Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Autonomous robots

ROS 2: The next generation for robust and scalable robotics applications

by

For more than a decade, the Robot Operating System (ROS) has been the backbone of robotics research and early-stage development. It provided a common framework, a shared language, and a vast ecosystem of reusable components that allowed engineers and researchers to accelerate innovation.

But ROS was never designed for the realities of commercial deployment.

As robotics moves from laboratories into warehouses, factories, roads, and public spaces, the demands on software infrastructure have changed. Reliability, security, scalability, and real-time performance are no longer optional. They are prerequisites. [Read more…] about ROS 2: The next generation for robust and scalable robotics applications

Generalist AI unveils GEN-1 model, claiming breakthrough in real-world robotic task performance

by

Generalist AI has introduced a new robotics model, GEN-1, which the company says marks a significant step toward general-purpose artificial intelligence for physical tasks.

The model is designed as an “embodied foundation model” – a type of AI system that can perceive, reason and act in the physical world – and is trained on large-scale datasets of real-world interactions rather than narrow, task-specific programming.

According to the company, GEN-1 achieves “99 percent success rates” on certain tasks, compared with around 64 percent for its previous-generation system, while completing tasks up to three times faster. The system is also described as highly data-efficient, requiring roughly one hour of robot-specific data to adapt to new tasks. [Read more…] about Generalist AI unveils GEN-1 model, claiming breakthrough in real-world robotic task performance

Why Automation Systems Fail Without Weather Intelligence

by

The Hidden Dependency in Automation Systems

Automation systems are designed for precision, consistency, and minimal human intervention. From autonomous robots navigating complex environments to logistics platforms optimizing delivery routes, these systems rely on constant data inputs to function effectively.

Sensors, cameras, and machine learning models often receive most of the attention, since they are seen as the core technologies behind automated decision-making.

Yet many automation systems still fail in ways that appear unpredictable. A delivery robot pauses unexpectedly. A drone reroutes inefficiently. A scheduling system miscalculates timing. In many cases, the root cause is neither mechanical nor algorithmic. It is environmentally friendly. [Read more…] about Why Automation Systems Fail Without Weather Intelligence

PickNik releases MoveIt Pro 9 to improve AI-driven robotics in variable environments

by

PickNik has released version 9 of its robotics development software MoveIt Pro, introducing new capabilities aimed at improving how robots operate in complex, real-world environments such as cleaning, sanitation and vehicle washing.

The update focuses on what the company describes as “scan-and-plan” workflows – a technique that allows robots to perceive their surroundings in real time and generate motion paths dynamically, rather than relying on fixed, pre-programmed instructions.

Industrial robots have traditionally performed best in structured environments, such as manufacturing lines, where tasks are repetitive and predictable. However, applications like restroom cleaning or food plant sanitation present a different challenge, requiring robots to adapt to changing layouts, irregular surfaces and variable geometries. [Read more…] about PickNik releases MoveIt Pro 9 to improve AI-driven robotics in variable environments

No brain? No problem. University of Southern California scientists show what robots can learn from sea stars

by

Ever feel run off your feet? Spare a thought for sea stars, creatures whose movement involves the coordination of hundreds of tiny tube feet to navigate complex environments – despite the lack of a central “brain”.

In other words, it’s as though each foot has a mind of its own. For Kanso Bioinspired Motion Lab, based within the University of Southern California Viterbi Department of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering, sea stars pose an intriguing phenomenon.

Kanso Lab specializes in decoding the flow physics of living systems, often applying those insights to inform developments in robotics. [Read more…] about No brain? No problem. University of Southern California scientists show what robots can learn from sea stars

Dexory launches ‘next-generation’ warehouse robot and new software

by

Dexory, a provider of real-time warehouse data intelligence and robotics, has launched its next-generation autonomous robot and a new software feature, “Storage Health”.

Both of these new capabilities enhance warehouse efficiency and visibility by delivering richer, more accurate operational data.

Since 2023, Dexory robots have been operating in live warehouse environments, helping operators capture accurate, real-time visibility across their facilities. [Read more…] about Dexory launches ‘next-generation’ warehouse robot and new software

Richtech Robotics partners with Microsoft to advance agentic AI in real-world robotics applications

by

Richtech Robotics, a US-based provider of AI-driven robots operating in commercial and industrial environments, has announced a hands-on collaboration with Microsoft through the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Labs to jointly develop and deploy agentic artificial intelligence capabilities in real-world robotic systems.

Through close collaboration between Richtech Robotics’ engineering team and Microsoft’s AI Co-Innovation Labs, the companies worked together to enhance Richtech Robotics’ Adam robot with adaptive intelligence powered by Azure AI.

The collaboration focused on applying vision, voice, and autonomous reasoning to physical environments, enabling robots to move beyond task execution and support more contextual, conversational, and operationally aware interactions. [Read more…] about Richtech Robotics partners with Microsoft to advance agentic AI in real-world robotics applications

OpenMind launches app store for robots

by

OpenMind, a robotics software company, has launched its “App Store for robots”, a platform designed to serve as the software distribution layer for quadruped and humanoid robots already operating in real-world environments.

As robots move beyond research labs into commercial and consumer deployment, software – not hardware – has emerged as the primary constraint on scale. While robotic platforms continue to mature mechanically, most remain locked into vertically integrated software stacks that limit adaptability and slow iteration.

OpenMind’s App Store introduces a shared application marketplace that allows robots to be configured, updated, and repurposed through software. [Read more…] about OpenMind launches app store for robots

CES 2026 highlights shift from humanoid hardware to real-world behavior, says IntBot

by

According to Intbot, CES 2026 made one thing clear: “Robots have mastered movement”. On the show floor, they danced, backflipped, played ping pong, and posed for selfies, solid proof that hardware capability is no longer limiting their development.

What’s still missing? How robots behave autonomously in the real world, outside scripted demos and controlled settings.

IntBot, a humanoid robotics company focused on social intelligence, says the industry is entering a new phase where differentiation will be defined less by mechanics and more by judgment, context, and presence. [Read more…] about CES 2026 highlights shift from humanoid hardware to real-world behavior, says IntBot

Sharpa showcases autonomous fine-manipulation robot and new AI model at CES 2026

by

Robotics startup Sharpa used live demonstrations at CES 2026 to showcase advances in autonomous fine manipulation, unveiling a new full-body robot and an AI model designed to improve how robots interact with objects.

At the event in Las Vegas, Sharpa’s newly introduced robot, North, played fully autonomous games of ping-pong against human opponents throughout the show.

Rather than relying on pre-scripted demonstrations, the company ran live sessions for eight hours a day over four consecutive days, drawing large crowds as the rallies continued. [Read more…] about Sharpa showcases autonomous fine-manipulation robot and new AI model at CES 2026