Robotics
Ongoing coverage on Robotics.
Latest coverage
NASA is testing a rover that can drive faster and lift its wheels to climb obstacles
NASA is testing its Ernest prototype rover, which is designed to drive faster and overcome obstacles by lifting its wheels. Footage of these tests has been released by the space agency.
Evening Tech Bits
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is mentioned in passing. The article also touches on Kevin O'Leary's scaled-back AI data center project in Utah and the growing interest in humanoid robots.
Amazon's new Proteus warehouse robot is fully autonomous
Amazon's Proteus robot has been upgraded with artificial intelligence, allowing it to be controlled using plain language commands. This advancement enables the robot to operate autonomously within Amazon's facilities.
AI Yi-Yi!
NVIDIA has introduced Agent Skills, a new feature enabling advanced physical AI research for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and vision AI. Google's open-source Gemma 4 12B model is also highlighted for its ability to analyze audio and video.
NVIDIA (NVDA) announces Isaac GR00T humanoid robot with Chinese robotics start-up Unitree
NVIDIA announced the NVIDIA Isaac GR00T humanoid robot, developed in collaboration with Chinese robotics start-up Unitree. The robot will use a Unitree chassis and NVIDIA's Jetson AGX Thor T5000 system, targeting academic research.
Robot watch: The weirdest things the clankers did this month including moonwalking themselves to death, losing a fight to a step, and drowning by the dozens in Sydney Harbour
This article rounds up notable robot malfunctions and failures from May, including robots losing fights to stairs, moonwalking to their demise, and a fleet of Waymo vehicles driving into water. It also touches on the Curiosity rover getting stuck on Mars and a drone show mishap where 89 drones fell into Sydney Harbour.
Everything We Saw at TechEx North America 2026
TechEx North America 2026, held at the San Jose Convention Center, showcased seven sectors of industrial and business technology. The event featured companies like HP Inc., TuxCare, and LG CNS, highlighting advancements in AI, IoT, and cybersecurity. Future events are planned for 2027, continuing the focus on networking and exploring industry solutions.
AI Yi-Yi!
CNN has filed a lawsuit against AI firm Perplexity for alleged copyright infringement, claiming the company unlawfully used its news articles to train its AI models. In separate news, NVIDIA Research has made advancements in robotics, bridging the gap between simulation and real-world application.
Is this a biblically accurate robot or have I just spent too much time down the cryptozoology rabbit hole
Researchers at Duke University's General Robotics Lab have developed a family of robots named Argus, inspired by biblical descriptions of angels. These robots are designed with dynamic symmetry to enhance their agility, robustness, and ability to traverse various terrains, including climbing walls.
Into the Black
Unitree Robotics has unveiled what is claimed to be the world's first production-ready manned mecha, blurring the lines between science fiction and reality. The article also briefly mentions an obituary for Claire Maurier.
One of iRobot's co-founders is now making weird little robot companions
One of iRobot's co-founders is developing new robotic companions that are designed to function like pets. These robots aim to provide companionship without the emotional complexities associated with traditional pets.
Meta acquires robotics AI startup as it makes the push into humanoid machines
Meta has acquired the robotics AI startup Assured Robot Intelligence. The staff from Assured Robot Intelligence will join Meta's Superintelligence Labs as the company increases its focus on developing humanoid robots.
April's top 5 robots: they fail, they flail, they play ping pong and poop NFTs
This article highlights five notable robot developments from April, ranging from Sony AI's ping-pong playing robot Ace to artist Beeple's robot dogs that poop NFTs. It also covers a robot that packs itself into a box, a marathon-running robot that self-destructed, and a malfunctioning robot at a school sports day.
Pocket Dictator – Open Beta | Alpha Beta Gamer
Pocket Dictator, a first-person puzzle game, is entering an open beta. Players assume the role of prisoner 811, using a stolen control device to navigate a dystopian prison, solve puzzles, and manipulate robots to escape a bloodthirsty dictator. The game features atmospheric storytelling through logs and environmental clues, revealing the prison's history and a world of hidden rules.
Humanoid robots will work as baggage handlers at Tokyo airport
Humanoid robots are being deployed as baggage handlers at Tokyo Haneda Airport, with Japan Airlines piloting the initiative. This move aims to address labor shortages and improve efficiency in airport operations.
Sony's terrifyingly fast robot arm is finally beating pro-level table tennis players at their own game
Sony has developed a robot arm named Ace that can compete at an expert level in table tennis, occasionally beating human players. The robot utilizes AI and a mirror-based camera system to track balls and improve its game through reinforcement learning. Sony AI president Michael Spranger highlighted the robot's speed and adaptability in uncertain environments as a significant advancement in robotics.
Musk pledges to fix 2019-2023 Teslas that can't fully self drive
Elon Musk announced that Tesla will upgrade Hardware 3 computers in vehicles manufactured between 2019 and early 2023 to enable Full Self-Driving capabilities, as the current hardware lacks sufficient memory bandwidth. The company plans to establish microfactories for efficient upgrades and will release FSD version 14 for Hardware 3 by the end of June. Additionally, Tesla's Fremont factory will begin producing Optimus robots in late July or August.
Tesla (TSLA) is preparing 10 million Optimus robots per year production line at Gigafactory Texas
Tesla is reportedly preparing a production line at Gigafactory Texas capable of manufacturing 10 million Optimus robots annually. This move signals ambitious plans for the company's robotics division.
Enabot Reveals EBO Max AI Home Robot With 4K Camera and Smart Automation | Invision Game Community
Enabot has unveiled the EBO Max, an AI-powered home companion robot featuring a 4K camera and smart automation capabilities. The device utilizes multimodal perception and long-term memory for dynamic interaction and environmental awareness. Available for pre-order, the EBO Max aims to provide advanced home monitoring, assistance, and family interaction beyond traditional smart devices.
Beijing's robot half-marathon is back for its second year with far less embarassing results
Beijing's second annual humanoid robot half-marathon saw significant improvements in performance and fewer embarrassing incidents compared to its inaugural event. Honor's robot, Lightning, won first place with a time of 50 minutes and 26 seconds, navigating the course autonomously. While about 40 percent of the robots competed autonomously this year, the event still featured some crashes and remote-controlled participants.