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Robotic skin allows tiny robots to navigate complex, fragile environments

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UC San Diego researchers have developed a soft robotic skin that enables vine robots that are just a few millimeters wide to navigate convoluted paths and fragile environments.

To accomplish this, the researchers integrated a very thin layer of actuators made of liquid crystal elastomer at strategic locations in the soft skin. The robot is steered by controlling the pressure inside its body and temperature of the actuators.

The researchers showed that a robot equipped with this skin could successfully navigate a model of the arteries in a human body. The robot also was able to navigate a model of the interior of a jet engine. [Read more…] about Robotic skin allows tiny robots to navigate complex, fragile environments

Chinese shipping to the US collapses by 90 percent amid Trump tariff threats and higher port fees

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Chinese ships entering US ports have fallen by more than 90 percent since January, according to new data from maritime analytics firm Pole Star Global. The collapse underscores how quickly trade between the world’s two largest economies is deteriorating amid rising tariffs and new port fees. 

Pole Star says the number of Chinese vessels entering the United States dropped from 1,678 in January to just 156 so far in October (as of October 14th), following the introduction of reciprocal port fees and the renewed threat of tariffs from the Trump administration.

Saleem Khan, chief data and analytics officer at Pole Star Global, says: “We are seeing Chinese vessels that are being screened by our customers nearing zero. [Read more…] about Chinese shipping to the US collapses by 90 percent amid Trump tariff threats and higher port fees

Cyngn installs its robots at largest independent Pepsi bottler in the US

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Cyngn has announced a commercial DriveMod Tugger deployment with G&J Pepsi, the largest independent Pepsi bottler in the United States.

The expansion into material handling for consumer-packaged goods marks a new chapter in Cyngn’s mission to broaden the adoption of its advanced autonomous technology across industries.

Jeff Erwin, VP, manufacturing and quality at G&J Pepsi, says: “Our partnership with Cyngn underscores our commitment to innovation and operational excellence. [Read more…] about Cyngn installs its robots at largest independent Pepsi bottler in the US

Exotec celebrates 10 years and 10,000 warehouse robots worldwide

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Automated warehouse robotics solutions provider Exotec is celebrating 10 years since its founding in Paris, France.

Over the past decade, Exotec’s technology has transformed the day-to-day operations of warehouses globally and has deployed over 10,000 of its cutting-edge Skypod robots.

Those robots have completed over 938 million cycles, billions of customer orders, and saved over 90 million kilometres of walking for warehouse operators, the same as 119 return trips to the moon. [Read more…] about Exotec celebrates 10 years and 10,000 warehouse robots worldwide

Interview with Spike Dynamics CEO: Developing muscle-like piezoelectric actuators

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Spike Dynamics is a young robotics company with an unusually ambitious goal: to make machines move like living tissue.

Based in the United States and led by founder and CEO Alexander “Sasha” Sergeev, the company is developing ultra-compact, muscle-like piezoelectric actuators that can deliver high precision and force at microscopic scales.

Originally designed for intravascular medical robotics – devices small enough to navigate inside the human body – the technology is now finding potential applications far beyond medicine, from humanoid robots to space exploration. [Read more…] about Interview with Spike Dynamics CEO: Developing muscle-like piezoelectric actuators

Hong Kong’s Autumn Electronics Fair highlights AI, robotics, and next-generation technologies

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The 45th Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and the 28th electronicAsia are under way at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, drawing more than 3,200 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions.

The twin events, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and MMI Asia, run concurrently and continue to attract a global audience of technology companies, investors, and buyers.

This year’s fairs spotlight three major themes: artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, digital entertainment, and the silver economy. [Read more…] about Hong Kong’s Autumn Electronics Fair highlights AI, robotics, and next-generation technologies

eInfochips and InOrbit partner to offer edge-to-cloud solutions for deploying robots at scale

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eInfochips, a provider of product engineering and digital transformation services and an Arrow Electronics subsidiary, has agreed a strategic collaboration with InOrbit.AI, a provider of AI-powered robot orchestration.

This collaboration combines eInfochips’ extensive expertise in edge-to-cloud robotics development and integration with InOrbit Space Intelligence, a robust, vendor-agnostic robot operations platform to deliver seamless, scalable, and optimized solutions for a variety of industries.

This collaboration addresses the growing demand for large-scale autonomous mobile robot (AMR) deployments in warehouses, industrial hubs, large factories, and other indoor environments. [Read more…] about eInfochips and InOrbit partner to offer edge-to-cloud solutions for deploying robots at scale

Airbound secures $8.65 million seed funding to expand drone deliveries business

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Airbound, an Indian autonomous delivery logistics company specializing in blended-wing-body aircraft, has announced $8.65 million in seed funding and a pilot partnership with Narayana Health.

The round was led by Lachy Groom, co-founder of Physical Intelligence, with participation from Humba Ventures and continued participation from Lightspeed.

This seed round also includes investment from senior leaders at Tesla, SpaceX, and Anduril, reflecting deep conviction from operators who have scaled complex hardware and autonomy programs. [Read more…] about Airbound secures $8.65 million seed funding to expand drone deliveries business

Interview with NexCOBOT’s general manager: ‘Single control platform’

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As humanoid robots move from research labs into production environments, one of the biggest challenges for developers is system integration.

Building a robot that can see, move, and interact safely with humans requires multiple layers of computing – AI inference, real-time motion control, and certified functional safety – traditionally managed on separate platforms.

Bridging those systems efficiently is becoming the defining test for the next wave of humanoid design. [Read more…] about Interview with NexCOBOT’s general manager: ‘Single control platform’

T2 emerges as Japan’s leading autonomous trucking contender

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Until recently, the name T2 drew little attention outside niche circles in Japan.

Yet over the past few months, the firm has quietly triggered a series of announcements that suggest it may become a key player in Japan’s push toward driverless highway logistics. For a company founded in 2022, its rapid positioning is striking.

We first flagged T2 in September 2025 when it partnered with Toray Industries to trial autonomous trucks on a 440-km petrochemical route. [Read more…] about T2 emerges as Japan’s leading autonomous trucking contender