OMRON Appoints Virendra Shelar as President and CEO of Its Industrial Automation Business in EMEA
Omron has appointed Virendra Shelar as President and CEO of its Industrial Automation business in Europe. Shelar, who joined Omron in 2014, brings more than 25 years of high‑tech leadership, having overseen the Management Center in Asia‑Pacific, Europe, and global HR strategy. He succeeds Fernando Colás, who retires after a 40‑year tenure that built strong customer partnerships and sustainable growth. Shelar’s mandate is to accelerate growth, drive innovation, and deepen sustainability across Europe’s manufacturing sector.
MODEX 2026: SEER Robotics to Bring ‘All Robots, One Platform’ Vision and AMRs
SEER Robotics will showcase its "all robots, one platform" vision at MODEX 2026, debuting a suite of terrain‑adaptive autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for factories and warehouses. The company highlighted new hardware including the space‑saving SPT‑1500UL pallet truck and the SCT‑50UL...
Alphabet's Wing Drone Unit, DoorDash Expand Into Atlanta. Google Stock Turns Green In 2026.
Alphabet’s Wing drone unit and delivery partner DoorDash have launched services in Atlanta, marking the fifth U.S. market for the collaboration. The rollout adds to Wing’s growing footprint, now supported by Walmart in eight U.S. markets and hundreds of stores....
MODEX 2026: Toyota Industries Corporation Announces Global Leadership of Toyota Automated Logistics
Toyota Industries Corp. announced Toyota Automated Logistics (TAL), a new global warehouse‑automation business that consolidates Bastian Solutions, Vanderlande’s warehousing unit, and viastore under a single brand. The company appointed Hitoshi Matsuoka as global CEO, Thomas Hibinger as CEO for EMEA/APAC, and...
Exol Launches U.S. Robotic Fulfillment Network with Six Sites
Exol announced the launch of a U.S. robotic fulfillment network, beginning with a fully‑occupied California site and a one‑million‑square‑foot facility in Atlanta. The company plans to operate six locations totaling six million square feet, backed by SoftBank Group and Symbotic...
MODEX 2026: Jacobi Robotics, ABB Robotics Collaborate to Bring AI-Powered Palletizing to ABB’s Integrator Network
Jacobi Robotics and ABB Robotics announced a partnership to embed Jacobi’s OmniPalletizer AI software into ABB’s robotics hardware and software suite. The integration offers ABB’s global network of system integrators a repeatable, brownfield‑ready solution for mixed‑case palletizing without the need...
These AI-Powered Guide Dogs Don't Just Lead, They Talk
Binghamton University researchers have built a robot guide dog that uses GPT‑4 to converse with visually impaired users, offering route planning and real‑time verbal navigation cues. The system was demonstrated at AAAI 2026 and tested with seven legally blind participants who...
Drone Industry Is on Pace for Big Pentagon Contracts. These Stocks Would Benefit the Most
The White House’s FY2027 defense budget request of $1.5 trillion could channel roughly $63 billion toward unmanned and drone technologies, according to Needham analysts. Of that, $55 billion is earmarked for the Defense Autonomous Weapons Group, a program aimed at low‑cost drone production....
Defense Business Brief: Doubling Down on C-UAS; Hypersonic Flight; Could AI Help the Navy Build Hulls Faster?
The Pentagon is proposing a near‑$1 billion FY27 budget for counter‑drone (C‑UAS) systems, roughly doubling the Army’s 2026 allocation and expanding both procurement and R&D. The increase reflects growing drone threats and a strategic push for kinetic interception solutions. Meanwhile, hypersonic...
Oakland County, Mich., Weighs Flock Drones Amid Privacy Concern
Oakland County commissioners will review a nine‑month pilot with Flock that provides seven drones for case‑related investigations. The pilot is free, but if not terminated by Dec. 15, 2026, a two‑year contract worth about $2.5 million automatically activates. Each flight’s route, duration and...
Taking the Jobs Humans Don’t Want: The Ironic Promise of the Humanoid Robot
Humanoid robots, such as Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, are moving from labs to auto factories, with Hyundai showcasing a $250,000 unit that can work two shifts and plans to build 30,000 units per year by 2028. Proponents argue the machines will...
Pen Aviation, Nandina REM Pave the Way for rCF in Flight in UAV/UAS Platforms
Pen Aviation and Singapore‑based Nandina REM are accelerating the use of recycled carbon fiber (rCF) in UAV and UAS platforms. By leveraging risk‑proportionate certification frameworks such as SORA, Pen can integrate rCF without the full data set required for type‑certified...
The Desert Digitalises: How Dubai Is Engineering a Global Hub for Robotics and Automation
Dubai is pivoting from a technology importer to a developer, anchored by the Dubai Robotics and Automation (R&A) Program launched in 2022. The initiative targets a 9% contribution of robotics to the emirate’s GDP by 2034 and plans to deploy...
Going From Analogue to Digital
Catalyst Metals is digitizing its Plutonic Gold Mine in Western Australia by integrating RCT’s mining‑automation platform, shifting the decades‑old underground operation from analogue controls to a fully digital workflow. The 195‑km‑north‑east Meekatharra site, a long‑running producer, will now leverage real‑time...
ZenaTech Initiates Plans for a Ukraine Testing Facility for Drone Testing and Operational Validation of Its Interceptor Defense Systems
ZenaTech announced plans to build a dedicated drone testing facility in Ukraine, positioning its R&D amid the world’s most intense drone‑warfare environment. The site will validate the Interceptor P-1 one‑way expendable interceptor and other counter‑UAS systems, complementing a previously disclosed...
Commercial Drone Alliance Calls for Whole-of-Government Approach to Build Domestic Industry
In December 2025 the FCC placed all foreign‑made drones and critical components on its Covered List, restricting new imports while allowing existing inventory to remain on shelves. The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) responded with a white paper urging a whole‑of‑government...
New Funding Fuels AirHub’s Defense Drone Ambitions
AirHub, a European drone‑software firm, closed a €4.4 million ($4.8 million) Series A round led by Keen Venture Partners, RunwayFBU, Lumaux and LUMO Labs. The capital will fund expansion of its Drone Operations Center and the launch of MilHub for defense and SecHub...
Online Supermarket Tests Autonomous Delivery Vehicles in Belgium
Collect&Go, the online arm of Belgium's Colruyt Group, will trial driverless Clevon 1 delivery robots in Leuven’s city centre from mid‑May to August. The electric vehicle, acquired by US‑based indiGOtech in 2025, can transport two grocery orders at a time and...
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Western European nations saw robot density rise 3% year‑on‑year, with the EU‑27 reaching 231 robots per 10,000 employees, well above the global average of 132. Eight EU members—Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Belgium & Luxembourg, France and Spain—rank among...
Global Robotics Industry Converges on Japan for Humanoids Summit Tokyo 2026
The Humanoids Summit Tokyo 2026 will convene May 28‑29 at the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center, marking the first Asian edition of the global humanoid robotics conference. More than 40 speakers and exhibitors, including Boston Dynamics, Toyota, Google DeepMind and Japan’s Ministry...
Robotics & AI Discovery Day 2026 Spotlights Pittsburgh at the Center of a $10B+ Innovation Ecosystem
Robotics & AI Discovery Day 2026 will convene up to 10,000 attendees and more than 250 exhibitors at Pittsburgh's David L. Lawrence Convention Center on September 16. The event highlights the city’s $10 billion‑plus deep‑tech funding pool, featuring over 120 robotics...
Delta Showcases Integrated Automation and Smart Charging Solutions for Intralogistics Applications at MODEX 2026
Delta showcased its integrated automation and smart charging solutions at MODEX 2026, unveiling the Delta Automation Technology Platforms that combine machine vision, motion control, drive, networking, and power infrastructure into a single architecture. Live demonstrations featured the D‑BOT DC08 collaborative robot working...
Holon Targets 60% Cost Reduction with Integrated Autonomous Shuttle Platform: Our Interview with Head of Sales Martin Lischka
Holon, the autonomous‑mobility subsidiary of BENTELER Group, is launching an integrated Level 4 shuttle platform that combines electric vehicles, Mobileye driving software and ioki mobility analytics, aiming to cut total cost of ownership by up to 60 %. The company has pilot...
The Drone Disruptor: Kratos Stock Seeks a Higher Altitude
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS) is capitalizing on the Pentagon’s shift toward low‑cost, high‑volume autonomous systems, highlighted by the Replicator program. The company posted 21.9% year‑over‑year revenue growth and earnings of $0.18 per share, beating expectations. Its XQ‑58A Valkyrie...
Former FAA Public Safety Liaison Joins DRONERESPONDERS UNITE Team
Michael O'Shea, former FAA Public Safety Liaison, has joined the DRONERESPONDERS UNITE team as manager. He spent eight years guiding state, local, tribal and territorial agencies on compliant drone programs and previously held a 17‑year aviation role with the Department...
UAVOS Introduces Advanced Composite Rotor Blades Manufactured withCore Sintering Technology
UAVOS announced the launch of composite rotor blades built with a core‑sintering process that shapes the internal lattice without any post‑machining. The technique delivers higher geometric stability, stronger structural reliability and lower manufacturing costs. The blades, featuring carbon multi‑cross‑layer construction,...
Verne Launches Europe’s First Commercial Robotaxi Service in Zagreb
Verne has launched Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, allowing passengers to book autonomous rides via the Verne app. The fleet uses Pony.ai’s seventh‑generation autonomous driving system, with trained operators on board during the initial rollout. A strategic...
Just Eat and Starship Technologies Launch Delivery Robots in Barnsley
Just Eat and Starship Technologies have launched a pilot of self‑driving delivery robots in Barnsley, the UK’s first government‑designated “tech town.” The service will operate in four neighbourhoods—Carlton, Athersley, Monk Bretton and Lundwood—covering roughly 11,000 households. The robots aim to replace...
How RML Machinery’s Automation Solutions Deliver ROI for FMCG Manufacturers
Australian fast‑moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturers are turning to automation as margins tighten and customer expectations rise. RML Machinery offers end‑to‑end production automation—from cartoning and palletising to robotic assembly and modular conveyors—designed to boost throughput, cut waste and improve safety....
AI K-Pop Startup Galaxy Aims for IPO in Seoul and New York
Seoul‑based AI startup Galaxy, founded in 2019, is preparing a dual listing in New York and Seoul for 2027 after raising roughly $150 million. The company blends AI‑generated music, virtual avatars and life‑size robot idols, leveraging star power from G‑Dragon and a...
Logic Introduces ‘Octopus’ Overhead Multi-Arm Robot to Boost Warehouse Throughput
Logic unveiled the Octopus, an overhead multi‑arm picking robot that mounts to ceiling structures and frees valuable aisle space. The system can simultaneously operate multiple arms equipped with interchangeable end effectors, eliminating mechanical changeovers and handling mixed SKUs in parallel....
Robotronic and Mitsubishi Electric Launch High-Speed Pharma Palletising System
Robotronic and Mitsubishi Electric have unveiled what they claim is the smallest high‑speed palletising cell for pharmaceutical vials and pre‑filled syringes. The low‑footprint system uses two Mitsubishi FR series robots with SoftTouch technology to handle pallets as small as 120 cm × 80 cm....
GOFAR Brings Ag Robots to Spain for Live Field Demos
GOFAR is staging its first Iberian Field Day on April 15 at John Deere’s Parla Innovation Center near Madrid, where more than 15 agricultural robots will operate in real‑field conditions. The showcase, co‑hosted with John Deere and data‑platform provider Datagri, brings together over...
Generative AI Improves a Wireless Vision System that Sees Through Obstructions
MIT researchers have combined generative AI with millimeter‑wave radar to reconstruct hidden 3D objects and entire indoor scenes. The new Wave‑Former model fills missing surfaces in partial mmWave scans, improving shape accuracy by roughly 20 %. A companion system, RISE, uses...
AI K-Pop Startup Galaxy Aims For IPO in Seoul, New York
Galaxy Corp., a Seoul‑based AI startup, is pioneering a new K‑pop model that replaces human idols with synchronized humanoid robots performing in elaborate, futuristic settings. Founder and CEO Choi Yong‑ho showcased a high‑tech show featuring black‑clad robots in luxury hip‑hop...
Robot Maker Kuka Eyes US, Asia as Europe’s Factories Lag on AI
German‑Chinese robotics firm Kuka AG warns that European manufacturers are falling behind in artificial‑intelligence adoption, leaving them vulnerable to faster‑moving rivals. CEO Christoph Schell cites legacy equipment and data silos as key barriers. Backed by China’s Midea Group, Kuka is...
UE5 Is Becoming the Platform of Choice for Robotics Simulation
Unreal Engine 5 is rapidly becoming the preferred platform for robotics simulation, offering real‑time photorealism through Nanite, Lumen and hardware ray tracing. Its Chaos Physics system and integrations like AGX Dynamics provide high‑fidelity contact and actuator modeling, while tools such...
Hong Kong: Robotics and AI Ensure Smart Utility Management
Hong Kong’s government is accelerating its smart‑city agenda by deploying advanced robotics and unmanned systems across water‑utility operations. An award‑winning multifunctional welding robot now performs precision pipe repairs inside confined water mains, while drones conduct autonomous water‑sampling, infrared leak detection,...
Defense Department Urges FCC to Oppose DJI Petition Over Security Risks
The U.S. Department of Defense formally urged the Federal Communications Commission to reject DJI's petition to be removed from the FCC’s "covered list," which bars certain foreign‑made drone equipment from import and sale. In a memorandum, the DoD argued that...
Signode Showcases Integrated Automation and ASRS Solutions at MODEX 2026
Signode will showcase its integrated automation and ASRS solutions at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, featuring a unified portfolio that links stretch‑wrapping, robotics, and storage technologies. The exhibit includes the Octopus Prestige automatic stretch‑wrapper paired with an autonomous mobile robot forklift, a...
![Green Tech: Rise of the [Hull Clening] Robots](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/0fbc8ad854983636424a2c02a0f6798e.webp)
Green Tech: Rise of the [Hull Clening] Robots
Robotic hull‑cleaning systems are moving from niche compliance tools to essential efficiency assets for shipowners. By removing biofouling, robots can cut fuel consumption, which can rise 10‑30% on dirty hulls, and dramatically shorten maintenance windows—from weeks of diver work to...
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Piaggio Fast Forward announced its hybrid navigation technology for the kilo® robot at MODEX 2026, combining edge AI with deterministic control. The system lets the robot infer a leader’s intent and switch seamlessly between AI‑driven and algorithmic modes for forward...
Temple University Student Highlights IEEE Membership Perks
Temple University junior Kyle McGinley, an IEEE student member, showcases how the society’s perks have propelled his academic and professional growth. He helped rebuild an older lab robot into an AI‑integrated android that assists Parkinson’s patients and their caregivers, using Python,...
Magnetic Coil Setup Guides Microrobots without Seeing Them
SMU researchers have built a triaxial Helmholtz coil system that creates a uniform magnetic field gradient, enabling microrobots to be guided without continuous visual tracking. The six‑coil arrangement, calibrated with a triaxial magnetometer and refined by Tikhonov regularization, delivers consistent...
Kraus Hamdani Aerospace Awarded $270 Million AFCENT Contract to Accelerate Deployment of K1000ULE
Kraus Hamdani Aerospace secured a $270 million single‑source IDIQ contract from U.S. Air Forces Central to fast‑track deployment of its K1000ULE unmanned aerial system. The electric, modular UAS offers the longest endurance in its class, two‑person logistics, and secure SATCOM for...
Ukrainian War Robots, Drones Hit Front Lines, Testing Russia’s Firepower
Ukraine has rapidly integrated low‑cost unmanned ground vehicles and drones into frontline operations, with UGVs now handling roughly 90% of logistics and completing 7,000 missions in January alone. These machines can operate up to eight hours, carry heavy payloads and...
From One Demo to Reliable Automation: How GPA Reimagines GUI Process Automation
Salesforce AI Research unveiled GPA, a GUI Process Automation system that learns a workflow from a single human demonstration and replays it with deterministic precision on the local machine. Unlike traditional RPA, GPA avoids brittle scripts, and unlike vision‑language models,...
Attabotics Announces Integrator Partnership Program to Expand Availability of Robotic Cube Storage Technology
Attabotics announced an integrator partnership program to broaden distribution of its 3D robotic cube storage solution, naming SAVOYE North America as the inaugural partner. The collaboration leverages SAVOYE’s AiRVOS™ WES platform to integrate Attabotics technology into end‑to‑end fulfillment workflows. By...
Attabotics Announces Integrator Partnership Program
Attabotics announced an integrator partnership program to extend its 3D robotic cube storage technology through third‑party distributors. The first partner, SAVOYE North America, will combine its automated storage expertise with Attabotics’ hardware and software to deliver end‑to‑end fulfillment solutions. The...
Asylon and Thrive Logic Bring Physical AI to Enterprise Perimeter Security
Asylon and Thrive Logic have partnered to embed physical AI into enterprise perimeter security, combining Asylon’s autonomous robotic patrols with Thrive Logic’s AI‑driven analytics and automated incident workflows. The integration streams video from mobile robots to the AI platform, which...