BMT Shares More Detail on MODUS Uncrewed Ship Concept
BMT detailed its MODUS concept, a modular family of uncrewed surface vessels ranging from 20 to 80 metres, aimed at sustained undersea operations. The design pivots on six principles—autonomy, modularity, availability, buildability, adaptability and affordability—and focuses on 30‑60 day missions such as persistent data gathering, seabed warfare and anti‑submarine warfare. Larger variants provide extra internal volume but shift endurance constraints to weight, while the vessels can serve as motherships for smaller unmanned systems. BMT is moving toward prototyping, starting with smaller platforms before scaling up.
FORTNA Adds Jacobi Robotics’ Automated Palletizer to Its Portfolio
FORTNA announced a strategic partnership with Jacobi Robotics at MODEX 2026, adding the AI‑driven OmniPalletizer to its automation portfolio. The OmniPalletizer can create stable, rule‑compliant pallets from mixed‑case shipments without requiring upstream sequencing hardware or major facility redesign. By integrating...
Angelini Technology Acquires Minority Stake in Lab0
Angelini Technologies has taken a minority equity position in U.S. robotics startup Lab0, the maker of the RoboGlide system that automates container loading and unloading. The investment is intended to accelerate Lab0’s move from prototype to commercial scale and may...
Aevex: Small Drones at Scale
Aevex (AVEX) is preparing a 16‑million‑share offering priced between $18 and $22 per share. The company posted Q1 2026 revenue of $200‑$208 million, a four‑fold year‑over‑year increase, and adjusted EBITDA of $33.5‑$36.4 million, reversing a prior‑year loss. Valuation multiples now sit near 2.6×...
Britain's 120,000-Drone Package for Ukraine Sounds Massive - Here's What May Actually Be Inside
Britain announced a package of at least 120,000 drones for Ukraine, the largest drone aid ever pledged. The bundle spans long‑range strike, reconnaissance, logistics and maritime platforms, with UK firms Tekever, Windracers and Malloy Aeronautics identified as participants. Tekever’s AR3...
Video Wednesday
Flickstop’s blog showcases two image‑only posts from 2020 and 2021 that highlight the company’s work in medical robotics—one depicting a robotic surgery and another illustrating an autonomous pandemic‑response robot. The latest entry, titled “Video Wednesday” on April 15, 2026, contains no text...
Former Xpeng Autonomous Driving Chief to Join Robotics Startup EngineAI
Former Xpeng autonomous‑driving chief Li Liyun has left the EV maker to join Chinese robotics startup EngineAI Robotics. EngineAI, founded by former Xpeng robotics head Zhao Tongyang, announced a $200 million Series B round that lifted its valuation above 10 billion yuan (≈ $1.47 billion)....
Autonomous Vessels Outperform Crewed Surveys, UDT Hears
Rear Admiral Angus Essenhigh of the UK Hydrographic Office reported that autonomous maritime systems outperformed a traditional crewed vessel in a side‑by‑side survey trial at UDT 2026. The crewed ship broke down and returned to port, while the autonomous fleet...
210th Battalion Reformed Into Drone Battalion
Ukraine has restructured its Territorial Defense Forces, converting the 210th Territorial Defense Battalion into the 210th Unmanned Systems Battalion. The new unit is temporarily assigned to the 425th Assault Regiment, known as the Skelya Regiment, under the leadership of Konstantin Rusanov,...
LogiPharma 2026: How Automation Is Reshaping Pharma Supply Chains
At LogiPharma 2026, Cold Chain Technologies’ chief commercial officer Anthony “TJ” Rizzo emphasized that automation and real‑time monitoring are redefining pharmaceutical cold‑chain logistics. He explained that end‑to‑end visibility can shift companies from reactive, post‑delivery investigations to proactive risk mitigation. Regulators are...
The Robot That Wants to Handle Every Bag in Every Airport
Azalea Robotics unveiled its autonomous baggage‑handling robot, ARC One, on The Road to Autonomy podcast. The mobile system uses suction grippers and computer‑vision to pick, scan and load bags onto carts without cages or fixed infrastructure. Designed to plug into...
Waymo Launches Sixth-Generation Robotaxi System
Waymo announced that its sixth‑generation robotaxi system is now operational, featuring a streamlined sensor suite that lowers per‑vehicle cost. The new platform relies on 17‑megapixel cameras and a reengineered short‑range lidar capable of centimeter‑scale detection of vulnerable road users. Waymo...
WeRide Launches Fully Driverless Robotaxi Service in Dubai
WeRide and Uber have rolled out a fully driverless, fare‑charging robotaxi service in Dubai’s Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah districts, accessible through the Uber app. The launch follows a supervised trial that began in December 2025 and a driver‑less trial permit granted by...
At Shield AI, a Young Product Guru Fights for God & Country
Armor Harris, a 33‑year‑old product veteran, now serves as senior vice president of aircraft at defense‑tech firm Shield AI. After a decade at SpaceX where he earned Elon Musk’s confidence, Harris was recruited to rejuvenate Shield AI’s autonomous fighter‑jet portfolio....
First Humanoid Robot With Embodied Intelligence For High-Risk Jobs Enters Service
China has deployed its first embodied‑intelligence humanoid robot for high‑risk industrial work. Weighing about 90 kg, the robot uses a magnetic chassis to climb metal walls and features 15 degrees of freedom with dual arms for tasks such as precision welding,...
