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A3’s Automate 2026 breaks records as demand for robotics, AI and automation grows

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Automate, North America’s largest robotics and automation event, celebrated its most successful show to date, drawing more than 50,000 registrants and 1,230 exhibitors to McCormick Place in Chicago from June 22-25.

Hosted by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), Automate 2026 filled 425,000 square feet of show floor space with the latest technologies in robotics, artificial intelligence, machine vision, motion control and industrial automation.

The record-setting event reflected the continued growth of automation across industries as companies look for practical ways to improve productivity, address workforce challenges, strengthen supply chains and remain competitive. [Read more…] about A3’s Automate 2026 breaks records as demand for robotics, AI and automation grows

UK startup Humanoid launches reinforcement learning system to improve robot manipulation

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UK-based robotics and AI company Humanoid has introduced KinetIQ Ascend, the company’s reinforcement learning approach designed to reach 99.9 percent manipulation reliability at human speed and beyond.

KinetIQ Ascend builds on the previously announced KinetIQ platform with trial-and-error learning, helping the company’s robots improve directly on industrial tasks.

The new system was tested on several tasks, including picking parts from bins, handing objects to humans, and lifting and moving containers using both arms. It has proven effective across a range of manipulation scenarios. [Read more…] about UK startup Humanoid launches reinforcement learning system to improve robot manipulation

Agibot reaches new milestone as its 15,000th humanoid robot rolls off production line

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Agibot, a global leader in embodied AI and robotics, has announced that its 15,000th robot has officially rolled off the production line.

The milestone unit is the Agibot G2, an industrial-grade embodied task robot designed for industrial and real-world operational scenarios.

Following the rollout of its 5,000th and 10,000th robots, this latest milestone marks another significant step in Agibot’s scaling journey. It reflects the company’s continued progress in moving embodied AI robots from product validation and batch production toward larger-scale delivery and real-world deployment. [Read more…] about Agibot reaches new milestone as its 15,000th humanoid robot rolls off production line

How AI Navigation is Improving the Performance of Robotic Pool Cleaners

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Robotic pool cleaners used to be judged mostly by suction, brushes, and how much debris they could collect. Those things still matter, but they are no longer the whole performance story.

The bigger shift is navigation.

A pool robot that moves randomly may clean some areas well and miss others. It may repeat the same route, struggle near steps, or leave the waterline looking unfinished. That is why AI navigation is becoming a core part of robotic pool cleaner performance. It helps the machine understand the pool as a space, not just a container of water. [Read more…] about How AI Navigation is Improving the Performance of Robotic Pool Cleaners

Goodwood Festival of Speed unveils Future Lab lineup for 2026

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The Goodwood Festival of Speed has announced the exhibitor lineup for its 2026 Future Lab exhibition, bringing together companies and research organizations working in robotics, AI, quantum computing, healthcare, space exploration and digital technologies.

Located at the centre of the Festival of Speed, Future Lab is expected to attract more than 90,000 visitors over the four-day event and will also host a STEM programme involving more than 1,000 school students from across the UK.

This year’s exhibition is organised around four themes: Unseen Worlds, Intelligent Systems, New Frontiers, and Extending Reality. [Read more…] about Goodwood Festival of Speed unveils Future Lab lineup for 2026

Most frequently asked questions in robotics: What is robotics vs. automation vs. robots?

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This is the third article in a series of FAQs about robotics. The first one and the second one can be found on this website. This article deals with the question: What is robotics vs. automation vs. robots?

In simple terms, “robotics” is the broader science; “robots” are physical units; and “automation” is the enabling technology. Moreover, “automation” is the umbrella term within which “robotics” is a sub-sector.

Though often used interchangeably, the terms robotics, robots, and automation refer to distinct – but overlapping – concepts.

Understanding the differences is essential for anyone navigating today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, from engineers and investors to factory workers and everyday consumers. [Read more…] about Most frequently asked questions in robotics: What is robotics vs. automation vs. robots?

Exclusive interview with Anscer Robotics: ‘Our priority is to deliver return on investment’

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In the dynamic world of automation, Anscer Robotics – an autonomous mobile robot solutions provider – is making significant strides, particularly with its expansion into the Americas.

So Robotics and Automation News decided to interview Mark Messina, managing director and CEO of Anscer Robotics Americas, to discuss the company’s vision, solutions, and strategic approach to transforming the manufacturing, logistics, and 3PL industries.

Messina, a veteran in the robotics space with a rich background from his time at Kiva Systems (now Amazon Robotics), Geek+, and Addverb, shares his insights on leading Anscer’s charge into the US market. [Read more…] about Exclusive interview with Anscer Robotics: ‘Our priority is to deliver return on investment’

Donatos and Appetronix launch fully-autonomous robotic pizza kitchen at Columbus Airport

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Travelers passing through John Glenn Columbus International Airport can now witness the future of fast food.

This week, Donatos Pizza, in partnership with robotic restaurant technology specialist Appetronix, unveiled a first-of-its-kind, fully-autonomous pizza kitchen, redefining the quick-service restaurant experience. (See video below.)

The new robotic restaurant, located at Concourse B, combines cutting-edge AI and robotics with Donatos’ celebrated art of pizza making. [Read more…] about Donatos and Appetronix launch fully-autonomous robotic pizza kitchen at Columbus Airport

Amazon reportedly preparing to test humanoid robots for package deliveries

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The world’s largest online retailer, Amazon, is exploring the use of humanoid robots to automate package deliveries, a move that could significantly reshape its fulfillment and delivery network.

According to reports, the e-commerce giant is in the process of testing these advanced robots for handling tasks currently performed by human workers.

The story, which appears to have been first reported by the subscription-based tech publication The Information, has been widely circulated by other news outlets. [Read more…] about Amazon reportedly preparing to test humanoid robots for package deliveries

AI² Robotics CEO talks up ‘better spatial intelligence’ of company’s robots on CNBC

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Shenzhen-based AI² Robotics – which has raised “hundreds of millions of yuan” in funding investment – is emerging as a notable player in the advanced automation space, focusing on what they term “embodied AI”.

This approach seeks to empower physical entities, like their innovative robots, to intelligently learn from and interact with their surroundings.

A compelling example of their work is the Alpha Bot, a sophisticated machine that integrates an autonomous mobile robot base with a dual-armed collaborative system, and a humanoid torso and head, designed for versatility in complex environments. [Read more…] about AI² Robotics CEO talks up ‘better spatial intelligence’ of company’s robots on CNBC