Robotics & Automation News

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AI robots

Eternal.ag scales fully-autonomous harvesting robots with first customer Van Noord Growers

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The German agritech startup eternal.ag has deployed its fully-autonomous greenhouse harvesting robot, Harvester, to the Dutch grower, Van Noord Growers, as part of a long-term agreement.

Van Noord Growers, located in Zeeland in the Netherlands, produces both tomatoes and cucumbers across a total 8.5-hectare site. It has been operating the Harvester robot, specialized in truss tomatoes, since September 2025 and is now set to expand its fleet to a total of three this summer following a successful initial period.

With eternal.ag’s plug and play approach, the Harvester has been integrated into Van Noord’s operations from day one. The fully-autonomous Harvester is designed to operate for up to 22 hours per day, 7 days a week, and harvests trusses using an AI layer to ensure ripeness, consistency and clean cutting. [Read more…] about Eternal.ag scales fully-autonomous harvesting robots with first customer Van Noord Growers

What makes robots feel alive? Human-robot interaction expert Sarah Sebo explains

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As robots become more expressive and socially capable, the line between machines and living characters is starting to blur. From Disney’s lifelike Olaf robot (main image) to interactive droids inspired by Star Wars, recent developments highlight how far robotics has come in replicating human-like behavior and emotion.

But what actually makes a robot feel “alive” – and why do some machines feel natural while others fall into the so-called “uncanny valley”?

To explore these questions, Robotics & Automation News spoke with Sarah Sebo, assistant professor of computer science at the University of Chicago, whose research focuses on human-robot interaction and the social, cultural and technological impact of robots in everyday environments. [Read more…] about What makes robots feel alive? Human-robot interaction expert Sarah Sebo explains

Amazon acquires Fauna Robotics as it expands into home humanoid robots

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Amazon has acquired New York-based startup Fauna Robotics, signaling a move beyond its traditional focus on warehouse automation into consumer-facing humanoid robots.

The deal, first reported by Bloomberg and covered by Silicon Republic and Euronews, involves Fauna’s team of roughly 50 employees joining Amazon’s Personal Robotics Group. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Fauna, founded in 2024, developed a humanoid robot called “Sprout”, designed to operate in shared human environments such as homes, schools and public spaces. The machine, approximately one meter tall and built with soft materials, is intended to be approachable and safe for interaction. [Read more…] about Amazon acquires Fauna Robotics as it expands into home humanoid robots

McDonald’s tests humanoid robots in Shanghai pilot

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Global fast-food giant McDonald’s is testing humanoid service robots at a restaurant in Shanghai, as part of an early-stage effort to explore automation in customer-facing environments.

According to reports from tech publications including T3 and Digital Trends, the pilot involves robots developed by Keenon Robotics performing a range of front-of-house tasks. [Read more…] about McDonald’s tests humanoid robots in Shanghai pilot

The uncanny valley and how humans relate to humanoids

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Exploring the psychological aspects of designing and interacting with human-like robots

Humanoid robots are moving steadily from laboratories and research demos toward commercial deployment. Machines built by companies such as Tesla, Figure AI, Agility Robotics, and Boston Dynamics are increasingly designed to operate in environments originally built for humans – factories, warehouses, hospitals, and homes.

But as robots begin to resemble people more closely, another question re-emerges – one that engineers, psychologists, and filmmakers have been grappling with for decades. [Read more…] about The uncanny valley and how humans relate to humanoids

Google DeepMind unveils Gemini Robotics 1.5 to bring AI agents into the physical world

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Google DeepMind has launched Gemini Robotics 1.5, a new vision-language-action (VLA) model designed to help robots perform complex, multi-step tasks with greater autonomy and transparency.

The release includes two complementary models: Gemini Robotics 1.5 and Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5. The former is DeepMind’s most advanced VLA system to date, capable of turning visual input and instructions into motor commands.

Unlike previous generations, it generates reasoning steps before acting, allowing robots to explain their decision-making processes and adapt more effectively to new environments. [Read more…] about Google DeepMind unveils Gemini Robotics 1.5 to bring AI agents into the physical world

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

Humanoid robot combat tournament broadcast live on Chinese national TV

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Organizers say the event kicks off a ‘new era in humanoid robot combat sports’

On May 25, 2025, at 8.30pm, the Unitree-sponsored CMG World Robot Tournament – Mecha Combat Arena, co-hosted by CMG’s Education & Science Channel, Zhejiang Station, and CMG’s Technology Bureau, was officially launched in Hangzhou. (See video below for extended highlights.)

As the world’s first combat competition exclusively featuring humanoid robots, the tournament showcased Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot as the sole competing model.

The entire event was broadcast live nationwide via CCTV-10 with simultaneous streams on social media platforms, including CCTV News and Yangshipin. [Read more…] about Humanoid robot combat tournament broadcast live on Chinese national TV