Articles tagged with "humanoid-robots"
Celebrating 200 podcast episodes; robotics evolve in space exploration
The Robot Report Podcast celebrated its 200th episode featuring Dr. Robert Ambrose, a leading expert in robotics and AI with over 20 years of experience spanning NASA, academia, and startups. Ambrose discussed the significant evolution of robotics in space exploration, highlighting pioneering projects he led at NASA’s Johnson Space Center such as Robonaut, Valkyrie, Centaur, and various lunar rovers including the LTV and VIPER. He emphasized the transition of space robotics technologies to commercial applications and the critical need for the U.S. to reclaim leadership in robotics innovation amid global competition, particularly from China. Ambrose also stressed the importance of education in developing future engineers and advocated for proactive adoption of automation across industries. Ambrose’s career includes key roles shaping national robotics strategy at NASA headquarters and directing advanced research programs at Texas A&M, focusing on robotic manipulation, surface mobility, and human augmentation. The podcast episode also commemorated milestones of The Robot Report Podcast itself, which launched in June 2020
roboticsspace-explorationNASAhumanoid-robotsrobotic-roversautonomous-systemswearable-roboticsSCHURTER releases UHP high-current SMD fuse for humanoids - The Robot Report
SCHURTER, a Swiss technology components provider, has introduced the UHP high-current SMD fuse specifically designed for humanoid robots. This ultra-compact fuse protects critical battery systems and power electronics in space-constrained robotic platforms, ensuring stable and safe power delivery to components such as robotic limbs and embedded AI processors. With a rated current up to 100 A, breaking capacity up to 3000 A, and a wide operating temperature range (-55°C to +125°C), the UHP fuse supports high-density power architectures and is optimized for automated assembly, aligning with modern robot manufacturing processes. It is UL-listed, RoHS-compliant, and available in tape-and-reel packaging. The release of the UHP fuse comes amid growing commercial deployments and interest in humanoid robots from major companies like Hyundai, GXO, Schaeffler AG, and Figure AI, signaling a shift toward scaling production to meet increasing demand. Currently, many developers produce robot components in-house, but the availability of
robothumanoid-robotsSMD-fusebattery-protectionpower-electronicsrobotics-componentshigh-current-fuseChinese firm eases humanoid, legged robot development with new suite
EngineAI Robotics, a Shenzhen-based Chinese firm, has launched EngineAI RL Workspace, an open-source, modular reinforcement learning platform tailored specifically for legged robotics development. This comprehensive suite includes dual frameworks—a training code repository and a deployment code repository—that together provide an end-to-end solution from algorithm training to real-world application. The platform is designed to enhance development efficiency through reusable logic structures, a unified single-algorithm executor for both training and inference, and decoupled algorithms and environments that enable seamless iteration without interface changes. The EngineAI RL Workspace integrates the entire development pipeline with four core components: environment modules, algorithm engines, shared toolkits, and integration layers, each independently encapsulated to facilitate multi-person collaboration and reduce communication overhead. Additional features include dynamic recording systems for capturing training and inference videos, intelligent version management to maintain experiment consistency, and detailed user guides to support rapid onboarding. At CES 2025, EngineAI showcased humanoid robots like the SE01, a versatile 5.
roboticshumanoid-robotsreinforcement-learninglegged-robotsrobot-developmentAI-in-roboticsmodular-robotics-platformRecapping Robotics Summit & Expo 2025
The Robot Report Podcast’s Episode 199 features Cam Myers, CEO of CreateMe Technologies, discussing the innovative integration of robotics and adhesive technology in garment manufacturing. Myers highlights the challenges of automating clothing production and the advantages of adhesives over traditional sewing, emphasizing potential reshoring of manufacturing due to shifting tariffs. He also outlines CreateMe’s future focus on sustainability and adapting to changing consumer demands. This episode marks the podcast’s first to include a video interview on their YouTube channel. The episode also covers key industry news, including Aldebaran—the maker of the humanoid robots Nao and Pepper—entering receivership after financial struggles despite past successes and acquisitions. Additionally, the U.S. Congressional Robotics Caucus has been relaunched as a bipartisan effort to promote robotics research and industry competitiveness, with new co-chairs appointed. Lastly, Amazon is reportedly developing AI software to train humanoid robots for package delivery, aiming to enhance automation in its logistics operations.
roboticshumanoid-robotsautomationmanufacturing-technologyadhesive-technologyrobotics-industryCongressional-Robotics-CaucusPreparing for kick-off at RoboCup2025: an interview with General Chair Marco Simões - Robohub
RoboCup 2025 is set to take place in Salvador, Brazil, from July 15-21, marking a significant event for the international robotics and AI community. The event, hosted at the Salvador Convention Center, is expected to attract around 150,000 visitors, surpassing the 100,000 attendees from the last time Brazil hosted in 2014. Organizers anticipate participation from 300-400 teams and approximately 3,000 competitors. Efforts have been made to facilitate visa processes to increase international attendance, especially from teams previously hindered by travel restrictions. New global league partners, including Chinese companies Unitree, Fourier, and Booster Robotics, will showcase advanced humanoid and four-legged robots, enhancing the competition and public exhibitions. Over the past decade, Brazil has seen substantial growth in its RoboCup community, rising to become one of the top countries in terms of team participation. This growth is largely attributed to the development of RoboCupJunior, a program aimed at engaging younger
robotroboticsRoboCupAIautomationhumanoid-robotsrobotics-competitionTesla sues ex-engineer for stealing Optimus robot’s trade secrets
Tesla has filed a lawsuit against former engineer Zhongjie “Jay” Li, accusing him of stealing proprietary technology from its Optimus humanoid robot program to launch a rival startup, Proception. The complaint alleges that Li downloaded confidential information related to Tesla’s advanced robotic hand sensors onto personal devices before leaving the company in September 2024. Tesla claims that Proception, backed by Y Combinator, used this stolen data to rapidly develop humanoid robotic hands that closely resemble Tesla’s designs, achieving in months what Tesla took years and billions of dollars to build. The lawsuit also highlights suspicious behavior by Li, including researching humanoid robotic hands and seeking startup funding while still employed at Tesla. This legal action comes amid ongoing challenges for Tesla’s Optimus project, which was initially announced in 2021 with plans for a 2023 rollout but has since faced delays, pushing the expected sales date to 2026. Public demonstrations have shown limited autonomous functionality, with many robots remotely controlled by humans. Despite
roboticshumanoid-robotsTesla-Optimustrade-secretsrobotic-hand-sensorsAI-roboticsstartup-litigationNEXCOM NexCOBOT unit joins NVIDIA Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab - The Robot Report
NEXCOM Group’s NexCOBOT unit has joined NVIDIA’s Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab to collaboratively advance the safe development of humanoid and AI robots. This partnership aims to streamline the complex and resource-intensive process of achieving functional safety certifications for robotic systems. NexCOBOT, specializing in safe robot controls and based in New Taipei City with offices in Fremont, California, will integrate its products with NVIDIA’s IGX Thor platform and the expanded Halos platform. This integration is designed to create a unified development environment that encompasses AI, motion control, and functional safety, thereby accelerating innovation and simplifying robot design verification and certification processes. NVIDIA’s Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab is notable as the first ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited lab that combines functional safety, cybersecurity, AI, and regulatory compliance into a single safety framework. NexCOBOT’s participation reflects its long-standing commitment to functional safety, leveraging international standards such as IEC 61508 and ISO 13849-1 to help
robotAIfunctional-safetyroboticsNVIDIAmotion-controlhumanoid-robotsWandercraft raises $75M to scale exoskeletons, humanoids
Wandercraft, a French robotics company, has secured $75 million in Series D funding to advance the commercialization and scaling of its innovative exoskeleton and humanoid robot technologies. The funding will support the launch of Eve, a self-balancing personal exoskeleton designed to provide upright motion and walking independence for individuals with severe mobility impairments, with commercialization targeted as early as 2026. Additionally, Wandercraft aims to expand clinical adoption of its rehabilitation system Atalante X and develop Calvin-40, an industrial-grade humanoid robot intended for physically demanding tasks. The company’s technology leverages AI refined through extensive simulations and real-world use, enhancing natural walking motion and mobility for users. Wandercraft is conducting clinical trials for Eve at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in New York and will soon start another at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey, focusing on safety and effectiveness for spinal cord injury patients. A notable milestone was achieved when Kevin Piette
roboticsexoskeletonhumanoid-robotsAI-powered-roboticsrehabilitation-technologymobility-aidsindustrial-robotsRoboBusiness 2025 call for speakers ends June 12
WTWH Media, the producer of The Robot Report and the Robotics Summit & Expo, has announced a call for speakers for RoboBusiness 2025, scheduled for October 15-16 in Santa Clara, California. Founded in 2004, RoboBusiness focuses on robotics technology development, investments, and business challenges. For 2025, the event introduces new tracks including the Physical AI Forum, which explores robot learning from sensor data and adaptation, and Humanoids, which centers on humanoid robot design and early applications. The Field Robotics track has been expanded to cover best practices for outdoor robot deployment. Other tracks include Enabling Technologies, Design & Development, and Business, addressing topics from motion control and software advances to investment strategies and startup scaling. Speaker proposals are due by June 12, and selected speakers will receive complimentary full conference passes for themselves and up to two guests. RoboBusiness is also hosting the Pitchfire Robotics Startup Competition for investors and emerging startups. The event will be co-located with DeviceTalks West, a leading medical technology industry event that includes surgical robotics and attracts professionals from healthcare and medical technology sectors. For inquiries about speaking, sponsorship, or exhibition opportunities, contacts are provided within the announcement.
robotroboticshumanoid-robotsfield-roboticsAI-in-roboticsrobotics-conferencerobotics-startup-competitionHuman-like robot hands could soon rule factories with Nvidia tech
South Korean robotics firm Tesollo is advancing automation with its human-like robotic hands, aiming to replace manual labor across industries globally. The company recently joined Nvidia’s Inception Program, which provides startups with technical guidance, GPU optimization, business support, and global networking to accelerate innovation. Tesollo’s latest product, the DELTO Gripper 5-Finger (DG-5F), launched in March 2025, closely replicates the human hand’s structure with 20 independently controlled joints, enabling precise, complex movements and multiple grip modes such as pinch, power, and precision grips. The DG-5F also features optional high-precision fingertip sensors that provide force feedback and dynamic grip adjustments, making it suitable for tasks requiring delicate handling in environments designed for human workers. In addition to the DG-5F, Tesollo offers the DELTO Gripper 3-Finger (DG-3F), which boasts a modular design for easy maintenance and enhanced durability. Powered by a high-performance BLDC motor and equipped with high-strength steel gears, the DG-3F can withstand over 3 million operational cycles and deliver torque up to 2Nm. It supports multiple operational modes, including Parallel Mode for standard gripping and Smooth Mode for handling delicate objects, with features like target arrival recognition and post-grip position adjustment to improve precision. Both grippers are designed for diverse industrial applications, including automated assembly in smart factories and efficient object handling in logistics, positioning Tesollo’s technology as a significant step toward widespread robotic automation.
roboticsrobotic-handsNvidia-Inception-Programautomationhumanoid-robotsAI-in-roboticsindustrial-automationChina's AI lab unveils RoboBrain 2.0 model for next-gen humanoid robots
China’s Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI) has unveiled RoboBrain 2.0, a new open-source AI model designed to serve as the “brain” for next-generation humanoid robots. This model introduces significant advancements in spatial intelligence and task planning, enabling robots to perceive distances more accurately and break down complex tasks into simpler steps. Compared to its predecessor released just three months earlier, RoboBrain 2.0 delivers a 17% increase in processing speed and a 74% improvement in accuracy. The model is part of BAAI’s broader Wujie series, which also includes RoboOS 2.0, a cloud platform for deploying robotics AI, and Emu3, a multimodal system for interpreting and generating text, images, and video. BAAI’s initiative is a key component of China’s ambition to become a global leader in robotics AI. The institute collaborates with over 20 leading companies and seeks to expand partnerships to accelerate innovation in embodied intelligence. Alongside BAAI, other Chinese institutions like the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre are advancing the field, exemplified by their development of the Tien Kung humanoid robot and the Hui Si Kai Wu AI platform, which aspires to become the “Android of humanoid robots.” The recent BAAI Conference attracted over 100 international AI researchers and 200 industry experts, highlighting strong engagement from major Chinese tech firms such as Baidu, Huawei, and Tencent. Additionally, BAAI announced a strategic partnership with the Hong Kong Investment Corporation to foster talent development, technological progress, and investment in China’s AI ecosystem.
roboticshumanoid-robotsartificial-intelligenceRoboBrain-2.0spatial-intelligencetask-planningrobotics-AI-modelsIs Amazon On Verge Of Replacing Delivery People With Humanoid Robots? - CleanTechnica
Amazon is reportedly developing humanoid robots designed to replace human delivery personnel. The company has established a “humanoid park,” roughly the size of a coffee shop, where these robots are tested on navigating obstacles and performing delivery tasks. Amazon is creating the AI software in-house while outsourcing the robot hardware to an external company. The goal is for these robots to autonomously exit delivery vans and bring packages directly to customers’ doors, potentially increasing delivery efficiency by allowing simultaneous deliveries by robots and human drivers. While the exact development stage and challenges remain unclear, the deployment of such robots could significantly impact human delivery jobs. Amazon’s interest in automation extends to self-driving vehicles through its Zoox unit, indicating a broader strategy to integrate robotics and AI into logistics. Although robots require electricity and recharging, unlike humans, they could operate continuously, offering 24/7 delivery capabilities. This advancement signals a shift toward more automated delivery systems, raising questions about job security for current delivery workers and the future landscape of last-mile logistics.
roboticshumanoid-robotsAmazondelivery-automationAI-softwareelectric-energy-consumptionautonomous-deliveryFigure AI CEO skips live demo, sidesteps BMW deal questions onstage at tech conference
Brett Adcock, CEO of humanoid robotics startup Figure AI, appeared at the Bloomberg Tech conference amid scrutiny over the company’s progress with BMW, a marquee customer. Adcock avoided providing specifics about the nature or commercial value of the BMW contract, instead emphasizing the technical insights gained from deploying robots on factory floors. Figure AI had previously released videos showing its robots operating in a BMW factory but has not conducted any live demonstrations, citing a company philosophy against attending many events and preferring to showcase via videos. Adcock also revealed that Figure AI has signed a contract with a second, unnamed customer—reported by Bloomberg to be UPS—for initial deployment. Despite the skepticism surrounding Figure AI’s commercial relationships, the company claims its AI-powered robots have human-like fine motor skills and precise object manipulation capabilities. Adcock confirmed plans to manufacture and deploy approximately 100,000 robot units within four years. The company is currently attempting to raise $1.5 billion at a valuation reportedly fifteen times higher than its February 2024 valuation. Additionally, Figure AI has taken steps to restrict unauthorized secondary market trading of its shares, signaling efforts to control its stock distribution amid this fundraising phase.
roboticshumanoid-robotsAI-roboticsfactory-automationindustrial-robotsrobot-deploymentrobotics-startupsAmazon preps humanoid robots for faster doorstep delivery revolution
robotdeliveryautomationAIlogisticshumanoid-robotslast-mile-deliveryTop 10 robotics developments of May 2025 - The Robot Report
robotroboticsautomationhumanoid-robotsmobile-robotsartificial-intelligencemanufacturingNew human spine-inspired neck could revolutionize humanoid robots
robothumanoid-robotsanimatronicsengineering3D-printinglinear-actuatorsartificial-spineRecapping Robotics Summit & Expo 2025
roboticsautomationhumanoid-robotsrobotics-innovationrobotic-systemsartificial-intelligenceROSHumanoid robots evolve with 360° wheels, flexible controls from Korea
robothumanoid-robotsroboticsautomationmobilitytechnologyinnovationPersona AI raises $27M to develop humanoid robots for shipyards
robothumanoid-robotsindustrial-automationshipbuildingrobotics-as-a-serviceworkplace-safetylabor-shortagesDespite the hype, Interact Analysis expects humanoid adoption to remain slow
robothumanoid-robotsmarket-analysisroboticstechnology-adoptioninvestment-in-roboticsfuture-of-roboticsHumanoid robots can benefit from high-performance seals, says Freudenberg
robothumanoid-robotssealing-technologiesautomationindustrial-robotsrobotics-markethigh-performance-materialsRoboBusiness 2025 call for speakers now open
robotroboticshumanoid-robotsphysical-AIfield-roboticsenabling-technologiesRoboBusiness