Robotics & Automation News

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human-robot interaction

Interview with the CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories: ‘Uncertainty in the real world’

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As robotics continues to move from controlled environments into more complex, real-world settings, the role of research institutions in shaping the next generation of systems is becoming increasingly significant.

One of the organizations operating at this intersection is Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL), the North America-based R&D arm of Mitsubishi Electric.

Led by president and CEO Anthony Vetro, MERL focuses on advancing core technologies that underpin robotics, including perception, control systems, and machine learning. Its work spans multiple domains, from industrial automation to energy systems, with an emphasis on bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical deployment. [Read more…] about Interview with the CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories: ‘Uncertainty in the real world’

Hallucinated humans: The identity problem hiding in your AI stack

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Robots are getting better at seeing people. They can track a worker in a warehouse aisle, recognise a visitor at a reception desk, match a face to a delivery ticket, or pull up a profile of a customer before a sales rep walks into the meeting.

A growing number of automation systems also reach beyond the camera feed. They query language models to enrich what they see with context: who this person is, what they do, where they have appeared online, and whether their public footprint matches the record on file.

This shift is part of a wider pattern that Robotics & Automation News has described as robotics becoming a branch of artificial intelligence rather than a separate engineering discipline. [Read more…] about Hallucinated humans: The identity problem hiding in your AI stack

GMEX Robotics advances autonomous hospital logistics robot

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GMEX Robotics, a developer of AI-powered robotic technologies, has announced a significant advancement of its hospital logistics robot.

The company is addressing one of the key limitations in existing portable conveyor-type medical tracked robots, which typically require medical staff or patients to bend over to retrieve items, making it inconvenient to adjust to a height suitable for operator use, and which are easily damaged if the sides are impacted by walls or oncoming foot or material traffic.

GMEX’s enhanced design focuses on improving durability, resilience and usability, reducing the risk of damage from external impacts while supporting consistent performance in high-traffic hospital environments. [Read more…] about GMEX Robotics advances autonomous hospital logistics robot

A&K Robotics raises C$8 million to build autonomous ‘micro-vehicle’ for airports

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Navigating airports can be a stressful experience for anyone but is particularly difficult for people with mobility limitations.

Roughly 17 percent of the global population lives with mobility challenges, and requests for airport assistance are increasing 10-15 percent each year, outpacing passenger growth.

Introducing a new category of autonomous passenger mobility infrastructure to address this issue, A&K Robotics has announced the closing of an C$8 million Series A investment. [Read more…] about A&K Robotics raises C$8 million to build autonomous ‘micro-vehicle’ for airports

Can Robots Reduce Workplace Stress – and When Do They Actually Increase it?

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The modern workplace is changing faster than ever. For decades, we imagined a future where robots would do our chores while we sat back and relaxed. Today, that future has arrived, but it looks a bit different than the movies.

From software that sorts our emails to physical robots moving boxes in warehouses, automation is everywhere. But as these machines move into our offices and factories, a big question has emerged: Are they actually making us less stressed, or are they just adding new types of pressure to our day? [Read more…] about Can Robots Reduce Workplace Stress – and When Do They Actually Increase it?

What makes robots feel alive? Human-robot interaction expert Sarah Sebo explains

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As robots become more expressive and socially capable, the line between machines and living characters is starting to blur. From Disney’s lifelike Olaf robot (main image) to interactive droids inspired by Star Wars, recent developments highlight how far robotics has come in replicating human-like behavior and emotion.

But what actually makes a robot feel “alive” – and why do some machines feel natural while others fall into the so-called “uncanny valley”?

To explore these questions, Robotics & Automation News spoke with Sarah Sebo, assistant professor of computer science at the University of Chicago, whose research focuses on human-robot interaction and the social, cultural and technological impact of robots in everyday environments. [Read more…] about What makes robots feel alive? Human-robot interaction expert Sarah Sebo explains

Sonair to debut ultrasonic 3D sensor at Modex event

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Sonair, a pioneer in ultrasonic 3D sensing, is introducing its award-winning ADAR (Acoustic Detection and Ranging) sensor to the North American market with its official debut at Modex 2026, Booth #B15851, April 13-16.

The technology arrives in Atlanta following its first commercial deployment in serial production on Cleanfix’s new autonomous cleaning robots. [Read more…] about Sonair to debut ultrasonic 3D sensor at Modex event

The uncanny valley and how humans relate to humanoids

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Exploring the psychological aspects of designing and interacting with human-like robots

Humanoid robots are moving steadily from laboratories and research demos toward commercial deployment. Machines built by companies such as Tesla, Figure AI, Agility Robotics, and Boston Dynamics are increasingly designed to operate in environments originally built for humans – factories, warehouses, hospitals, and homes.

But as robots begin to resemble people more closely, another question re-emerges – one that engineers, psychologists, and filmmakers have been grappling with for decades. [Read more…] about The uncanny valley and how humans relate to humanoids

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

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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

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

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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

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