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Agile Robots showcases force-control technology, humanoids, and physical AI at Robot Technology Japan event

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Agile Robots is using Robot Technology Japan (RTJ) 2026 to showcase a broad portfolio of industrial robotics, embodied AI, and humanoid technologies as the company continues its expansion in the global automation market.

The Munich-headquartered company is presenting its latest force-control systems, collaborative robots, humanoid platforms, and AI-driven automation technologies at the event in Nagoya, Japan.

While the exhibition includes a range of industrial automation solutions, Agile Robots is placing particular emphasis on what it describes as the convergence of artificial intelligence and physical-world robotics through advanced force control and physical AI. [Read more…] about Agile Robots showcases force-control technology, humanoids, and physical AI at Robot Technology Japan event

More than 2,000 students to compete in world’s largest rocket engineering competition

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ProtoSpace Mfg, a provider of rapid manufacturing for aerospace, defense, engineering, and research organizations, has announced its return as lead sponsor of the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) 2026, taking place June 15-20 at Midland International Air & Space Port in Midland, Texas.

Organized by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA), IREC is the world’s largest collegiate rocketry competition and one of the aerospace industry’s most important talent pipelines.

This year’s event will bring together more than 2,000 student engineers representing 175 university teams from over 20 countries across six continents. [Read more…] about More than 2,000 students to compete in world’s largest rocket engineering competition

Geekplus installs more than 400 autonomous mobile robots at multiple Toyota plants

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Geekplus has announced the deployment of moving-type Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) at several Toyota Motor Corporation plants in Japan.

Currently, a total of 436 Geekplus moving-type AMRs are operating in Toyota Motor Corporation’s factories, with operations scaled up to approximately 200 units per system.

As labor shortages due to a declining population and new labor regulations for truck drivers become urgent challenges for the manufacturing industry, Toyota Motor Corporation is accelerating the automation and efficiency of its in-plant logistics. [Read more…] about Geekplus installs more than 400 autonomous mobile robots at multiple Toyota plants

Autonomous truck company Einride now listed on Nasdaq

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Einride, a technology company driving the transition to cost-efficient electric and autonomous freight, has announced that its American depository shares and warrants have today begun trading on the Nasdaq Global Market and Nasdaq Capital Market, under the ticker symbols “ENRD” and “ENRDW”, respectively.

To mark the Company’s public market debut, Einride leadership is celebrating by ringing the Nasdaq Opening Bell at MarketSite in Times Square.

Founded in Stockholm in 2016, Einride has spent a decade building the technology platform, operational infrastructure, and customer relationships to make large-scale electric and autonomous freight a reality. The Company’s customers include some of the world’s largest shippers across FMCG, food, and industrial verticals. [Read more…] about Autonomous truck company Einride now listed on Nasdaq

Neura Robotics raises record Series C of $1.4 billion to accelerate physical AI platform

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Neura Robotics, a pioneer in cognitive robotics and creator of the Neuraverse, has announced a landmark Series C financing with a total round size of up to $1.4 billion to accelerate its mission of building what the company says is “the world’s leading physical AI platform”.

This level of fundraising would suggest a valuation of anywhere between $8 billion and $15 billion, according to one industry expert.

The financing brings together global leaders across AI, robotics, compute, manufacturing and industrial infrastructure, including Tether, Qualcomm Technologies, Amazon, Nvidia, imec.xpand, Bosch, Schaeffler, European Investment Bank, Lingotto Horizon, InterAlpen Partners and others.

Neura is building a new category of AI infrastructure where cognitive robots continuously learn, collaborate and operate across real world environments through a shared intelligence ecosystem called the Neuraverse. [Read more…] about Neura Robotics raises record Series C of $1.4 billion to accelerate physical AI platform

Sharpa brings dexterous robot hands to Nvidia and Unitree humanoid reference design

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Sharpa has announced that its Wave tactile robot hands have been integrated into the Unitree H2 Plus humanoid robot reference design, making it the first dexterous humanoid platform built on Nvidia’s Isaac GR00T development framework to feature the company’s tactile manipulation technology.

The companies say the configuration is designed to help robotics developers and researchers accelerate the development of humanoid robot skills by providing a validated hardware and software platform that combines dexterous manipulation, tactile sensing, simulation, training, and deployment tools.

The move comes as interest in humanoid robots and physical AI continues to grow, with developers seeking ways to reduce the complexity of integrating hardware, collecting training data, running simulations, and deploying robot capabilities in real-world environments. [Read more…] about Sharpa brings dexterous robot hands to Nvidia and Unitree humanoid reference design

Festo launches GripperAI software to simplify flexible robot handling

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Festo has introduced GripperAI, an AI-powered software solution that enables robots to handle mixed, unfamiliar and randomly positioned products without the need for extensive programming, template loading or specialist vision integration.

Designed for manufacturers seeking greater flexibility from automated handling systems, GripperAI automatically identifies the optimum gripping point for each item and selects the most appropriate gripper for the task from the end-of-arm tools available.

The software enables robots to adapt to changing product mixes in real time, helping manufacturers deploy and scale automation more efficiently. [Read more…] about Festo launches GripperAI software to simplify flexible robot handling

Wing and Walmart expand drone delivery network to seven new US metro areas

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Drone delivery company Wing and retail giant Walmart are expanding what they describe as the largest residential drone delivery network in the United States, adding seven new metropolitan areas as they work toward a goal of reaching 40 million Americans by 2027.

The expansion will bring drone delivery services to Memphis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Salt Lake City.

The move increases the companies’ planned service footprint to nearly 20 US markets and follows Walmart’s recent announcement that its drone delivery operations had surpassed one million deliveries. [Read more…] about Wing and Walmart expand drone delivery network to seven new US metro areas

Standard Bots reaches $1 billion valuation after raising $200 million Series C

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Standard Bots, which claims to be “America’s largest manufacturer of AI-native, industrial robotics”, has raised $200 million Series C led by existing investors and RoboStrategy.

The fundraise values Standard Bots at $1 billion, marking a major milestone for American robotics at a time when US industry is racing to modernize.

The company is also expanding its manufacturing footprint in New York, increasing its ability to design, assemble, and deploy American-made robots at scale for customers ranging from Fortune 100 companies to hundreds of SMB manufacturers across the country.

This expansion comes at a pivotal moment for US manufacturing. When also counting affiliated suppliers and services, the sector accounts for roughly a third of the US economy and a third of American jobs. [Read more…] about Standard Bots reaches $1 billion valuation after raising $200 million Series C

Misumi launches Misumi Americas as part of $1 billion global manufacturing investment

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Japanese industrial components supplier Misumi Group has launched Misumi Americas and announced a $1 billion (¥150 billion) global investment program aimed at expanding its digital manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.

The initiative combines Misumi’s industrial components business with the AI-powered manufacturing platform acquired through Fictiv, positioning the company as a broader manufacturing and supply chain partner rather than solely a parts supplier.

The expansion includes significant investment in the United States and marks the appointment of Dave Evans as the first American CEO of Misumi Americas. [Read more…] about Misumi launches Misumi Americas as part of $1 billion global manufacturing investment