Interview with Volvo Autonomous Solutions: Driverless Trucks Are upon Us
Volvo Autonomous Solutions is moving driverless trucks from pilot projects to commercial reality with its purpose‑built VNL Autonomous platform, produced alongside conventional models at the New River Valley plant in Virginia. The company integrates autonomy at the vehicle level, partners with Aurora and Waabi for the software stack, and adds redundant hardware while leveraging its CAST architecture to control costs. Current deployments include supervised freight runs for DHL and Uber Freight, but Volvo aims to eliminate safety drivers as technology, regulation, and trust mature. Over the next three to five years, Volvo’s goal is to industrialize the system so that autonomous trucks operate reliably at scale.
DJI Is Releasing 4 New Products This Month — Here’s What’s Coming
DJI is staging an unprecedented four‑product launch in April 2026, covering a vlogging camera, a portable power station, an entry‑level drone, and a new audio system. The Osmo Pocket 4 promises a 1‑inch sensor and up to 100 GB of built‑in...
Airbus’ Autonomous Supply-Helicopter Effort May Pave the Way for an Armed Model
Airbus has completed a new autonomous flight test of its H145‑based MQ‑72C Lakota, a pilotless helicopter being developed for the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector program. The test, conducted in Grand Prairie, Texas, used Shield AI’s Hivemind software, L3Harris’s...
DoorDash and Wing Expand Drone Delivery to Metro Atlanta
DoorDash and Wing are extending their drone delivery service to metro Atlanta, starting with restaurants near Tanger Outlets in Locust Grove. Eligible customers can select a drone option at checkout and expect meals within roughly 20 minutes. The rollout adds...
Accelirate Introduces ‘R2A Next’ For Enterprises to Unlock 10x More Value From Existing Automation with AI Agents
Accelirate unveiled R2A Next, a solution that converts legacy robotic process automation (RPA) bots into AI‑driven agents without requiring a platform overhaul. The offering targets enterprises with mature automation portfolios, letting them upgrade up to 25 high‑value processes into outcome‑focused workflows....
AI-Guided Snakebot Unlocks Rolling Move that Doubles Speed per Unit Power
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have created an AI‑guided snake robot that can switch to a rolling gait, achieving roughly twice the travel speed per unit of power on flat surfaces. The system uses deep reinforcement learning and an observation...
Forrester’s Top 10 Emerging Technologies For 2026: Beyond Chat
Forrester’s 2026 Top 10 Emerging Technologies list marks a pivot from chat‑centric AI to a three‑layer framework—Interact, Build, and Fuel. It highlights layer‑zero experiences that overlay apps, physical AI and robotics delivering 20‑50% efficiency gains, and multi‑agent systems that coordinate autonomous...
Denmark’s Sapient Perception Secures €2M Pre-Seed to Develop Large-Area Drone Perception
Copenhagen‑based Sapient Perception secured a €2 million (≈$2.2 million) pre‑seed round co‑led by Balnord and FORWARD.one to scale its high‑resolution, software‑defined camera system for drones. The startup’s 10K sensors can capture up to 100 times larger areas in a single frame while processing...
AGIBOT and Longcheer Technology Achieve World’s First Embodied AI Deployment in Consumer Electronics Precision Manufacturing Mass-Production Line
AGIBOT announced that its G2 embodied‑AI robots are now operating on Longcheer Technology’s tablet production lines, marking the world’s first large‑scale deployment of such systems in consumer‑electronics manufacturing. The robots handle precision loading, unloading and testing tasks at up to...
Japanese Startup Develops Shiraha Drone for Under £350
Tokyo‑based startup Aerodyne unveiled the Shiraha, a foldable UAV priced under $450 per unit, aimed at reconnaissance and surveillance missions. The drone carries a high‑definition camera, offers roughly 30 minutes of flight time and a 5 km operational radius. Designed as...
120,000 Drones: The UK’s Biggest Ever Support Package for Ukraine to Push Back Putin
The United Kingdom announced its biggest ever drone support package for Ukraine, delivering at least 120,000 units this year. The mix includes long‑range strike, intelligence, logistics and maritime drones, with deliveries already underway. The programme is funded largely from the...
US ‘Drone Dominance’: How XDOWN’s STUD Interceptor Fits the $1.1B Strategy
California startup XDOWN unveiled the Small Tactical Unmanned Drone (STUD), a backpack‑portable system that launches in two seconds, flies up to 165 knots, and carries a 0.77 kg payload for up to 17 minutes. Production will be handled by Romanian deep‑tech firm...
Mobility's New Big Three: Tesla, Waymo and Uber
The autonomous mobility sector is coalescing around Waymo, Tesla, and Uber as the new “Big Three.” Waymo leads robotaxi operations with 500,000 weekly paid trips and 200 million driverless miles, backed by $16 billion in fresh capital. Uber leverages its ride‑hailing platform...
ERTMS Trackbot Starts Operations in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has launched its first real‑world deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Trackbot on the Northern Lines between Leeuwarden and Harlingen Haven. Developed by Strukton, AMT and No Man Trackwork with Hitachi support, the autonomous robot...
Thule to Build Automated Warehouse in Poland
Swedish outdoor‑gear maker Thule has hired logistics specialist Mecalux to design and build a new automated warehouse in Krzyż Wielkopolski, Poland. The 42‑meter‑tall clad‑rack facility will house six stacker cranes and a floor‑mounted electric monorail, providing capacity for almost 40,000...
Chinese Robotaxi Companies Forge Ahead with UAE Expansion Despite Iran War
Chinese robotaxi firms are accelerating their Middle East push despite the Iran‑Israel war. Didi announced a UAE test launch later this year, while Guangzhou‑based WeRide already runs fare‑charging driverless taxis in Dubai’s Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim districts via Uber’s app. Pony.ai...
This Simple Change Stops Robot Swarms From Getting Stuck
Researchers at Harvard SEAS discovered that injecting a modest amount of randomness into robot swarm movement dramatically reduces congestion and boosts task completion rates. By combining mathematical models, computer simulations, and real‑world robot experiments, they identified a “Goldilocks zone” of...
German Drone Maker Launches GEREON Production in the UK
German robotics firm ARX Robotics has started UK production of its GEREON uncrewed ground vehicle after securing a British Army contract. The £45 million ($57 million) investment will enable a capacity of up to 1,800 vehicles per year and create at least...
Why “Fast WiFi” Isn’t Enough – The Real Challenge in Industrial Networks
A recent client upgrade to Wi‑Fi 6 revealed that speed alone does not solve connectivity drops in mobile industrial environments. The core issue is maintaining seamless connections during rapid handovers as autonomous vehicles, robots, and handhelds move across coverage zones. WallysTech’s...
Uber Commits $10bn to Robotaxis in Strategy Shift
Uber announced a $10 billion capital commitment to accelerate its robotaxi program, marking a strategic pivot from traditional ride‑hailing toward fully autonomous fleets. The company plans to roll out commercial robotaxi services in select U.S. markets by 2026, leveraging existing ride‑share...
Korean AI Chip Startup DEEPX, Hyundai Work on Robots Powered by Generative AI
Korean AI‑chip startup DEEPX is deepening its partnership with Hyundai Motor Group to supply its second‑generation DX‑M2 neural processing units for generative‑AI‑powered robots. The chips, built on Samsung’s cutting‑edge 2‑nanometer process, promise dramatically lower power draw—up to 20 times more efficient...
MAMO Strikes Preliminary AV, Robotics Deal with China’s AIBO
Massimo Group’s MAMO has signed a preliminary framework with Shenzhen‑based AIBO Robotics to explore deploying intelligent service robots in commercial and retail settings across the United States and China. The partnership also looks at AI‑driven upgrades for MAMO’s existing golf‑cart...
MODEX 2026: Software Integrations, Vision Systems, Cobots and More From Day Two in Atlanta
Day two of MODEX 2026 in Atlanta showcased a surge of supply‑chain innovations, with over 1,000 exhibitors displaying new software integrations, vision‑guided robotics and collaborative cobots. Attendees explored live demos and attended seminars that highlighted how these technologies streamline warehouse operations...
WISPR Systems’ SkyScout 2+ Earns Blue UAS ApprovalValidates Platform for Federal and Public Safety Deployment
WISPR Systems announced that its SkyScout 2+ unmanned aircraft system has been placed on the Defense Contract Management Agency’s Blue UAS Cleared List. The approval confirms the platform’s compliance with stringent cybersecurity, supply‑chain, and operational integrity standards required for federal and...
KEENON Robotics Showcased Autonomous Cleaning Innovation at Interclean Amsterdam 2026
KEENON Robotics unveiled its autonomous cleaning fleet at Interclean Amsterdam 2026, targeting facility‑management firms grappling with labor shortages and rising operational complexity. The showcase highlighted AI‑driven Patrol Inspection, which lets robots detect debris, switch cleaning modes and reroute in real...
Onward Robotics Showcases Innovative Fulfillment Orchestration Platform With Live Demonstrations at MODEX 2026
Onward Robotics unveiled its Pyxis Suite fulfillment orchestration platform and next‑generation Lumabot autonomous mobile robots at MODEX 2026. The live demo highlighted Meet Me, a person‑to‑goods system that synchronizes workers, robots, and workflows in real time via Pyxis Conductor and wearable Pyxis...
Beumer Group Highlights Scalable Sortation Strategies
MIT researchers led by Dr. Miguel Rodríguez García released new findings on the vulnerabilities of highly automated warehouses. The study highlights cyberattacks and power or network outages as the two most critical threats, citing a 24‑hour blackout in Spain and a...
Navy Doubles Down on Drone Fire
The Royal Australian Navy has formalized its autonomous maritime program by establishing the Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit (MASU) under Project SEA 1200. MASU will transition experimental unmanned vessels, such as Anduril’s Ghost Shark extra‑large autonomous under‑sea vehicle, into operational service. The...
Germany to Manufacture Ukrainian Reconnaissance Drones in Major Defence Collaboration
Germany announced a joint venture with Ukrainian UAV maker TAF Industries to manufacture reconnaissance drones at German facilities. The partnership, between German aviation firm Wingcopter and TAF, stems from a February memorandum under the “Build with Ukraine” framework. The initiative...
London Borough of Harrow Cuts Maintenance Costs with Digital Twin
The London Borough of Harrow has deployed Esri UK’s Site Scan drone platform to enrich its digital twin with high‑resolution 3D models of parks, council buildings and heritage sites. The hybrid approach combines low‑resolution citywide data with targeted drone captures,...
Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind Teach Spot to Reason
Boston Dynamics announced that its Spot robot now runs Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics‑ER 1.6, a high‑level embodied reasoning model. The AI upgrade lets Spot autonomously read gauges, spot spills, and perform inspection tasks in industrial settings. Gemini adds vision‑only success...
What Is Warehouse Collaboration? How Human-Robot Automation Improves Efficiency, Safety & Scalability
Warehouse collaboration pairs human workers, robots, and AI‑driven systems to meet soaring e‑commerce demand, fluctuating order volumes, and tighter service‑level agreements. The article argues that the next wave of automation must be adaptable, focusing on cooperative designs rather than isolated...
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NOBLELIFT unveiled NobleOne, the material‑handling industry’s first fully integrated AI forklift platform, at MODEX 2026. The system pairs AI‑driven operator coaching, advanced driver‑assist safety, and direct control of autonomous mobile robots with Gather AI’s MHE Vision camera that records every pallet move...
Ukraine Strikes Drone Production, Military Support Deal with Germany
Ukraine and Germany have sealed a strategic defence partnership that links German military aid with access to Ukraine’s cutting‑edge drone expertise. Germany will fund several hundred U.S.-made Patriot missiles and support co‑production ventures to boost Ukraine’s air‑defence and drone output....
Serbia to Jointly Produce Drones with Israel, President Confirms
Serbia announced a joint venture with an Israeli defence firm to produce combat drones, a move President Aleksandar Vucic described as a 50‑50 partnership. The collaboration follows Serbia’s recent $335 million purchase of Elbit Systems drones and a $1.6 billion deal for...
Ukraine Captures a Russian Position Using only Drones and Ground Robots
Ukraine announced the first capture of a Russian position achieved solely with drones and ground robots, marking a historic shift in combat tactics. The operation involved systems such as Ratel, TerMIT and others, completing over 22,000 missions in early 2026....
Future-Proofing Mining
A new webinar highlights how private 5G networks are powering autonomous mining equipment such as trucks, loaders, and drills. The session showcases real‑world deployments that boost operational efficiency while improving worker safety. By delivering low‑latency, high‑capacity connectivity underground, private 5G enables real‑time...
Toyota Unveils Basketball-Shooting Robot With Vision Tech
Toyota’s Frontier Research Center unveiled CUE7, a humanoid basketball‑shooting robot that combines AI vision, reinforcement learning and model predictive control to lock onto the hoop and execute repeatable three‑point shots. The new unit is 74 kg, a 46 kg reduction from its...
Quantum WIY Industries and Quantum Tencore Industries to Strengthen Air Defence and Ground Systems
Quantum Systems announced two new joint ventures under its “Build with Ukraine” programme: Quantum WIY Industries (QWI) to boost Ukrainian air‑defence with interceptor drones, and Quantum Tencore Industries (QTI) to scale unmanned ground‑system production. Both ventures partner with Ukrainian firms...
Europe Ramps up Autonomous Warfare Capabilities with German–Ukrainian Drone Production Pact
Germany and Ukraine have signed a cooperation agreement that enables the Auterion‑Airlogix joint venture to begin large‑scale production of thousands of mid‑range, heavy AI‑guided autonomous strike drones in Germany. The deal fulfills a February 2026 Munich Security Conference pledge and becomes...
Dematic Expands Flexible Automation Capabilities Through GreyOrange Partnering Relationship
Dematic announced a strategic partnership with GreyOrange to integrate the GreyMatter AI‑powered orchestration platform into its supply‑chain automation suite. The collaboration unifies robots, autonomous mobile robots and human workflows under a single, hardware‑agnostic software layer. By embedding GreyMatter, Dematic aims...
Japan Moves to Institutionalize Drone Warfare as Manpower Shortfalls Deepen
Japan’s Ground Self‑Defense Force inaugurated two new offices – the Unmanned Defense Capability Promotion Office and the Unmanned Systems Office – to institutionalize drone and broader unmanned warfare. Though staffed by only 13 personnel, the offices will shape concepts, R&D,...
Gemini Robotics ER-1.6 Enhances Reasoning to Help Robots Navigate Real-World Tasks.
Google DeepMind unveiled Gemini Robotics‑ER 1.6, an upgraded reasoning‑first model designed to give robots human‑like spatial awareness. The new version boosts spatial logic and multi‑view perception, adding precise task planning, success detection, and a novel instrument‑reading capability for gauges and...
EPC Releases 5kW GaN 3-Phase Inverters for Robotics and Light EVs
Efficient Power Conversion Corp (EPC) unveiled two 5 kW GaN‑based 3‑phase inverter evaluation boards, the EPC9186HC2 and EPC9186HC3, targeting robotics, light electric vehicles and high‑power drones. The boards use EPC2361 eGaN FETs, delivering up to 150 A RMS phase current and 120 kHz...
MIT Underwater Robot Teaming Targets Cable Inspection
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is developing a human‑machine system that teams divers with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to inspect subsea power and telecom cables. The AUV maps the cable, pinpoints likely faults and guides the diver to the exact location, combining...
Thoro Unveils New Autonomous Solution Powered by Orbbec, Driving Scalable Material Handling Innovation
At MODEX 2026, automation specialist Thoro introduced CoreFlex, a modular, infrastructure‑free autonomy stack that can power a variety of industrial vehicles. The solution relies on Orbbec’s Gemini 336 stereo 3D camera to deliver high‑precision depth perception, robust obstacle detection, and reliable performance...
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Tennant Company announced a three‑year exclusivity extension with AI specialist Brain Corp, accelerating its robotic floor‑care roadmap. The partnership will deliver ten new autonomous cleaning products over the next 24 months and streamline the buying process with an integrated solution....
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RobotShop announced a strategic partnership with AGIBOT Innovation, becoming its value‑added distribution partner across the United States and Canada. The agreement gives RobotShop access to AGIBOT’s legged inspection robots and humanoid platforms, while providing integration, onboarding and deployment services. AGIBOT,...
How Xiaomi's Dark Factory Robots Can Pump Out A Phone In Mere Seconds
Xiaomi launched a fully automated "dark factory" in Changping, China, capable of producing 10 million flagship smartphones a year. The plant runs at about one device every 3.15 seconds, achieving 81% automation across 11 production lines and costing roughly $330 million. Xiaomi...
Why Drone Detection Is Essential to Comply with the Critical Entities Resilience Directive
The EU’s Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive obliges designated critical‑infrastructure operators to demonstrate measurable resilience by May 2027, with a ten‑month compliance window after identification. Drone‑related threats—unauthorised flights, surveillance, hazardous payloads—are now recognised as a key risk that could breach that...
