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Massachusetts awards $1.85 million to three advanced manufacturing startups

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The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM), a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), has announced $1,849,643 in awards to three Massachusetts manufacturing companies through the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), a program that provides capital grant funding for Massachusetts manufacturers to expand production, build local jobs and strengthen key innovation sectors.

The awards are expected to create up to 62 jobs across the state. [Read more…] about Massachusetts awards $1.85 million to three advanced manufacturing startups

ABB Robotics launches new automated surface finishing cell

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ABB Robotics has launched its first fully automated sanding and polishing cell – the OmniVance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell, empowering a new wave of manufacturers to automate key surface finishing tasks, such as sanding and polishing.

Craig McDonnell, managing director business line industries, ABB Robotics, says: “A growing number of companies are looking to automate processes such as sanding and polishing, but many smaller businesses lack in-house robotics expertise – so while they need to deliver perfect quality every time, until now, many have not had a solution that fits their needs.

“Many businesses are wary of investing in complex, bespoke automation, while off-the-shelf tools lack the scalability and capability they require. With our new OmniVance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell, we’re introducing industrial-grade robotics in a simple, affordable, and scalable solution.” [Read more…] about ABB Robotics launches new automated surface finishing cell

Japan trials humanoid robots for airport operations as labor shortages intensify

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Japan Airlines is set to trial humanoid robots for ground handling operations at Haneda Airport, as the aviation industry looks for ways to address mounting labor shortages.

The initiative, developed in partnership with GMO Internet Group, will begin in May and marks one of the first real-world deployments of human-shaped robots in airport ramp operations.

According to reporting by Gulf News and The Guardian, the trial will run through 2028, with robots initially operating in controlled environments before being gradually introduced into live airport workflows. [Read more…] about Japan trials humanoid robots for airport operations as labor shortages intensify

Eternal.ag launches omni-directional trolley as ‘stepping stone to fully-automated greenhouses’

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The German agritech startup, eternal.ag, is introducing what it describes as “a de-risked and accelerated pathway for greenhouse growers to adopt harvesting robots”.

As structural labor shortages demand a faster transition to automated horticulture, growers will for the first time be able to replace their trolleys with a “robot-ready” model which acts as a modular building block for a fully-autonomous robot.

Eternal.ag’s Trolley is a high-performance crop work tool built for any greenhouse. Engineered with the same advanced mobility as eternal.ag’s Harvester robot, it moves omni-directionally and navigates greenhouse rows effortlessly, without operators needing to dismount the trolley to perform complex maneuvers.

This design means that the Trolley can be later upgraded into a full Harvester robot by retrofitting the harvesting module and intelligence layer, turning it into a fully-autonomous system. [Read more…] about Eternal.ag launches omni-directional trolley as ‘stepping stone to fully-automated greenhouses’

Schaeffler partners with Vietnamese humanoid robot manufacturer VinDynamics

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Schaeffler and VinDynamics, part of Vietnam’s Vingroup conglomerate, have agreed on a strategic partnership for humanoid robotics. The partnership centers on the development and supply of planetary gearboxes. These are central components of actuators that function as muscles and joints and enable humanoid robots to move.

Under the partnership, the two companies will also jointly collect robot- and application-related data. They will use this data to help improve actuator design and performance and pave the way for future services, such as predictive maintenance.

For Schaeffler, the partnership is the first arrangement of its kind with a humanoid robot manufacturer in the Asia/Pacific region. It complements the company’s existing network of partnerships with leading manufacturers in Europe, China and the US and strengthens its global position in the human robotics ecosystem. [Read more…] about Schaeffler partners with Vietnamese humanoid robot manufacturer VinDynamics

Starship passes 10 million deliveries as autonomous delivery moves toward mainstream adoption

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Autonomous delivery is moving from pilot programs to large-scale commercial deployment, according to Starship Technologies, which says it has now completed more than 10 million deliveries using its fleet of sidewalk robots.

The company describes the milestone as a turning point for so-called “physical AI” systems operating in real-world environments, with its robots now deployed across multiple countries and use cases. [Read more…] about Starship passes 10 million deliveries as autonomous delivery moves toward mainstream adoption

ABB Robotics’ autonomous mobile robot wins prestigious design award

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ABB Robotics’ Flexley Mover P603 autonomous mobile robot (AMR) has won the iF Design Award 2026 in the Industry, Tools and Machinery Product Design category, based on its compact design, intelligent navigation and potential to transform performance in intralogistics applications.

Alfonso González, global AMR product line manager of ABB Robotics, says: “The Flexley Mover P603 is the latest step in ABB Robotics’ approach to autonomous, software-driven intralogistics automation, where machines can operate independently while working seamlessly alongside people and other systems.

“This award recognizes not only the strength of the design, but also how we’re lowering the barriers to automation through more autonomous and versatile robotics (AVRTM) that can do more things, in more places, and do it faster, safer and smarter.” [Read more…] about ABB Robotics’ autonomous mobile robot wins prestigious design award

Hexagon and Schaeffler to install 1,000 Aeon humanoids across global factory network

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Hexagon Robotics and the motion technology company Schaeffler have announced the expansion of their strategic partnership to accelerate the rollout of humanoid robots, Aeon, across factories worldwide, following the successful completion of a joint pilot program in 2025.

Manufacturers are under growing pressure to increase flexibility, improve efficiency, and enhance sustainability.

This partnership marks a significant step toward bringing humanoid robots into production environments, as Schaeffler plans to deploy at least 1,000 Hexagon Robotics humanoids across its global production system by 2032. [Read more…] about Hexagon and Schaeffler to install 1,000 Aeon humanoids across global factory network

Sereact raises $110 million investment to advance its ‘world model’ for robotics and AI

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Sereact has raised a $110 million Series B round led by Headline, with participation from Bullhound Capital, Daphni, and Felix Capital.

Existing investors Air Street Capital, Creandum (who led the company’s 2025 Series A round), and Point Nine once again invested in Sereact.

The round funds two priorities: scaling Cortex 2 and entering the United States. Sereact will open its first US office in Boston this summer and hire commercial, application, and engineering staff locally. [Read more…] about Sereact raises $110 million investment to advance its ‘world model’ for robotics and AI

Squaremind raises $18 million to redefine skin exams with robotics and AI

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SquareMind, an AI and robotics company developing solutions for dermatology, has announced $18 million in funding, including previously undisclosed pre-Series A financing, to enable high-quality, consistent skin exams and make them accessible at scale.

The round was led by Sonder Capital, a California-based venture fund co-founded by medical robotics pioneer and Intuitive Surgical founder Fred Moll, with participation by the Deeptech 2030 Fund, managed on behalf of the French government by a Bpifrance initiative, Adamed Technology, Calm/Storm Ventures, Teampact Ventures, and several prominent entrepreneurs.

The funding will support the growth of the company’s commercial, engineering, and customer support teams in preparation for a near-term commercial launch of the Swan robotic skin imaging platform in the United States and Europe, where demand for skin exams is high and rising. [Read more…] about Squaremind raises $18 million to redefine skin exams with robotics and AI