Robotics & Automation News

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future of robotics

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

What is a robot? From mechanical helpers to intelligent agents

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This is the first in a series of articles in which we ask – and try and answer – the most common questions in robotics

Ask anyone what a robot is, and you’ll likely get a confident answer: “A machine that walks and talks like a human.”

Some people may offer something slightly more technical – perhaps “a programmable machine that can carry out tasks automatically”.

Both are right, to a point. But as we dig deeper, we find that the question “What is a robot?” quickly becomes more complicated than it first appears. [Read more…] about What is a robot? From mechanical helpers to intelligent agents

Italian scientists demonstrate flying humanoid robot

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Researchers in Italy achieved a first flight of iRonCub3, a unique jet-powered flying humanoid robot designed for real-world environments. The robot was able to lift off the floor by approximately 50 cm while maintaining its stability

The Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) has reached a groundbreaking milestone in humanoid robotics by demonstrating the first flight of iRonCub3, the world’s first jet-powered flying humanoid robot specifically designed to operate in real-world environments.

The research team studied the complex aerodynamics of the artificial body and developed an advanced control model for systems composed of several interconnected parts. The overall work on iRonCub3, including real flight tests, took about two years.

In the latest experiments, the robot was able to lift off the floor by approximately 50 cm while maintaining its stability. [Read more…] about Italian scientists demonstrate flying humanoid robot

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

Opinion: ‘Specialized robots – not humanoids – will dominate robotics’, says Exotec CEO

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In an opinion piece published on the Fortune website, Romain Moulin, CEO of Exotec, argues that specialized robots, designed for specific tasks, are more efficient and cost-effective than humanoid robots.

This perspective, also highlighted in the Fortune article, suggests that the future of robotics lies in purpose-built machines rather than those mimicking human form.

Moulin uses the analogy of a dishwasher versus a humanoid robot washing dishes to illustrate his point: “The dishwasher is faster, more efficient, and vastly more cost-effective because it’s designed specifically for one task.” [Read more…] about Opinion: ‘Specialized robots – not humanoids – will dominate robotics’, says Exotec CEO

Boston Dynamics interview: ‘Ghastly’ grace, the uncanny valley, and the dawn of humanoid utility

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The first time I saw a Boston Dynamics robot move, I genuinely thought there was a person inside the machine. Not literally, of course, but something about the fluidity of motion – the precision, the uncanny timing – seemed less robotic and more… alive, more human or at least more animalistic.

For years, I’d watched robots lumber around trade shows or on TV, carefully placing one foot in front of the other before promptly tipping over.

So, when Boston Dynamics released videos of Atlas backflipping and dancing with unsettling realism, I wasn’t the only one who found it both mesmerizing and a little eerie. One observer even called it “ghastly” – and not as an insult, but as a mark of awe. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics interview: ‘Ghastly’ grace, the uncanny valley, and the dawn of humanoid utility