IPR40: Stabilus Presents Custom-Made Electromechanical Drives
Stabilus has launched a “Customized to Order” program for its IPR40 electromechanical spindle drives, allowing customers to specify connections, forces, stroke lengths and speeds. The IPR40 offers compact, IP67‑rated units with 12 V or 24 V options and can be paired with the group’s industrial gas springs. Design support spans from concept through on‑site commissioning, and the customization model will extend to the IPR35, IPR35 SMART and IPR40 SMART families. This service targets low‑volume, high‑performance industrial applications beyond the automotive sector.
Exotec Opens Imaginarium, Its New Global Headquarters
Exotec has inaugurated its new 25,000 m² headquarters, Imaginarium, in Northern France, consolidating design, production and support for its warehouse robotics portfolio. The facility houses over 700 employees and features an 8,560 m² production floor equipped with 11 operational Exotec systems. Imaginarium...
New Brochure for High-Precision Motion Control, Nanopositioning Automation & Piezo Solutions
Physik Instrumente (PI) has issued a new brochure positioning the company as a long‑term OEM partner for high‑precision motion control, nanopositioning and piezo solutions. The catalogue highlights fast steering mirrors, 6‑DoF hexapods, granite‑based multi‑axis platforms and nano‑focus motors tailored for...
Geekplus Powers Live Warehouse Robotics for Immersive, Shoppable Fashion Runway
Geekplus is sponsoring the world’s first AI‑driven, immersive shoppable runway hosted by THG Studios and Topshop on Feb. 26, 2026 in Manchester. The event blends a fashion catwalk with a live Fulfilment Zone where Geekplus’ autonomous P‑series mobile robots perform real‑time picking...
SunRobi Becomes First Certified Operator of Cosmic Robotics’ Autonomous Solar Installation Systems
SunRobi, Sunstall’s robotic‑assisted construction arm, became the first certified operator of Cosmic Robotics’ autonomous module‑installation system, Cosmic‑1A, after multiple live utility‑scale deployments across the United States. The certification confirms SunRobi’s ability to embed the robot into end‑to‑end EPC workflows, delivering...

Interstuhl Automates Seat Coating with Dürr’s Robotic Mould-Surface Technology
Interstuhl Büromöbel has integrated Dürr’s EcoSupply2 Core robotic coating system to automate the interior coating of foam moulds used for its industrial and laboratory chairs. The solution combines an EcoGun AS Auto pro spray gun, a 2K EcoAUC control unit and six compact paint‑supply stations,...

The RaaS Blueprint: Key Insights From a Conversation with RobCo’s Roman Hölzl
RobCo, the Munich‑based modular robotics firm, opened a U.S. headquarters in San Francisco and announced a $100 million Series C round to accelerate its AI‑driven automation roadmap. The company commissioned Sapio Research to survey 400 U.S. industrial decision‑makers, publishing the Automation Readiness...
A Mathematical Framework for Optimizing Robotic Joints
Harvard SEAS researchers unveiled a mathematical framework that designs rolling‑contact joints—curved surfaces that roll and glide like a human knee—to meet specific force trajectories. The optimization simultaneously shapes each joint component, embedding task‑specific mechanics directly into hardware. Prototypes demonstrated a...
Quickly and Precisely Localizing Radioactive Material with Drones and Robots
Fraunhofer FKIE has built a highly automated unmanned aerial system that can locate radioactive sources within a few metres in just minutes. The drone combines a gamma detector with electro‑optical and infrared cameras, an Intel NUC processor, and advanced sensor‑fusion...

Wingtra Launches Comprehensive Training Programme for WingtraRAY Drone Operators
Wingtra has launched a comprehensive training programme for WingtraRAY drone operators, covering the full workflow from equipment setup through flight planning with WingtraPRO to post‑flight data processing using WingtraUNLIMITED. The curriculum emphasizes safety protocols, repeatable accuracy, and user experience, and...
Delta Line Expands Its Range Leo Brushless DC Drives Family with the Introduction of New Leo B3800 and Leo B860.
Delta Line has launched two new brushless DC servo drives, the Leo B3800 and Leo B860, expanding its Leo family. The B3800 delivers up to 3800 W and 80 A rms, targeting the most powerful Delta Line motors, while the B860 provides...

Planning a Flight? How to Navigate RAF Shawbury’s Restricted Airspace
RAF Shawbury’s airspace includes a 2‑nautical‑mile Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) and rectangular Runway Protection Zones (RPZs) extending 5 km by 500 m up to 2,000 ft. Operators must obtain permission from Station Operations to fly within these red‑marked areas, using the standard Drone...
KUKA Showcases Advanced AMR Technology forEasier Material Handling Automation at MODEX 2026
KUKA Robotics will showcase its autonomous mobile robot (AMR) portfolio at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, highlighting the new KMP 250P platform. The exhibition features four AMR models—KMP 250P, 600P, 1500P, and 3000P—covering payloads from 250 kg to 3 tons and integrated with KUKA.AMR FLEET management software....

Carbon Robotics Built an AI Model that Detects and Identifies Plants
Carbon Robotics unveiled its Large Plant Model (LPM), an AI system that instantly identifies plant species, eliminating the need for manual retraining of its LaserWeeder robots. The model was trained on more than 150 million labeled photos collected from over 100...

Draganfly Selected to Provide Draganfly Flex FPV Drones and Training to U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command Units in Partnership...
Draganfly Inc. has secured a contract to supply its Flex FPV drones and comprehensive training to U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command units, partnering with DelMar Aerospace. The program will deliver first‑person‑view (FPV) instruction at DelMar’s Camp Pendleton range, with the...

US Navy Selects L3Harris Red Wolf for Precision Attack Strike Munition Program
The U.S. Navy has chosen L3Harris Technologies to develop and produce Red Wolf vehicles for the Marine Corps’ Precision Attack Strike Munition (PASM) program. The decision follows more than 50 test flights, including a low‑altitude launch from an AH‑1Z helicopter, and...

Richtech Robotics Partners with Microsoft to Advance Agentic AI in Real-World Robotics Applications
Richtech Robotics has teamed with Microsoft’s AI Co‑Innovation Labs to embed Azure‑powered agentic AI into its flagship Adam robot. The upgrade adds vision, voice and contextual reasoning, letting the robot factor in time of day, weather, promotions and equipment status....

Cyngn Triples Autonomous Vehicle Orders as Patent Portfolio Continues to Expand
Cyngn announced that autonomous vehicle orders for its DriveMod Tugger platform tripled in 2025 versus the prior year, reflecting accelerating enterprise adoption across manufacturing and industrial sites. The surge was driven by extensive on‑site demonstrations, software upgrades and fleet‑readiness work performed...

CES 2026 Highlights Shift From Humanoid Hardware to Real-World Behavior, Says IntBot
CES 2026 demonstrated that robot hardware has reached a performance plateau, with machines easily executing complex movements like dancing and back‑flipping. The real challenge, according to IntBot, is now social intelligence—robots must understand context, people, and environments autonomously. IntBot highlighted its...

Stuff MFG Launches US Silicone Molding Factory to ‘Bring Manufacturing Back to the US’
Stuff Manufacturing has opened a silicone‑molding facility in Lake Elsinore, California, to provide U.S. brands with a domestic alternative to Chinese production. Founder Hans Dose launched the plant after 25% tariffs and shipping delays eroded margins for his own product...

Libiao Robotics Installs 240 Robots at Parcel Hub in Argentina
Libiao Robotics has installed 240 autonomous robots at Correo Argentino’s Monte Grande parcel hub, the first AI‑driven robotic sorter in Latin America. The system, based on the T‑Sort Sorting System, can process up to 9,000 parcels per hour, tripling the facility’s previous...

State of Louisiana Partners with Persona AI on Humanoid Robotics Pilot at Steel Fabrication Plant
Louisiana’s economic development agency signed a memorandum of understanding with Persona AI to launch a humanoid‑robotics pilot at SSE Steel Fabrication’s plant in St. Bernard Parish. The program will collect real‑world data on human movement and task execution in a...
Enzymatic Microbubble Robots
Enzymatic microbubble robots—tiny gas‑filled carriers powered by catalytic enzymes—are emerging as a versatile platform for precision drug delivery and real‑time imaging. Recent studies demonstrate urease‑driven bubbles that self‑propel, breach dense tumor stroma, and release therapeutics directly at bladder cancer sites,...

GlobalLogic and Elektrobit Partner to Accelerate Software-Defined Vehicle Development
GlobalLogic, a Hitachi Group digital‑engineering firm, has broadened its 15‑year partnership with automotive‑software leader Elektrobit to speed the creation of software‑defined vehicle (SDV) platforms. The expanded alliance adds GlobalLogic’s high‑performance computing, functional‑safety and cybersecurity capabilities, ensuring compliance with ASPICE 4.0 and...

Microsoft Research Unveils Rho-Alpha Robotics Model Combining Vision, Language, and Touch
Microsoft Research introduced Rho‑alpha, a vision‑language‑action‑plus (VLA+) robotics model that adds tactile sensing to interpret natural‑language commands for complex bimanual tasks. Built on the Phi series, the model relies heavily on synthetic data generated through Nvidia's Isaac Sim and reinforcement‑learning pipelines....

Ondas’ American Robotics Optimus Drone Approved for Rapid Federal Procurement via DCMA Blue UAS Cleared List
Ondas Inc.’s Optimus drone, built by American Robotics, has earned Blue List status from the Defense Contract Management Agency, placing it on the Department of War’s approved UAS directory. The designation confirms compliance with stringent cybersecurity, supply‑chain and operational standards,...

For the First Time Royal Navy Helicopters Have Used Live Data From Multiple Drones to Target a Moving Vehicle
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters successfully used live data from two drones and ground sensors via a mesh network to engage a moving vehicle. The Eagles Eye trials demonstrated a hybrid air wing where crewed aircraft act as airborne command centres,...

MassRobotics Reveals 11 Startups to Take Part in 5th Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst Program
MassRobotics, together with Festo, Novanta and Mitsubishi Electric Automation, announced the 11 startups selected for the fifth Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst cohort. The five‑month program, running January‑May 2026, pairs founders with senior experts, a medical advisory board, and a Boston‑based...
New Robotic Sampler Aims to Transform Monitoring of Aquatic Ecosystems
MBARI, in partnership with USGS and READI‑Net, unveiled FIDO – a 22‑kilogram autonomous robot that filters and preserves up to 144 eDNA samples for aquatic biosurveillance. Built on the two‑decade‑old Environmental Sample Processor, FIDO offers a lightweight, low‑cost alternative that...
Training Four-Legged Robots as if They Were Dogs
Researchers from Korea University, ETH Zurich and UCLA unveiled a dog‑training‑inspired framework that lets humans teach four‑legged robots using touch, gestures and spoken commands. A training rod serves as a temporary guide, after which the robot responds directly to human...
A Smelly Snapshot of the Current State of Electronic Noses for Robots
A new review in npj Robotics details rapid progress in electronic noses for robots, highlighting gains in sensor sensitivity and odor source identification. The analysis shows e‑noses now detect faint chemical signatures and pinpoint their origins more reliably. These capabilities...
All‐in‐One Luminescent Dielectric Elastomer Actuator Driven by a Single Electrical Stimulus with Large Out‐of‐Plane Actuation and Fast Response
Researchers have created an all‑in‑one dielectric elastomer actuator that simultaneously bends out‑of‑plane and emits light using a single electrical input. By tuning ZnS:Cu2+ phosphor concentration and employing an asymmetric electrode design, the device achieves a high curvature of 4.71 cm⁻¹, a...

Sharpa Showcases Autonomous Fine-Manipulation Robot and New AI Model at CES 2026
Sharpa unveiled its full‑body robot North at CES 2026, where it played autonomous ping‑pong matches and completed long‑horizon tasks such as 30‑step windmill assembly and card dealing. The demonstrations, running eight hours a day for four days, highlighted the company’s progress...

Covvi Releases Two Lighter, Shorter Variants of Advanced Bionic Hand
Covvi announced two new wrist configurations for its advanced prosthetic, the Straight Wrist and the Friction Wrist, both lighter and shorter than the original Flex Wrist. The Flex Wrist still offers 27 degrees of lockable flexion, while the Straight Wrist...

Omron Launches New High-Payload Collaborative Robots and Software Upgrade
Omron Robotics has broadened its TM S collaborative‑robot line with three new models—TM30S, TM20S and TM6S—each delivering higher payloads and longer reach. The hardware upgrades include IP65 protection and, for the larger units, an integrated joint‑6 force‑torque wrist sensor. Alongside the...

The View From Universal Robots: Four Physical AI Predictions for 2026 and Beyond
Universal Robots VP Anders Billesø Beck outlines four physical AI trends reshaping robotics through 2026. He predicts a shift from reactive control to predictive mathematics, enabling robots to anticipate impacts of motion. Imitation learning will turn isolated cobots into cooperative,...

Electric Air Taxis: Paris’ Future in the Skies and What It Means for Luxury Travel
Electric air taxi pilots missed their high‑profile Paris 2024 Olympic debut due to certification, technical and environmental setbacks. Vertiport infrastructure is already in place and test flights continue, positioning a commercial launch for around 2026. The technology promises to add...

Deepgram Raises $130 Million Series C at $1.3 Billion Valuation
Deepgram announced a $130 million Series C round that lifts its valuation to $1.3 billion, led by AVP and joined by strategic backers such as Twilio, ServiceNow Ventures, SAP and Citi Ventures. The capital will accelerate the expansion of its real‑time voice AI...

Wing Launches Drone Delivery for Walmart in Greater Houston in Biggest Expansion Yet
Wing has launched its drone delivery service for Walmart customers across Greater Houston, marking the company’s most ambitious expansion to date. The service promises deliveries of everyday essentials, groceries, and OTC medicines in as little as 30 minutes using lightweight...

4XRobots Expands Into US Market with Focus on Greenhouse Automation
Danish robotics firm 4XRobots announced a U.S. expansion aimed at automating commercial greenhouse operations across North America. The company appointed Nick Chambers as head of global market development and joined the Association for Advancing Automation to forge partnerships with local...

First Patient Enrolls in Clinical Trial for Wandercraft Atalante X Exoskeleton
Wandercraft’s Atalante X self‑balancing exoskeleton has enrolled its first patient in a pilot clinical trial at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s thoracic surgical ICU. The six‑month study will assess safety, feasibility, usability and effectiveness of the device for early mobilization of...

For This Flying Robot Company, Student Internships Trump Senior Engineers
Avestec Technologies, a Canadian maker of flying inspection robots, has shifted its talent strategy from senior hires to student interns. Partnering with the ICTC’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program, the firm brings on three to four interns each semester,...

Opentrons Global Robotics Chief, James Atwood, Named Chief Executive Officer
Opentrons Labworks has promoted James Atwood, who has led its Robotics Business Unit since April 2023, to chief executive officer. Under his guidance the company expanded its installed base to more than 10,000 robotic systems deployed worldwide across academia, biotech...
Cybernetix Ventures Announces Fourth Annual Robotics Invest and Second Annual Robotics Tech Week
Cybernetix Ventures announced its fourth Robotics Invest event, scheduled for May 26‑27 2026, anchoring the second annual Robotics Tech Week from May 26‑29. The invitation‑only gathering caps attendance at 300 senior founders, investors, and corporate leaders, aiming to fast‑track funding, partnerships, and market...
Robot Talk Episode 142 – Collaborative Robot Arms, with Mark Gray
Universal Robots' Mark Gray discussed the company's lightweight collaborative robot arms on Robot Talk Episode 142. The cobots, weighing under 20 kg, are designed for safe, direct interaction with human workers and have been deployed in leading UK research centers such...

Global Humanoid Robot Installations Reach 16,000 Units as Commercial Deployments Accelerate
Global humanoid‑robot installations reached an estimated 16,000 units in 2025, marking a shift from prototype pilots to early commercial rollouts. China drove more than 80% of these deployments, with AgiBot, Unitree, UBTech, Leju and Tesla comprising roughly 73% of the...

Dürr Installs Its Paint Shop of the Future for First Saudi Automotive Company
Dürr is installing its Paint Shop of the Future at CEER, Saudi Arabia’s first home‑grown electric‑vehicle brand. The modular system uses flexible EcoProBooth boxes, AGVs and next‑generation ovens that cut energy use and CO₂ emissions. Integrated DXQ digital solutions provide real‑time monitoring, predictive analytics...

New US Robot Safety Rules Focus on How Robots Are Actually Used on the Factory Floor
The Association for Advancing Automation released Part 3 of the ANSI/A3 R15.06‑2025 robot safety standard, completing a three‑part framework for U.S. industrial robots. Unlike Parts 1 and 2, which mirror ISO 10218 hardware and application requirements, Part 3 concentrates on safe operation of robot cells, guiding...

Exotec Expands Partnership with Renault at Warehouse in Germany
Exotec is equipping Renault Deutschland’s new 258,000‑square‑foot Brühl warehouse with its Skypod robotic system. The deployment includes 89 Skypod robots designed to move more than 1,600 containers per hour and pick 1,500 order lines each hour. Integrated with Exotec’s Deepsky...
AIhub Monthly Digest: January 2026 – Moderating Guardrails, Humanoid Soccer, and Attending AAAI
The January 2026 AIhub monthly digest covers five main stories: the record‑breaking AAAI 2026 conference in Singapore and AI science‑communication talks; an interview with Anindya Das Antar on evaluating moderation guardrails for LLMs; insights from RoboCup trustee Alessandra Rossi on...