Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Mai Tao

‘Many more metal men’: Ambitious goals for humanoid mass production

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There will be ‘many more metal men’ in the world from now on, according to automatica, one of the world’s leading industrial trade shows for the robotics and automation industry

Humanoid robot development is progressing at an impressive pace.

The power struggle between the US and China, along with advances in AI, battery development, and mechanics, has led performance improvements among the metal men. automatica will show how far this development has progressed by now.

The humanoids from China recently had an opportunity to show their capabilities during a half marathon in Beijing. Around 20 humanoid robots successfully competed against humans during the 21-kilometer run.

With this race, the People’s Republic achieved its goal of presenting the country as a leading supplier of human-like robots. [Read more…] about ‘Many more metal men’: Ambitious goals for humanoid mass production

Huawei to work with UBTech to develop humanoid robots for factories and homes

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Telecommunications giant Huawei and robotics company UBTech are partnering to promote humanoid robots in factories and even households. Both parties signed a co-operation agreement in Shenzhen and aim to boost the robotic technology and its application in China.

UBTech is one of the leading Chinese producers of humanoid and smart service robots in Shenzhen, Guangdong. It specializes in developing smart logistics, smart wellness, elderly care, AI education, and business service solutions.

Both Huawei and UBTech signed the agreement to increase the transition of humanoid robots from lab innovations to large-scale adoption in homes and other scenarios. [Read more…] about Huawei to work with UBTech to develop humanoid robots for factories and homes

MDA Space sees alternative uses for Canadarm3 if NASA’s Gateway is canceled

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MDA Space, the Canadian company developing the Canadarm3 robotic system for NASA’s lunar Gateway, says the technology could be repurposed for other missions if the Gateway program is canceled as proposed in the White House’s 2026 budget, as reported by Space News.

Speaking during a May 8 earnings call, MDA Space CEO Mike Greenley emphasized that development of Canadarm3 is continuing as planned. The budget proposal is just the beginning of a lengthy appropriations process in Congress, which could extend well into 2025 or beyond.

“That means that largely 2025, for us, at the moment, is just get your work done, keep developing the program, keep advancing the robotic system and let that budget process continue in the background,” he said. [Read more…] about MDA Space sees alternative uses for Canadarm3 if NASA’s Gateway is canceled

Boston Dynamics and LG Innotek to introduce ‘next-generation vision systems’ into Atlas humanoid robot

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Boston Dynamics, a developer of humanoid and mobile robotics, has agreed a new partnership with LG Innotek, the South Korean materials and electronic components manufacturing company.

This strategic alignment will enable Boston Dynamics to install LG Innotek’s “next-generation” vision sensing components into Atlas, Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot.

The collaboration brings together Boston Dynamics’ and LG Innotek’s research teams to develop new vision sensing systems to address some of robotics hardest to solve problems. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics and LG Innotek to introduce ‘next-generation vision systems’ into Atlas humanoid robot

Visteon and Qualcomm partner to develop AI-based intelligent cockpits for cars

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Visteon, an automotive technology company specializing in vehicle dashboards, and chipmaker Qualcomm have agreed a technology collaboration to bring “groundbreaking capabilities to the automotive industry” with Visteon’s new high-performance cockpit system, powered by Visteon’s automotive AI framework, cognitoAI, and Qualcomm Technologies Snapdragon Cockpit Elite Platform.

Sachin Lawande, president and CEO of Visteon, says: “This technology collaboration marks a pivotal moment in automotive technology, where AI-driven insights will transform the way drivers and passengers interact with their vehicles.

“We are excited to work with Qualcomm Technologies and lead the charge towards creating a truly intelligent cockpit experience.” [Read more…] about Visteon and Qualcomm partner to develop AI-based intelligent cockpits for cars

GM and LG Energy Solution to pioneer LMR battery cell technology

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General Motors and LG Energy Solution will commercialize lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric trucks and full-size SUVs, in a new battery technology breakthrough.

This builds on a partnership between the two companies to develop prismatic battery cell technology and related chemistries, and on GM’s long legacy of American ingenuity that’s produced innovations like the small-block V8 engine, OnStar connected vehicle services and hands-free Super Cruise.

GM aims to become the first automaker to deploy LMR batteries in EVs. Ultium Cells, a GM and LG Energy Solution joint venture, plans to start commercial production of LMR prismatic cells in the United States by 2028, with pre-production expected to begin at an LG Energy Solution facility by late 2027. [Read more…] about GM and LG Energy Solution to pioneer LMR battery cell technology

Hyundai breaks ground to build new electric vehicles factory in Saudi Arabia

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Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Middle East (HMMME) – a joint venture between PIF, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia with almost a trillion dollars in assets under management, and Hyundai Motor Company – hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in the recently announced King Salman Automotive Cluster within King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).

The ceremony was described as “a significant milestone that marks another step in the development of the automotive industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”.

PIF owns a 70 percent stake in HMMME, with Hyundai holding the remaining 30 percent. The manufacturing plant, Hyundai’s first facility in the Middle East, will roll out its first vehicle by the fourth quarter of 2026 and targets an annual production of 50,000 vehicles. [Read more…] about Hyundai breaks ground to build new electric vehicles factory in Saudi Arabia

Top 20 most exotic materials discovered or created by scientists

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In a significant step forward for electronics innovation, researchers from Murata Manufacturing and Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) have unveiled a massive new database of dielectric material properties.

This extensive collection, detailed in a study published in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials: Methods, has been curated from thousands of scientific papers and is set to accelerate the development of next-generation electronics like smartphones and advanced energy storage systems.

The initiative addresses a major bottleneck in AI-driven materials discovery – the lack of large, diverse datasets. [Read more…] about Top 20 most exotic materials discovered or created by scientists

Delivery robot market set to grow amid tech innovation and last-mile logistics demand

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The global delivery robot market is poised for steady growth through 2032, according to new research by Market Research Intellect.

Driven by rapid advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, and navigation systems, delivery robots are gaining ground in logistics, retail, food delivery, and healthcare sectors.

These autonomous systems are emerging as a cost-effective and efficient solution for last-mile delivery challenges, particularly in urban environments. [Read more…] about Delivery robot market set to grow amid tech innovation and last-mile logistics demand

Toyota invests additional $88 million in its US West Virginia plant

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Toyota’s North American subsidiary, Toyota North America, has unveiled an additional investment of $88 million in its West Virginia plant to assemble the next generation of hybrid transaxles.

This brings the total investment in this plant to more than $2.8 billion.

The hybrid transaxle is a crucial component in electrified vehicles that transfers power seamlessly between the engine, electric motor and wheels. [Read more…] about Toyota invests additional $88 million in its US West Virginia plant