News/Robotics
Swedish startup creates robot dog that learns like animals, not algorithms
Swedish startup IntuiCell has created a revolutionary robot dog called Luna with a digital nervous system that learns and adapts naturally like living organisms rather than relying on massive datasets or pre-training. This represents one of the first practical applications of physical agentic AI—artificial intelligence capable of making decisions and taking actions toward specific goals autonomously—and could transform how robots learn to navigate unpredictable environments, from space exploration to disaster response. The big picture: IntuiCell is pioneering an entirely different approach to robot learning by creating machines with nervous systems that learn through real-world interactions rather than pre-programmed responses or...
read Mar 19, 2025Nvidia, Disney, and Google DeepMind go beyond animatronics, partner on Star Wars-inspired AI robots
Nvidia, Google DeepMind, and Disney Research are collaborating to create AI-powered robots with Star Wars-inspired design and realistic movement capabilities. This cross-industry partnership represents a significant advancement in robotics, combining Nvidia's computing power with Google DeepMind's AI expertise and Disney's entertainment vision. The development could transform theme park experiences while demonstrating practical applications of cutting-edge physics simulation for robotics. The big picture: At Nvidia's GTC 2025 keynote, CEO Jensen Huang unveiled Blue, a research robot capable of lifelike movements powered by a new physics engine called Newton. The physics engine, developed collaboratively between the three companies, will be released as...
read Mar 14, 2025Putting the AI in Wait Staff: How robots help restaurants restore service amid labor shortages
The hospitality industry is undergoing a significant transformation as robotics technology begins filling crucial service gaps exacerbated by post-pandemic labor shortages. Companies like Richtech Robotics are deploying AI-powered solutions that handle repetitive tasks traditionally performed by humans, potentially enabling a return to more personalized customer experiences by freeing staff from mundane duties. This shift represents not just an operational evolution but a reimagining of how technology and human service can complement each other in creating memorable dining experiences. The big picture: Restaurants are increasingly turning to robotics to address persistent staffing challenges while potentially improving the overall customer experience. The...
read Mar 13, 2025Princeton study: AI robots learn better with zero feedback during training
Just back off and let them figure it out? Princeton researchers have discovered a counterintuitive approach to AI training that challenges conventional wisdom in reinforcement learning. By giving simulated robots difficult tasks with absolutely no feedback—rather than incrementally rewarding progress—they found the AI systems naturally developed exploration skills and completed tasks more efficiently. This finding could significantly simplify AI training processes while potentially leading to more innovative problem-solving behaviors in artificial intelligence systems. The big picture: Princeton researchers found that AI robots learn better when given zero feedback during training, contradicting standard reinforcement learning practices that rely on rewards and...
read Mar 13, 2025Google DeepMind’s new AI models enable robots to understand, adapt to complex tasks on the fly
Google DeepMind is pushing the boundaries of robotics with new AI models designed to transform how robots interact with the physical world. These advances mark a crucial step toward bridging the gap between today's specialized industrial robots and future general-purpose robot assistants capable of understanding and adapting to complex environments autonomously. This development addresses one of the most challenging aspects of robotics: creating AI systems sophisticated enough to control robots safely through novel situations. The big picture: Google DeepMind has introduced two specialized AI models—Gemini Robotics and Gemini Robotics-ER—built on its Gemini 2.0 foundation to serve as sophisticated "brains" for...
read Mar 13, 2025East Asia embraces AI companions more readily than the West, animism a possible explanation
Cultural beliefs shape our attitudes toward technology in surprisingly deep ways. New research reveals that East Asians display significantly more positive attitudes toward AI companions and robots than Westerners, with fundamental religious and philosophical differences driving this divide. This finding helps explain why humanoid robots and AI chatbots have gained much wider acceptance in Japan and China than in North America, offering important insights for companies developing AI companions for global markets. The big picture: Recent experiments published in the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology demonstrate that cultural background significantly influences how people perceive and interact with AI companions and robots....
read Mar 13, 2025See-through power: Air Force engineer leverages AI to detect unexploded munitions with drones
Air Force engineer Randall Pietersen is developing innovative drone-based systems to transform dangerous airfield assessments, potentially saving lives and time in military operations. His MIT research combines hyperspectral imaging with machine learning to detect unexploded munitions—a challenge that has stymied previous drone systems which struggle to distinguish ordnance from rocks and debris. This work leverages increasingly affordable and durable hyperspectral technology that captures electromagnetic radiation across broad wavelengths, with applications extending beyond military contexts to agriculture, emergency response, and infrastructure assessment. The big picture: Pietersen's research addresses a critical military safety challenge after experiencing firsthand the dangers of conventional airfield...
read Mar 10, 2025Beyond vacuums: Move Digital expands with home robotics for the affluent, AI manufacturing push
Move Digital is expanding beyond its blockchain and AI expertise to enter the home robotics market, signaling a significant diversification for the B2B technology firm. This strategic pivot represents a growing trend of technology companies leveraging their AI capabilities to develop physical products for consumer markets, potentially reshaping how households interact with automation technology. The company's dual focus on manufacturing in Asia while targeting high-net-worth clients in global financial centers highlights its ambitious approach to market penetration. The big picture: Move Digital, primarily known for blockchain-based business solutions, is launching AI-powered robots for home use that will be manufactured in...
read Feb 24, 2025Warehouse robot startup Ati raises $20M in Series B funding
The rise of autonomous warehouse robots has accelerated as companies seek to optimize their logistics operations and reduce labor costs. Ati Motors, a manufacturer of autonomous warehouse robots, has demonstrated significant market traction with its Sherpa robot line, nearly tripling its orders in 2024. Funding Details: Ati Motors has secured a $20 million Series B investment round, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth trajectory. The funding round was co-led by Walden Catalyst Ventures (WCV) and NGP Capital (NGP) Additional participants included existing investors True Ventures, Exfinity Venture Partners, Athera Venture Partners, and Blume Ventures Product Capabilities: The Sherpa...
read Feb 22, 2025AI-powered humanoid robots are coming to the workforce soon — here’s what to expect
Recent breakthroughs in generative AI and mechatronics have enabled humanoid robots to develop improved reasoning skills and physical capabilities, moving them closer to workplace deployment. Major technology companies and specialized robotics firms are racing to develop commercially viable humanoid robots that can perform human-like tasks in various industries. Market outlook and timeline: Gartner forecasts that next-generation humanoid working robots will represent 10% of all smart robot sales by 2027, with initial commercial availability expected within two years. Leading developers include established tech companies like xAI, Meta, and IBM, alongside robotics specialists such as Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, and Figure.ai Early...
read Feb 20, 2025Microsoft’s latest AI model ‘Magma’ controls software and robots
Microsoft has developed Magma, an integrated AI foundation model that combines visual processing, language understanding, and physical control capabilities. This new system represents a significant advancement in multimodal AI, as it can both process various types of data and take direct actions in both digital interfaces and physical environments. The breakthrough approach: Magma distinguishes itself from previous AI models by integrating perception and control capabilities into a single foundation model, rather than requiring separate systems for each function. The model represents a collaboration between Microsoft Research and several academic institutions, including KAIST, the University of Maryland, and others Unlike traditional...
read Feb 19, 2025Humanoid robot Ameca debuts to public in Cornwall, avoids dreaded ‘uncanny valley’
The emergence of humanoid robots that can mimic human expressions and gestures has reached a new milestone with the public debut of Ameca at the Cornwall Festival of Tech in the UK. Built by Falmouth-based company Engineered Arts, this sophisticated robot showcases advanced facial expression capabilities while maintaining a deliberately non-realistic appearance to avoid the "uncanny valley" effect. Development and Design Philosophy: Engineered Arts focused on creating a robot that excels at non-verbal communication while serving as a platform for artificial intelligence development. CEO Will Jackson emphasizes the importance of facial expressions as high-bandwidth communication tools, enabling the robot to...
read Feb 19, 2025Georgia Tech PhD student trains humanoid robots with AR glasses
Call it magnificent mimicry. The rapid advancement in humanoid robotics has been limited by slow, manual data collection methods requiring direct robot operation. Georgia Tech researchers have developed a breakthrough approach using Meta's Project Aria glasses to capture human behaviors that can train robots more efficiently. Key innovation: EgoMimic, developed by PhD student Simar Kareer at Georgia Tech's Robotic Learning and Reasoning Lab, uses egocentric recordings from Aria glasses to create training data for humanoid robots. The framework combines human-recorded data with robot data to teach robots everyday tasks Traditional robot training requires hundreds of manual demonstrations through direct robot...
read Feb 14, 2025Bot by bot, AI humanoids move forward with $350M investment for Apptronik
Humanoid robots have been a focus of technological development for years, with companies working to create AI-powered assistants that can work alongside humans. Apptronik, a robotics lab founded in 2016, has made significant progress with its human-sized robot Apollo, securing major funding to accelerate its deployment. Major funding milestone: Apptronik has secured a $350 million Series A funding round co-led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with participation from Google's AI lab DeepMind. The funding will support Apollo's deployment, company expansion, and continued innovation The investment reflects growing confidence in humanoid robotics as a solution for various societal challenges B...
read Feb 11, 2025AI-powered Roborock Saros 10 and 10R take robo-vacuums to new low with ultra-thin products for hard-to-reach places
Roborock has unveiled two new AI-powered robot vacuum cleaners, the Saros 10 and Saros 10R, designed to tackle complex cleaning challenges in larger homes with mixed flooring surfaces. These models represent significant advances in robotic cleaning technology, incorporating machine learning algorithms for both cleaning performance and navigation capabilities. Core Design Features: The Saros models introduce groundbreaking physical specifications and adaptability features that set them apart in the robot cleaner market. At just 3.15 inches high, these are the thinnest Roborock cleaners ever produced, enabling access under low furniture Four independent lifting modes allow the robots to adjust their chassis, mop,...
read Feb 10, 2025AI mind clones raise both eyebrows and ethical questions about digital replicas
The concept of AI mind clones - digital replicas of human intelligence and personality - is moving from science fiction to reality, with companies like NewBots Studio and Delphi pioneering technology that can replicate human thought patterns and expertise. This emerging technology allows individuals and businesses to create digital versions of themselves or access simulated versions of historical figures' intelligence. The current landscape: AI mind cloning technology is gaining traction through implementations by prominent figures and technological advancements. Hiroshi Ishiguro, director of Osaka University's Intelligent Robotics Laboratory, has created AI-powered robotic replicas of himself that can deliver lectures and answer...
read Feb 8, 2025Apple’s ELEGNT AI aims to make home robots feel like companions
Apple has developed a new framework called ELEGNT that enables robots to move more naturally and expressively when interacting with humans, potentially making them more engaging as home assistants. The breakthrough technology: The Expressive and Functional Movement Design (ELEGNT) framework allows non-humanoid robots to communicate intentions, emotions, and attitudes through their movements while performing tasks. The system was tested using a lamp-like robot with a 6-axis robotic arm and a head containing a light and projector Researchers programmed both functional movements for completing tasks and expressive movements to convey the robot's internal state The design was inspired by animated characters,...
read Feb 7, 2025Meta AI research focuses on human-centered approaches for improved communication, robotics
Meta FAIR (Fundamental AI Research) has released new advancements in robotics, language technology, and audio processing aimed at developing more sophisticated and socially intelligent AI systems. Core developments: Meta's latest research focuses on three major areas: human-robot collaboration, language technology democratization, and audio processing enhancement. The PARTNR framework introduces a new benchmark and dataset for training robots to collaborate with humans on everyday tasks A language technology partnership program aims to expand support for underserved and indigenous languages Meta Audiobox Aesthetics provides a new standard for evaluating audio quality across different modalities PARTNR breakthrough: Meta's new robotics framework represents a...
read Feb 7, 2025Hugging Face’s new open-source AI model lets robots follow verbal commands
Companies Hugging Face and Physical Intelligence have launched Pi0, a groundbreaking open-source foundational model that enables robots to translate natural language commands directly into physical actions. The breakthrough explained: Pi0 represents the first widely available foundation model for robots that can understand and execute verbal commands, similar to how ChatGPT processes text. The model operates on Hugging Face's LeRobot platform and can handle complex tasks like folding laundry, bussing tables, and packing groceries Pi0 was trained using data from seven different robotic platforms across 68 unique tasks The technology employs flow matching to generate smooth, real-time action trajectories at 50Hz,...
read Feb 6, 2025OpenAI files trademark application for humanoid robots
OpenAI has filed a trademark application for humanoid robots and is expanding its product portfolio while actively building a robotics team. Key development: OpenAI submitted a trademark application on January 31 that includes user-programmable humanoid robots designed to assist and entertain people. The application specifically mentions humanoid robots with communication and learning capabilities The company is currently hiring for mechanical product engineers and senior research engineers to join its robotics team The robotics initiative aims to combine high-level AI capabilities with physical robotic platforms in real-world settings Strategic expansion: OpenAI's trademark filing reveals ambitious plans beyond its current AI offerings....
read Jan 31, 2025The global race to develop humanoid robots is heating up
Humanoid robots have emerged as a critical technological battleground between the United States and China, with both nations pursuing advanced development capabilities that could reshape the future of automation and artificial intelligence. The strategic landscape: The race to develop sophisticated humanoid robots represents the next major technological competition between global powers, following the broader artificial intelligence rivalry. Recent AI breakthroughs since 2022 have catalyzed humanoid robot development, with major tech companies like Nvidia and Tesla making substantial investments The potential market value for humanoid robots could reach $38 billion by 2035 Citibank projects a future with 648 million humanoid robots...
read Jan 31, 2025Teledyne FLIR’s new AI software gives drones a brain boost
A new AI-powered software from Teledyne FLIR called Prism Supervisor aims to enhance drone autonomy and mission capabilities across multiple industries. Core Technology and Capabilities: Prism Supervisor enables drones to autonomously adjust their flight paths in real-time and make independent decisions during missions. The software allows drones to dynamically modify routes, avoid obstacles, and detect ground-based objects or people without constant human intervention Drones equipped with Prism Supervisor can identify targets, adjust their flight pattern, and alert operators while maintaining their primary mission objectives The system supports multi-drone coordination, enabling synchronized operations across multiple aircraft Technical Implementation: The software emphasizes...
read Jan 31, 2025Rivian hopes advanced autonomy and AI will help it best Tesla
Tesla and Rivian are taking divergent paths in autonomous driving technology, with Tesla announcing a June robotaxi launch in Austin while Rivian focuses on consumer-oriented autonomous features and AI integration. Key developments: Tesla and Rivian have revealed contrasting strategies in their approach to autonomous driving and artificial intelligence integration. Tesla plans to launch its robotaxi service in Austin this June, pushing forward with full autonomy Rivian explicitly states it has no intention to compete in the robotaxi space Rivian's autonomous driving roadmap targets hands-free driving by 2025 and eyes-off-road capability by 2026 Rivian's autonomous timeline: The company is taking a...
read Jan 29, 2025Berkeley researchers develop new AI system that trains robots to master complex skills
Berkeley Researchers have developed an AI-powered training system that enables robots to master complex tasks like Jenga whipping and motherboard assembly with 100% accuracy in just hours. Key innovation: UC Berkeley's Robotic AI and Learning Lab has created a novel training method combining human demonstration, feedback, and real-world practice to teach robots intricate tasks. The system achieves perfect success rates for complicated tasks including Jenga whipping, egg flipping, and electronics assembly Training time is remarkably efficient, with robots mastering new skills within one to two hours The method uses reinforcement learning, where robots learn from both successes and failures in...
read