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Greenpeace robot stages deepest-ever seabed protest

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While conducting a scientific survey of vulnerable and unexplored deep-sea ecosystems along the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge, environmental campaign group Greenpeace deployed an underwater robot from 2,300 meters below the surface, in the deepest banner protest ever made from the seabed.

The words demanding global leaders do something were: “LISTEN TO THE SCIENCE!”

Dr Sandra Schöttner, chief scientist for the Deep Arctic Expedition, Greenpeace International, said: “This marks the deepest banner protest in history, to speak for ecosystems that have no voice of their own. [Read more…] about Greenpeace robot stages deepest-ever seabed protest

China to assign digital ID numbers to humanoid robots for lifecycle tracking

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China is introducing a national digital identification system for humanoid robots as authorities seek to monitor safety risks and standardize management across the rapidly growing sector.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, the initiative will assign unique digital identity numbers to humanoid robots throughout their operational lifecycle, from manufacturing and deployment to recycling and disposal.

The system is intended to help regulators track products more effectively as China accelerates development of humanoid robotics for industrial, commercial, and domestic applications. [Read more…] about China to assign digital ID numbers to humanoid robots for lifecycle tracking

DARPA prepares robotic satellite servicing mission for launch in 2026

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Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and its industry partners are preparing for the launch of a robotic satellite servicing mission designed to demonstrate on-orbit maintenance and upgrade capabilities for spacecraft operating in geosynchronous orbit.

The mission, known as Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS), is scheduled for launch in summer 2026 and represents one of the most ambitious attempts so far to commercialize robotic satellite servicing technologies.

At the center of the mission is the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), a spacecraft equipped with a highly dexterous robotic servicing system capable of performing tasks such as satellite inspections, repairs, relocation, upgrades, and anomaly resolution while in orbit. [Read more…] about DARPA prepares robotic satellite servicing mission for launch in 2026

Redwire delivers lunar robotic arm prototype to European Space Agency

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Redwire has delivered a prototype lunar robotic manipulator to the European Space Agency as Europe continues developing its Argonaut lunar lander program for future Moon missions.

The robotic arm system, known as the Manipulator for Argonaut Payload Needs and Unloading Support (MANUS), was developed by Redwire in collaboration with Added Value Solutions and with support from ESA.

The project is being led by Redwire’s Luxembourg-based team, which recently completed several major milestones including preliminary design work and performance assessments. [Read more…] about Redwire delivers lunar robotic arm prototype to European Space Agency

AutoFlight advances heavy-lift eVTOL program with mixed-fleet formation flight

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AutoFlight has completed a mixed-fleet formation flight of three aircraft, comprising one V5000 Matrix and two V2000-series eVTOL aircraft.

The mission validated critical capabilities – communication links, route planning, flight coordination and safety control – across 5-ton and 2-ton platforms, demonstrating that different aircraft types can operate together at scale.

It marks a significant step forward in AutoFlight’s system integration capabilities and lays the operational groundwork for multi-aircraft coordination in low-altitude logistics, emergency response, maritime support and regional air transport, and represents a concrete step toward the commercial deployment of coordinated multi-aircraft networks in the low-altitude economy. [Read more…] about AutoFlight advances heavy-lift eVTOL program with mixed-fleet formation flight

Rotaku launches Domo humanoid robot platform starting at $2,999 for developers

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Rotaku has opened reservations for Domo, a compact humanoid robot platform designed for developers, makers, educators and robotics teams working with real humanoid hardware.

The Domo lineup starts at $2,999 and is intended to make humanoid robot development more accessible to users working on motion control, teleoperation, manipulation, robot interaction and embodied AI. [Read more…] about Rotaku launches Domo humanoid robot platform starting at $2,999 for developers

Kawasaki launches Silicon Valley hub to accelerate deployment of physical AI

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Kawasaki Heavy Industries has launched a new physical AI development center in Silicon Valley as part of a broader push to accelerate collaboration between Japanese and American companies in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and robotics.

Called the Kawasaki Physical AI Center San Jose, the facility will focus on developing real-world applications for physical AI systems through partnerships with major technology companies including Nvidia, Analog Devices, Microsoft, and Fujitsu.

The company says the center will initially prioritize healthcare and elder care applications, areas increasingly affected by labor shortages and aging populations in many countries. [Read more…] about Kawasaki launches Silicon Valley hub to accelerate deployment of physical AI

Stellantis expands Qualcomm partnership for AI-powered vehicle platforms

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Stellantis and Qualcomm Technologies have announced an expansion of their multi-year technology collaboration to power next-generation Stellantis vehicles with Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Digital Chassis system-on-chips (SoCs).

The expanded collaboration integrates Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions with STLA Brain, Stellantis’ electronic and software platform, enhancing cockpit, connectivity and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) performance.

The scalable technology foundation aims to accelerate time to market, enable continuous feature upgrades and enhance the driving experience. Built to scale across brands and segments, Snapdragon Digital Chassis SoCs support Stellantis’ broader strategy to improve cost efficiency through platform standardization. [Read more…] about Stellantis expands Qualcomm partnership for AI-powered vehicle platforms

Plus One Robotics streams eight hours of live warehouse automation performance

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Warehouse automation company Plus One Robotics has completed an eight-hour live stream demonstration of its AI-powered parcel induction system, offering what the company described as a transparent look at the realities of large-scale warehouse robotics operations.

The livestream, broadcast on the company’s YouTube and LinkedIn channels, showcased a robotic parcel induction system operating continuously in a real-world workflow environment while displaying live operational metrics throughout the event.

According to the company, the system completed 19,784 picks during the eight-hour session, achieving throughput of 2,488 picks per hour and an average pick time of 1.45 seconds per parcel. More than 950 viewers reportedly tuned in during the livestream. [Read more…] about Plus One Robotics streams eight hours of live warehouse automation performance

Gecko Robotics tests Ouster’s next-generation color lidar to enhance AI-powered infrastructure inspections

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Ouster, a specialist in sensing and perception technologies for physical AI, has announced that Gecko Robotics, a provider of advanced robotics and AI-powered software, is leveraging Ouster’s new Rev8 digital lidar sensors to integrate novel data layers into its Cantilever operating platform.

Gecko Robotics currently utilizes Ouster’s digital lidar to navigate complex industrial environments and create high-fidelity digital twins of critical assets.

As Gecko continues to scale its Cantilever operating platform, Ouster’s new Rev8 sensor suite offers an opportunity to further enhance Gecko’s data capture and push the boundaries of its “detect and repair” missions. [Read more…] about Gecko Robotics tests Ouster’s next-generation color lidar to enhance AI-powered infrastructure inspections