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Goya’s Latin American products gain capacity with a pallet shuttle system in Toledo

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Goya, a distributor of Latin American food products in Europe, has expanded its warehouse in Casarrubios del Monte (Toledo province) with Mecalux’s semi-automated Pallet Shuttle.

The storage system has boosted the company’s logistics performance, ensuring fast replenishment to 4,000 points of sale throughout Spain.

“Mecalux’s semi-automated Pallet Shuttle gives us the flexibility we need to manage over 2,200 items and run a more efficient operation,” says a Goya representative. [Read more…] about Goya’s Latin American products gain capacity with a pallet shuttle system in Toledo

Mobileye to acquire Mentee Robotics in $900m deal to expand physical AI ambitions

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Mobileye has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Mentee Robotics, an AI-first humanoid robotics startup, in a transaction valued at $900 million, as the company moves to broaden its focus beyond autonomous driving into what it describes as “physical artificial intelligence”.

Under the terms of the deal, the consideration will comprise approximately $612 million in cash and up to 26.2 million shares of Mobileye Class A common stock, subject to certain adjustments. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending customary conditions.

Mobileye said the acquisition brings together its autonomy stack and automotive-grade production experience with Mentee’s vertically integrated humanoid robot platform and AI talent. [Read more…] about Mobileye to acquire Mentee Robotics in $900m deal to expand physical AI ambitions

Kodiak to scale autonomous trucking hardware and sensor solution in strategic agreement with Bosch

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Kodiak AI, a provider of AI-powered autonomous driving technology, has entered into an agreement with Bosch, a global supplier of technology and services, to collaborate on and scale the manufacturing of a production-grade, redundant autonomous platform.

This platform contains the specialized hardware, firmware, and software interfaces that enable the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak’s AI-powered driver, to automate trucks – either on a vehicle production line or through an upfitter.

Don Burnette, founder and CEO, Kodiak, says: “Advancing the deployment of driverless trucks and physical AI not only requires robust autonomous technology, but also manufacturing experience and a robust supply chain in order to achieve true scale. [Read more…] about Kodiak to scale autonomous trucking hardware and sensor solution in strategic agreement with Bosch

Ras Al Khaimah sets new record with spectacular New Year’s Eve drone show

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Ras Al Khaimah – one of the seven emirates, along with Dubai and Abu Dhabi, that make up the United Arab Emirates – rang in 2026 with a spectacular 15-minute drones and fireworks display that set a new Guinness World Records title for the “Largest aerial display of a phoenix formed by multirotors/drones”.

The highlight of the celebration was an awe-inspiring drone performance that transformed the night sky into a living canvas.

At the heart of this display was the record-breaking Phoenix, a mythical symbol of renewal, optimism, and rebirth, echoing Ras Al Khaimah’s own transformation and ambition to continuously reimagine its future. [Read more…] about Ras Al Khaimah sets new record with spectacular New Year’s Eve drone show

Autonomous systems in mining and agriculture vehicles

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Heavy-duty autonomy in controlled, off-road environments delivers efficiency and safety gains

Autonomous vehicles are still most commonly associated with passenger cars and urban roads. Yet the most mature, commercially proven forms of vehicle autonomy have emerged far from city streets.

They operate in open-pit mines, on remote haul roads, and across agricultural fields – environments where routes are known, traffic is controlled, and the economics of automation are clear.

Mining and agriculture have quietly become the longest-running success stories in vehicle autonomy. These sectors demonstrate what autonomy looks like when expectations are pragmatic, deployment is incremental, and safety and productivity are the primary objectives. [Read more…] about Autonomous systems in mining and agriculture vehicles

Autonomous trucking: The race to revolutionize freight transport

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Progress, constraints, and the companies shaping long-haul autonomy

Autonomous vehicles are still widely framed through the lens of passenger cars and robotaxis. Yet the strongest commercial momentum in vehicle autonomy is emerging far from city streets and consumer ride-hailing apps.

It is taking shape on highways, distribution corridors, and freight routes where economics, not novelty, determine success.

Long-haul trucking has become the most credible proving ground for autonomous driving. The sector combines chronic labour shortages, rising logistics costs, predictable operating patterns, and a clear productivity incentive. [Read more…] about Autonomous trucking: The race to revolutionize freight transport

PlusAI targets 2027 launch for factory-built autonomous trucks as readiness metrics advance

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PlusAI says it is on track to launch factory-built commercial autonomous trucks in 2027, as the company reported progress across a set of internal readiness metrics tied to safety validation and operational performance.

In an update issued January 8, PlusAI said its Safety Case Readiness (SCR) reached 90.1 percent through the second half of 2025, while Autonomous Miles Percentage (AMP) rose to 99.2 percent and Remote Assistance Free Trips (RAFT) increased to 79.0 percent. The company said these figures represent steady improvement compared with metrics disclosed in mid-2025.

“This progress comes as PlusAI works towards its targeted commercial launch in 2027,” the company said in a press release, adding that it is also planning to become publicly listed via a business combination with Churchill Capital Corp IX. [Read more…] about PlusAI targets 2027 launch for factory-built autonomous trucks as readiness metrics advance

Robotics & Automation News launches in-depth AMRs vs AGVs trend analysis

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After more than a decade of covering robotics and automation long before the sector became a global talking point, Robotics & Automation News has published its first full-length market and technology report: “AMRs vs AGVs: A 2026-2030 trend analysis for mobile automation.”

The 44-page report examines one of the most persistent debates in modern warehouse and manufacturing automation – whether autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are replacing automated guided vehicles (AGVs), or whether the two technologies are evolving along fundamentally different economic paths.

Drawing on years of reporting, operator insight, and analysis of real-world deployments, the report moves beyond headline claims to focus on the underlying operational logic shaping mobile automation decisions. [Read more…] about Robotics & Automation News launches in-depth AMRs vs AGVs trend analysis

The Hidden Energy Challenges Behind Autonomous and Automated Operations

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Industries across manufacturing, logistics, and digital services are continuing to adopt automation and autonomous systems as part of day-to-day operations.

These technologies now sit at the core of many workflows, supporting tasks that once required constant human oversight. While much attention focuses on efficiency and reliability, far less discussion centres on the energy demands that underpin these systems.

Automation does not operate in isolation. Every automated process depends on a continuous supply of electricity, often at a scale that organisations did not previously require. As automation expands, energy use increases in parallel, placing new pressure on infrastructure, budgets, and long-term planning. [Read more…] about The Hidden Energy Challenges Behind Autonomous and Automated Operations

AI Safety in Robotics: Preventing ‘Unpredictable’ Robot Behavior

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In robotics, the phrase “unpredictable behavior” is often used to describe everything from a slightly unstable grasp to a catastrophic navigation failure.

But from a safety engineering perspective, unpredictability is not a mystery – it is the natural result of uncertainty, complex environments, and learning-based decision-making interacting with physical systems.

AI increases capability: robots can recognize objects, adapt to changing layouts, and work alongside humans. But AI can also introduce new failure modes. Machine-learned perception may misclassify obstacles. [Read more…] about AI Safety in Robotics: Preventing ‘Unpredictable’ Robot Behavior