Robotics news covering industrial automation, humanoid robots, autonomous systems, and advances in robotic technology.
Honor's Lightning robot completed the 100m sprint in 9.32 seconds at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, surpassing Usain Bolt's record. Tiangong Ultra also broke the record with a time of 9.39 seconds. Both robots crashed into safety mats after finishing their runs.
The five-day World Humanoid Robot Games began Saturday at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval, featuring 2,056 robots from 666 teams across 16 countries. Demonstrations highlighted China's state-supported leadership in commercial robotics, including a human-robot tennis match by Galbot that showcased agility and balance limitations.
Social robotics expert Naomi Fitter argues that humanoid robots are reaching a technological tipping point. She discusses the specific factors driving recent advances in this field during an interview with NPR's Scott Simon.
Stellantis has installed AI-powered vision technology on a robot arm at its Detroit assembly plant, developed with French startup Inbolt. The system autonomously identifies and retrieves car panels, resolving previous bottlenecks where robots froze due to misaligned parts. This upgrade reduces downtime from up to an hour to near zero by allowing the robot to calculate distance without pre-programmed positioning.
California Pizza Kitchen announced a partnership with T-ROC Global to install up to 1,000 automated pizza vending machines across the United States over the next three years. The units will be placed in high-traffic locations including airports, universities, and EV charging stations, offering items like Kung Pao Spaghetti and Mac 'N' Cheese alongside pizza.
ACE Robotics CEO Wang Xiaogang forecasts a transformative inflection point for embodied AI similar to the arrival of ChatGPT by the end of 2027. He noted that broad commercial implementation will likely require four to five additional years. The company recently raised over $100 million and plans an IPO.
Dexmal is pursuing a roughly $3 billion valuation in its current funding round, confirming details at the World Robot Conference in Beijing. The company aims to showcase strong investor interest in physical artificial intelligence, building on previous backing from Alibaba and NIO Capital.
Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have successfully conducted the city's first robot-assisted pelvic fracture surgery. The procedure utilizes a novel orthopaedic robotic system developed by the university, offering a safer and more precise alternative to traditional high-risk operations for elderly patients.
Taiwanese automation integrator DS Technology is pivoting from custom robotic work to standardized modular systems. This strategic shift aims to simplify overseas deployment as the company seeks partners in Brazil and Mexico to expand its international market presence.
RoboStore announced plans to manufacture its own robots at a new Long Island facility by the first fiscal quarter of 2027. The company, previously a distributor for Unitree Robotics, is pivoting amid US government restrictions on foreign-made technology. Founder Teddy Haggerty noted that specialized robotic arms are better suited for business applications than general-purpose humanoids.