Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Kuka launches cleanroom-certified robot for semiconductor and electronics industries

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Kuka has introduced a cleanroom-certified version of its autonomous mobile robot (AMR), the KMR iisy CR, designed specifically for sensitive environments such as semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.

The new model meets ISO cleanroom class 3 standards, as confirmed by the Fraunhofer Institute, and is available in 11- and 15-kilogram payload variants.

Kuka’s latest autonomous solution, the KMR iisy CR, combines a mobile platform with the six-axis LBR iisy CR robot arm to deliver cleanroom-compatible automation. [Read more…] about Kuka launches cleanroom-certified robot for semiconductor and electronics industries

Can robots play football? Why AI still struggles with physical movement

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The world’s first AI robot football match shows how far we still have to go

At first glance, it looked like a slow-motion parody of the world’s most beloved sport. On a small indoor pitch in Beijing, teams of humanoid robots wobbled across the turf, scanning the field with glowing blue eyes, tripping over their own feet, and occasionally collapsing in awkward heaps. At one point, two machines had to be stretchered off after failing to stand up again.

Yet for the engineers behind the event, this wasn’t a failure – it was a breakthrough.

Staged in June 2025, China’s first fully autonomous robot football match marked a milestone in the development of embodied artificial intelligence. Each of the robots, including several built on the well-known Nao platform, played without any remote control or manual input. [Read more…] about Can robots play football? Why AI still struggles with physical movement

China hosts world’s first fully autonomous humanoid robot football match

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Beijing has hosted what is believed to be the world’s first fully autonomous football match between humanoid robots, marking a milestone in the development of embodied artificial intelligence.

Held on June 28 in the Yizhuang Development Zone, the match featured four teams of robots developed by Chinese universities, including Tsinghua University and China Agricultural University. In the final, the THU Robotics team beat the Mountain Sea team 5-3.

Each robot operated entirely without human control, using onboard cameras, sensors, and deep reinforcement learning algorithms to detect the ball, make tactical decisions, and navigate the field. Organizers say the event represents a breakthrough in real-time AI decision-making in dynamic physical environments. [Read more…] about China hosts world’s first fully autonomous humanoid robot football match

Former US Air Force engineer builds 10-foot tall, fully automated fine art painting robot

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Meet Paul Kirby, the ex-USAF engineer behind the unique ‘robotic artist’ Dulcinea. Story by Alexandra Campbell

Paul Kirby is an artist, engineer, and author of The FUSE Pathway: How to Find and Lead a Fulfilling Life. He is also the originator of “Fusioneering”, a philosophy and framework for integrating diverse passions into a life of vision and purpose.

From earning an engineering degree at the University of California, Berkeley, to serving as an officer in the US Air Force, completing an MBA at Harvard Business School, and building a successful career in venture capital backing early-stage technology companies, Kirby has walked an interdisciplinary path that reflects the very principles he teaches.

In 1994, inspired by a Leonardo da Vinci exhibit, Kirby felt called to explore an exciting idea: What might it look like if da Vinci were alive today – armed with modern robotics-and wanted to merge his love of machinery with his artistic imagination? [Read more…] about Former US Air Force engineer builds 10-foot tall, fully automated fine art painting robot

Mytra announces expansion and new headquarters with Brisbane, California campus

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Mytra, a company which says it is “supercharging industrial productivity with first-of-its-kind three-dimensional robotics”, has announced its new headquarters in Brisbane, California, with a 100,000 square-foot factory to support growing customer demands and the 100-person team.

The space will serve as the company’s new headquarters and aid in new product development for its robots.

Founded by alumni of Tesla and Rivian, Mytra is aiming to consolidate and automate warehouse operations through a robot and storage rack system to improve efficiency when it comes to the movement of goods. [Read more…] about Mytra announces expansion and new headquarters with Brisbane, California campus

Opinion: Brain Corp president outlines how robotics can transform information overload into operational intelligence

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By Michel Spruijt, president, Brain Corp International

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: we’re drowning in data – and it’s making us dumber, not smarter.

Global data production is accelerating at a breathtaking pace, from 64 zettabytes (or 64 trillion gigabytes) in 2020 to an estimated 170 ZB by 2025.

To put that in perspective, that’s enough data to stream every movie ever made simultaneously on 50 billion devices. [Read more…] about Opinion: Brain Corp president outlines how robotics can transform information overload into operational intelligence

Richtech Robotics humanoid robot ‘Adam’ appears at Space Force event

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Richtech Robotics, a Nevada-based provider of AI-driven service robots, says its humanoid robot, Adam, was featured at the Legacy of Launch 75th Anniversary event, which took place on July 24, 2025 in the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Room, which is located at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

This invitation-only VIP event was a “rare and transformative moment that will seamlessly unite history, celebration, and vision”, says Richtech in a statement.

Designed to honor the extraordinary achievements of the past 75 years, the mission of the Legacy of Launch is to ignite a global passion for space by honoring past achievements, celebrating present advancements, and inspiring future exploration. [Read more…] about Richtech Robotics humanoid robot ‘Adam’ appears at Space Force event

Google DeepMind launches new vision language action model to ‘put AI directly into local robotic devices’

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Google DeepMind has introduced an efficient, on-device robotics model designed for general-purpose dexterity and rapid task adaptation.

This new offering, known as Gemini Robotics On-Device, is an optimized version of the Gemini Robotics VLA (vision language action) model, which was initially launched in March to integrate Gemini 2.0’s multimodal reasoning into physical applications.

Gemini Robotics On-Device is specifically engineered to operate locally on robotic devices, ensuring robust performance in environments with limited or no network connectivity and providing low-latency inference crucial for sensitive applications. [Read more…] about Google DeepMind launches new vision language action model to ‘put AI directly into local robotic devices’

What is a robot? From mechanical helpers to intelligent agents

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This is the first in a series of articles in which we ask – and try and answer – the most frequently asked questions in robotics

Ask anyone what a robot is, and you’ll likely get a confident answer: “A machine that walks and talks like a human.”

Some people may offer something slightly more technical – perhaps “a programmable machine that can carry out tasks automatically”.

Both are right, to a point. But as we dig deeper, we find that the question “What is a robot?” quickly becomes more complicated than it first appears. [Read more…] about What is a robot? From mechanical helpers to intelligent agents

Nvidia and partners highlight ‘next-generation’ robotics, automation and AI technologies at Automatica

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From the heart of Germany’s automotive sector to manufacturing hubs across France and Italy, Europe is embracing industrial AI and advanced AI-powered robotics to address labor shortages, boost productivity and fuel sustainable economic growth.

Robotics companies are developing humanoid robots and collaborative systems that integrate AI into real-world manufacturing applications.

Supported by a $200 billion investment initiative and coordinated efforts from the European Commission, Europe is positioning itself at the forefront of the next wave of industrial automation, powered by AI. [Read more…] about Nvidia and partners highlight ‘next-generation’ robotics, automation and AI technologies at Automatica