Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

AI in robotics

MIT roboticists debate the future of robotics

by

By Rachel Gordon, MIT CSAIL

When the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) first convened 40 years ago, the robotics community shared a clear vision: robots would one day combine elegant mathematical models with advanced computation to handle complex tasks.

Four decades later, the community is divided over how to reach that goal. That divide was on full display this May in Atlanta, where ICRA marked its anniversary with a unique closing keynote: a live Oxford-style debate on whether “data will solve robotics and automation”. [Read more…] about MIT roboticists debate the future of robotics

Top 10 predictive maintenance companies: Using AI to keep robotic systems running smoothly

by

Unplanned downtime is the enemy of efficiency in modern manufacturing and logistics. When a robotic system fails unexpectedly, it can halt entire production lines, delay deliveries, and rack up costly repairs.

As factories and warehouses become more reliant on robots, ensuring their continuous operation is critical – and that’s where predictive maintenance comes in.

Predictive maintenance, powered by artificial intelligence, uses real-time sensor data to forecast failures before they happen. It’s a powerful evolution from traditional maintenance strategies, and it’s helping businesses across industries keep their robotic systems running smoothly. [Read more…] about Top 10 predictive maintenance companies: Using AI to keep robotic systems running smoothly

Reinforcement learning in robotics: Robots that learn from experience

by

Reinforcement learning (RL) is transforming the way robots interact with the world.

Unlike traditional programming or supervised learning, which depend on pre-defined rules or labeled datasets, RL enables robots to learn through trial and error – much like how humans and animals acquire new skills.

This approach is increasingly vital as robots are deployed in complex, unstructured environments where adaptability is key. [Read more…] about Reinforcement learning in robotics: Robots that learn from experience

Figure AI shocks the internet by showing its humanoid robot doing laundry like a pro

by

Figure AI has captivated audiences with a new viral video showing its humanoid robot, Figure 02, performing household laundry tasks with impressive autonomy. (See video below.)

In footage shared by CEO Brett Adcock on X, the robot is seen efficiently grabbing garments from a basket and loading them into a washing machine – marking a notable achievement in embodied household robotics.

While Figure 02 does not yet operate the washer’s controls itself, this milestone demonstrates its ability to handle the physical manipulation of garments – loading and unloading – in a real‑world setting using its Helix Vision‑Language‑Action model. [Read more…] about Figure AI shocks the internet by showing its humanoid robot doing laundry like a pro

Doosan Robotics acquires 90 per cent stake in US-based integrator ONExia for $26 million

by

Doosan Robotics is stepping up its transformation into a global intelligent robot solutions provider, advancing a multifaceted growth strategy that includes international acquisitions, expert recruitment, and organizational realignment – all aimed at leading the emerging Physical AI era.

In its latest move, Doosan Robotics’ board of directors approved the acquisition of an 89.59 percent stake in ONExia, a US-based robotics system integrator and automation engineering firm headquartered in Pennsylvania.

The deal, valued at approximately $25.9 million (KRW 35.6 billion), was formalized with a stock purchase agreement (SPA) and participation in a capital increase. [Read more…] about Doosan Robotics acquires 90 per cent stake in US-based integrator ONExia for $26 million

JPMorgan report: Robotics and automation surge as investors back ‘science made real’

by

The robotics and automation sector is experiencing a dramatic rise in investor interest, as the industry matures from theoretical science to real-world application, according to JPMorgan’s newly released Applied Tech report.

JPMorgan, the world’s largest bank, defines “Applied Technology” as the sector that bridges scientific discovery and engineering innovation – essentially translating lab-born concepts into real-world tools.

Robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation form a core part of this applied frontier, where the theoretical is rapidly becoming practical. [Read more…] about JPMorgan report: Robotics and automation surge as investors back ‘science made real’

Record-breaking attendance at this year’s automatica event

by

automatica, one of the world’s leading industrial automation exhibitions, held from June 24 to 27, 2025, was an impressive demonstration of approaches to solving future challenges using smart automation and robotics.

Around 47,500 visitors from more than 90 nations, along with approx. 800 exhibitors from 40 countries, and an extensive supporting program underlined automatica’s domain leadership.

The four-day trade fair had a strong focus on AI-powered robotics, SME automation, health tech solutions, mobile robotics, and networked production. A successful range of topics according to Dr Reinhard Pfeiffer, co-CEO of Messe München. [Read more…] about Record-breaking attendance at this year’s automatica event

MIT develops vision-based system that gives machines ‘bodily self-awareness’

by

In an office at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), a soft robotic hand carefully curls its fingers to grasp a small object.

The intriguing part isn’t the mechanical design or embedded sensors – in fact, the hand contains none. Instead, the entire system relies on a single camera that watches the robot’s movements and uses that visual data to control it.

This capability comes from a new system CSAIL scientists developed, offering a different perspective on robotic control. Rather than using hand-designed models or complex sensor arrays, it allows robots to learn how their bodies respond to control commands, solely through vision. [Read more…] about MIT develops vision-based system that gives machines ‘bodily self-awareness’

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

by

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

The rise of embodied AI: Robots that learn by doing

by

By Laura Pérez, PAL Robotics

As robotics becomes more deeply integrated into society, a new paradigm is taking shape: embodied artificial intelligence (AI).

Unlike traditional AI, which operates in abstract digital environments, embodied AI enables robots to learn by doing; connecting perception, cognition, and action through direct physical interaction with the world.

This shift toward embodied intelligence is rapidly gaining traction in both academic and industrial fields, particularly since embodied AI has become more accessible and relevant. [Read more…] about The rise of embodied AI: Robots that learn by doing