Robot / Robotics

Epson's first collaborative robot has arrived on the Japanese market, bringing a 900 mm reach, 6 kg payload and Python programming to the factory floor. The AX6-A901S also features a lightweight carbon-fibre arm and a compact controller designed for integration with mobile robotic systems.

While solid-state batteries might still be too expensive for big items like electric vehicles, they are ready for prime time in robots or drones. Basically any device where high energy density is needed to fit in a constrained space.

Six AI-powered robot models were tasked with performing activities in a simulation – but even without receiving any instructions, all of them started moving. Five systems even independently carried out tasks that nobody had asked them to perform. Researchers see this as a previously underestimated safety vulnerability in autonomous robots and demonstrate why even a simple stop command isn't a reliable solution.

Meta is making a deeper push into humanoid robotics. According to a report by The Information, the Facebook parent company has developed a humanoid robot prototype in collaboration with Chinese robotics company Fourier. Internally dubbed "Max," the device is said to weigh around 48 kilograms (106 pounds). A second version is already in development. The goal is reportedly to bring Meta's Muse AI into a humanoid robot.

AI-generated videos are becoming increasingly realistic, but they sometimes violate basic laws of physics. With PhysTrace, researchers introduce a method that pinpoints and describes these inconsistencies over time. In tests, the method achieved a detection rate of up to 70.7 percent for certain types of physics errors — a potential step forward, with implications that extend beyond AI-generated video.

The One Kind Artifact Mori home companion robot is designed to foster a greater sense of calm, relaxation, and connection to the world. Mori observes its owners using a camera and engages them with playful movements, lights, and nature sounds. Update: Final launch details including pricing.

At Equip Expo 2026, Sunseeker Elite is showcasing a range of innovative, smart robotic mowers—thereby presenting its vision for autonomous lawn care. Experience it live now.

Unitree has unveiled the H2-X Kung Fu Legend Guardian, a new humanoid robot capable of performing martial arts moves, lifting vehicles and landing from considerable heights. The company also advertises up to eight hours of standing endurance, although detailed hardware specifications, pricing and availability remain undisclosed.

Voxel is finally a robot that takes care of annoying household chores, from tidying up the bedroom and tracking down the remote control to watering the flowers. But anyone who wants this convenience will have to dig deep into their pockets.

Unitree and other popular humanoid robot makers are renting their bipeds on dedicated exchanges now. The choreographed dance during the Chinese New Year has left a lasting impression with people who rent them.

Boston Dynamics' Atlas is getting new hands. The robotics company showed the new hand design, which should now be able to operate a drill or move two golf balls in one hand. According to Boston Dynamics, this increases the number of degrees of freedom to 13.

Humanoid robots, Arnold Schwarzenegger and a massive furnace: Figure is saying goodbye to its F.02 generation with a pretty heated marketing stunt – quite literally. Instead of simply dismantling the retired machines, the company has several robots jump into molten steel on their own, complete with an unmistakable Terminator 2 homage.

Moving through water is often more difficult than moving through air. MIT researchers have created a new Aquabot that is extremely small and whose muscles can be stimulated by light. This allowed them to guide it through a maze.

The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) has released its 2026 World Robotics Report, highlighting continued growth in the global industrial robotics market. China remains by far the largest market, while the United States has overtaken Japan to become the world's second-largest market.

The Syncere Lume robotic floor lamp automates household chores from folding laundry to tidying rooms. New skills will be added to the smart lamp over time, which will begin shipping in early 2027 with a starting price of $2,699.

Acemate has unveiled the improved S10 Pro tennis robot with upgraded Ace+ Shot ball handling, allowing it to fire balls more accurately at a faster maximum speed to challenge tennis players on clay, grass, and hard courts.

Hypershell has unveiled the Halo full‑leg exoskeleton, offering a 12‑mile (20 km) range with 1,490W of peak power. The exoskeleton delivers adaptive walking assistance through HyperIntuition AI motion-control and a lightweight carbon fiber and titanium frame.

Anthbot’s R7 and R5 are brand-new robotic lawn mowers that come equipped with impressive features, including LiDAR and all-wheel drive. An optional trimmer arm is also available, designed to enable edge-to-edge cutting.

China is rapidly expanding its humanoid-robot industry, but the machines remain too slow and unreliable to replace workers in most real-world jobs. Despite massive investment and impressive demonstrations, the technology still faces major AI and training-data challenges.

LG and Nvidia are ramping up their robotics efforts, with plans to generate 100,000 hours of training data by the end of 2026 to prepare LG's CLOiD robot for increasingly complex tasks. The move puts LG in an increasingly competitive field alongside Tesla Optimus, BYD Xiao Di, Figure 03, 1X NEO and other humanoid robots vying to shape the future of factories and homes.

Chinese humanoid robots have beaten Usain Bolt’s 100m world record, but their messy finishes show there is still plenty of room for improvement. The World Humanoid Robot Games games are also testing whether these machines can move beyond impressive speed and handle real-world tasks autonomously.

At the second World Humanoid Robot Games, 23 teams entered a simulated firefighting and rescue event. The first outdoor firefighting challenge was designed to test how well humanoids hold up outside the lab, and only three teams survived it.

Chinese researchers envision future lunar bases where astronauts work alongside robot dogs and other machines. The robots could patrol the base, collect samples, monitor the environment, and handle other dangerous or routine tasks while humans focus on complex decisions.

BYD is making serious moves in the robotics race. The Chinese EV giant has confirmed its first humanoid AI robot, Xiao Di, for early August 2026. The android is designed to welcome customers in car dealerships and challenge Tesla Optimus. However, the US is already blocking market access before the official debut.

Tamagotchis were all the rage in the 90s, and there have been a few attempts to bring them back. Takway is hoping to bring back the concept using AI and creating a companion that actually grows.

An alternative to drones: The Beni is a robot equipped with a 4K camera that can autonomously follow people and is marketed for its 4K resolution. At first glance, the concept seems very unusual, but it could offer tangible benefits in certain situations.

Finally, there’s a new sign of life from Ballie, one of Samsung’s most useful robots, which can function as a mobile security camera and a projector, among other things. That’s because images of the accompanying smartphone app have appeared online for the first time.

The U.S. government under Donald Trump wants to ban the import of new robots. While this ban is primarily aimed at humanoid robots, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has clarified that vacuum and mopping robots, robotic lawn mowers, and transport robots are also affected.

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the 1986 film, The Transformers: The Movie, Robosen has released a new Optimus Prime robot toy. Featuring original voice tracks and support for over 50 voice commands, the robot toy is available to pre-order at a discounted price.

Elon Musk is not the only one developing advanced humanoid robots for mass production. EV giant BYD is reportedly preparing to unveil its own bipedal AI robot. Called Xiao Di, the humanoid robot is expected to make its public debut in August and could soon serve as a sales assistant, presenting EVs at the Tesla rival's dealerships.

BrainCo has demonstrated at WAIC 2026 the ability to remotely control robotic hands, arms, and humanoids with just a thought thanks to the company's brain-computer interface (BCI) and brain-controlled robot AI platform technology.

The Honor Robot Phone is nearing launch, and at this point, it is unclear if global markets will get to experience the device. Regardless, Honor will showcase the phone at WAIC in China on July 18, and for the time being, global audiences will have to make do with a leaked hands-on video.

The T1 home robot is the first transformable personal helper, as it can walk upright or carry things on all fours, depending on the terrain and the task at hand. The first transformable household helper can execute smart following and has a long-term memory.

LG and Nvidia are launching a major robotics push. With the new Robotics Business Center and a huge AI data factory, the tech giants are moving toward a future of physical AI for industry and everyday life.

Anthbot has introduced the new M5 Pro and M9 Pro robotic lawn mowers, which feature the HoloSense navigation system. By combining LiDAR, RTK/NetRTK positioning, and AI vision, the company promises highly accurate positioning and reliable navigation even in challenging garden environments.

TerraMow has launched its X AWD robotic mower on Kickstarter, offering a 25% early-backer discount with deliveries planned for September 2026. Built for very large lawns, the mower combines AI vision, nRTK navigation, all-wheel drive, and a 50.2 cm cutting width.

The AI-Powered 4WD Robotic Mower Built for Slopes, Rough Terrain, and Large Lawns.