ Skiron X hybrid drone as a simulated adversary during counter‑UAS training at Germany’s Grafenwoehr Training Area on Feb. 19, 2026. The exercise evaluated expanding the Joint Multi‑Domain Counter‑UAS Operator Course into a joint, multi‑service program...
Episode 145: Robotics and Automation in Manufacturing - Agata Suwala
In this episode, Claire interviews Agata Suwala, Technology Manager at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, about how robotics and automation are being used to make manufacturing—especially in aerospace—more sustainable and scalable. Agata explains the latest advances in robotic dexterity, the role...
Environment Agency Plans Drone-Fleet Upgrade to Combat Waste Crime
The Environment Agency (EA) is boosting its waste‑crime enforcement with a £5 million budget increase, expanding its fleet of 33 drones and fitting several with lidar laser‑mapping technology. Since July last year the agency logged 272 drone flight hours, using the...