Robotics and Automation

Humanoid and industrial robots, autonomous systems, automation, and physical artificial intelligence.

13 Articles

Robotics and Automation

Nevada Allows Tesla to Operate 10 Robotaxis in Las Vegas Instead of 5,000

The Nevada Transportation Authority granted Tesla a permit to operate autonomous vehicles in Las Vegas, but limited the initial fleet to just 10 cars within an approved geographic area and prohibited service at Harry Reid Airport. Tesla had requested permission to operate up to 5,000 vehicles in Clark County during its first year.

2026-08-17

Robotics and Automation

Accelerating Missile Production Drives Startups to Redesign Defense Factories

The Pentagon’s push to replenish missile inventories is opening opportunities for startups using software, robotics and automated manufacturing methods to reduce reliance on dedicated equipment. Machina is betting on a reprogrammable factory that can switch between different products and geometries through software changes to a greater extent.

2026-08-12

Robotics and Automation

Karlsruhe Institute Robot Dismantles Failed Products While Preserving Salvageable Parts

Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have developed a robotic system that predicts product failures and then changes its dismantling method to protect important parts. The system aims to support repair and reuse within a circular economy as global reliance on industrial robots expands.

2026-08-10

Robotics and Automation

Adding Foreign Mobile Robots to the FCC List Sparks Debate Over Security and Supply Chains

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is expanding its list of equipment deemed a threat to national security to include connected mobile robots weighing more than two kilograms, restricting the entry of new foreign products into the U.S. market. While some manufacturers see the decision as strengthening domestic industry and cybersecurity, others warn of its impact on innovation and global supply chains.

2026-08-04

Robotics and Automation

Walden Robotics Bets on Practical Wheeled Humanoid Robots and a Partnership with Toyota

Walden Robotics has emerged from stealth with $300 million in funding and a $1.1 billion valuation, building on nearly a decade of experience inside the Toyota Research Institute. The company is taking a practical approach to humanoid robots, focusing on manufacturing and logistics, and on a wheeled base with durable hands rather than fully replicating the human form.

2026-08-03

Robotics and Automation

NVIDIA Showcases the Jetson Platform for Building Portable Robots and AI Systems

NVIDIA showcased the capabilities of the Jetson platform for running AI and robotics at the edge, starting with the Jetson Orin Nano Super for early projects and extending to the Jetson AGX Thor for more complex workloads. The company’s post presents practical examples including autonomous driving, voice assistants and multimodal robots.

2026-07-28

Robotics and Automation

Could Brain Waves Become a New Key to Training Physical AI?

Encord, in collaboration with Zander Labs, is testing the use of brain-wave data alongside video and sensor data to create richer training data for robots. The experiment reflects a broader problem: the scarcity of real-world data and the high cost of producing it compared with training traditional artificial intelligence models.

2026-07-26

Robotics and Automation

Agility Robotics to Open Facility to Train Digit Robots Near Tesla Factory

Agility Robotics plans to open a 60,000-square-foot facility in Fremont, California, to train its Digit humanoid robots and accelerate their deployment with customers. The move comes near a factory where Tesla is expected to begin manufacturing Optimus robots this year, while Agility is relying on its commercial experience in manufacturing and logistics sectors.

2026-07-17

Robotics and Automation

X Square Robot Bets on a Unified Stack to Build General-Purpose Robots

X Square Robot argues that developing robots capable of performing diverse tasks requires an integrated stack combining interaction data, world models, and action models, rather than relying on separate systems for perception, planning, and control. The analysis reviews the company’s approach to data collection and its WALL-WM and Wall-OSS-0.5 models, while noting that most results are still based on its own robots and tests.

2026-07-13

Robotics and Automation

Forterra’s Autonomous Vehicles Carry Out More Than 1,100 Missions in Ukraine

Forterra has announced the deployment of more than 100 Lancer autonomous ground vehicles in conflict zones in Ukraine over the past nine months. The experience shows that the vehicles can transport large payloads and evacuate casualties, but their operation in combat still relies largely on remote control because of their limited ability to respond to unexpected threats.

2026-07-07

Robotics and Automation

Agility Robotics Heads Toward a $2.5 Billion SPAC Listing

Agility Robotics announced plans to merge with special purpose acquisition company Churchill Capital Corp XI in a deal valued at approximately $2.5 billion that will provide more than $620 million, while the company focuses on deploying the Digit robot in warehouses and factories before considering homes.

2026-07-06

Robotics and Automation

Proception Robotics Settles Trade Secrets Dispute with Tesla and Raises $11 Million

Proception has settled a lawsuit filed by Tesla over alleged trade secret misappropriation and announced an $11 million seed funding round, alongside shipping the first batch of its highly dexterous robotic hand to researchers and robotics companies. The company relies on a sensor-equipped glove to collect data on human hand-object interaction, aiming to improve and scale the training of robotic hands.

2026-06-29

Robotics and Automation

Are Homes Ready for Robots? Hello Robot Bets on Realism Before Grand Ambitions

Hello Robot has launched the fourth generation of its Stretch home robot at a price of $30,000, with a deliberate focus on working in real homes and keeping a human in the control loop. The company’s trajectory suggests that collecting real-world operational data and prioritizing safety may matter more than promises of owning a human-like robot capable of performing every task.

2026-06-04