Robotics & Automation News

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Autonomous robots

Humanoid Global makes ‘software investment’ in RideScan

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Humanoid Global, a publicly traded investment issuer focused on building and accelerating a portfolio of pioneering companies in the humanoid robotics and embodied AI sector, is pleased to announce that it has made its first strategic software investment into RideScan, a data company specializing in robotics.

RideScan is an artificial intelligence (AI) platform focused on proactively addressing reliability, safety, and efficiency to optimize the performance of autonomous robots. It serves as the “safety layer” and is suitable for deployment across industries, compatible with a range of diverse robotics hardware and software platforms.

It aims to reduce downtime, identify and eliminate undetected failures, and address public trust issues that threaten robotics adoption by providing real-time risk assessment, predictive maintenance, and actionable insights. [Read more…] about Humanoid Global makes ‘software investment’ in RideScan

Robot ethics: Bias, accountability, and the impact of robots becoming more intelligent and more involved in human society

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Artificial intelligence is now embedded in robots that are not only assembling cars or moving pallets, but also serving food, delivering parcels, assisting the elderly, and even teaching children.

As these systems grow more autonomous, the ethical stakes become unavoidable: what happens when a robot makes a decision that has moral, social, or legal consequences?

Robots powered by advanced AI are no longer passive tools. They perceive, interpret, and act in ways that increasingly resemble human decision-making. That raises pressing concerns about bias, accountability, and the broader societal impact of machines that operate with growing independence. [Read more…] about Robot ethics: Bias, accountability, and the impact of robots becoming more intelligent and more involved in human society

Reinforcement learning in robotics: Robots that learn from experience

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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

Unitree unveils new A2 quadruped robot with 100 kg load capacity and 20 km range

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Unitree Robotics has launched its most advanced quadruped robot to date – the Unitree A2 – positioning it as a rugged and versatile platform for industrial deployment across inspection, logistics, and research applications. (See video below.)

Weighing 37 kg (81.6 lbs) unloaded, the A2 boasts a maximum standing load of 100 kg (220 lbs) and can walk while carrying up to 25 kg (55 lbs).

On a single charge, the robot can walk continuously for up to 20 km (12.4 miles) unloaded, or 12.5 km (7.8 miles) when fully loaded. Runtime can be extended via hot-swappable dual batteries designed for uninterrupted missions. [Read more…] about Unitree unveils new A2 quadruped robot with 100 kg load capacity and 20 km range

AI‑powered humanoid robots prepare for first World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing

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China has showcased a preview of the World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place from August 15 to 17, 2025, as part of the World Robot Conference. (See video below.) 

The games will be the first global sporting event exclusively devoted to humanoid robots. [Read more…] about AI‑powered humanoid robots prepare for first World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing

HomeBase USA pilots Simbe’s shelf-scanning robot at two stores

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HomeBase USA, one of America’s largest home improvement retailers, has introduced Simbe Robotics’s Store Intelligence platform – powered by the world’s first autonomous shelf-scanning robot, Tally – to two locations in Copperas Cove, Texas and Laramie, Wyoming.

The Laramie store introduction marks the first Tally deployment in Wyoming.

Stores like HomeBase have expansive footprints and tens of thousands of SKUs across lumber, building supply, hardware, farm, ranch, and lawn and garden categories. [Read more…] about HomeBase USA pilots Simbe’s shelf-scanning robot at two stores

RoboCup 2025 brings the world’s top robot soccer teams to Brazil

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Regarded by some as “the world’s largest robotics and artificial intelligence competition”, RoboCup returns to Brazil this month, with more than 250 teams from 37 countries preparing to compete in a high-stakes showdown of autonomous machines.

Set to take place in Salvador, Brazil from July 17 to 21, RoboCup 2025 will feature cutting-edge robots battling it out in fully autonomous soccer matches, alongside competitions in rescue, home service, and industrial robotics.

Founded in 1997, RoboCup has long served as a proving ground for AI and robotics researchers, with its most ambitious goal still decades in the making: to develop humanoid robots capable of defeating the human FIFA World Cup champions by 2050 in a fair match. [Read more…] about RoboCup 2025 brings the world’s top robot soccer teams to Brazil

Civ Robotics secures $7.5 million to power robot-led surveying

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Civ Robotics, a construction robotics company, has closed its $7.5 million Series A funding round, led by AlleyCorp with investments from Bobcat Company, ff Venture Capital, and previous seed investors.

This brings the total funding to date to $12.5 million. This new investment will support further development of its construction robots and expansion into new global markets, with an emphasis on renewable energy and solar.

Civ Robotics has over 100 of its robots deployed to job sites around the globe. This signals that industry trust in automation is increasing for a sector historically slow to adopt new technologies. [Read more…] about Civ Robotics secures $7.5 million to power robot-led surveying

Amazon marks deployment of 1 millionth robot and unveils new AI foundation model for its robots

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Amazon Robotics has reached two major milestones in its robotics and AI operations: the deployment of its one millionth robot and the launch of a new generative AI foundation model designed to optimize its global fleet of warehouse robots.

The new AI model, called DeepFleet, is expected to improve robot travel efficiency by 10 percent across Amazon’s fulfillment network, which spans more than 300 facilities worldwide. The company says the technology will support faster customer deliveries and reduce operational costs.

“Think of DeepFleet as an intelligent traffic system for our robotic fleet,” writes Scott Dresser, vice president of Amazon Robotics, in a blog post on one of the company’s websites. “It optimizes how robots move within our facilities, reducing congestion and improving efficiency.” [Read more…] about Amazon marks deployment of 1 millionth robot and unveils new AI foundation model for its robots

China hosts world’s first fully autonomous humanoid robot football match

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Beijing has hosted what is believed to be the world’s first fully autonomous football match between humanoid robots, marking a milestone in the development of embodied artificial intelligence.

Held on June 28 in the Yizhuang Development Zone, the match featured four teams of robots developed by Chinese universities, including Tsinghua University and China Agricultural University. In the final, the THU Robotics team beat the Mountain Sea team 5-3.

Each robot operated entirely without human control, using onboard cameras, sensors, and deep reinforcement learning algorithms to detect the ball, make tactical decisions, and navigate the field. Organizers say the event represents a breakthrough in real-time AI decision-making in dynamic physical environments. [Read more…] about China hosts world’s first fully autonomous humanoid robot football match