Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

robotics research

Empowering STEM Education and Research in the Americas: Elephant Robotics Introduces Integrated Educational Robotics Solutions

by

STEM education has experienced rapid growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand for practical engineering skills, artificial intelligence literacy, and interdisciplinary innovation.

However, for schools, universities, and research laboratories, building effective robotics environments has long remained a challenge.

In many cases, instructors must integrate robotic arms, mobile platforms, sensors, and open-source software from multiple vendors, often spending weeks resolving compatibility issues before meaningful teaching or experimentation can begin. [Read more…] about Empowering STEM Education and Research in the Americas: Elephant Robotics Introduces Integrated Educational Robotics Solutions

Interview with Sharpa’s Alicia Veneziani: ‘Dexterous manipulation is the key to useful humanoid robots’

by

Much of the recent excitement surrounding humanoid robots has focused on increasingly impressive demonstrations of walking, running, jumping, and balancing. Yet many robotics experts argue that locomotion, while important, is only part of the challenge.

The bigger obstacle to creating genuinely useful humanoid robots may be something far more familiar to humans: the ability to use their hands.

Among the companies focused on solving this problem is Sharpa, a Singapore-based robotics startup developing dexterous robotic hands, tactile sensing systems, and embodied AI technologies designed to enable robots to interact more effectively with the physical world. [Read more…] about Interview with Sharpa’s Alicia Veneziani: ‘Dexterous manipulation is the key to useful humanoid robots’

How Sony AI’s table tennis robot is advancing physical AI

by

Although Omron and Kuka have demonstrated similar systems before, a table tennis-playing robot may still sound like a novelty to some. After all, industrial robots already assemble cars, sort parcels and weld metal with remarkable precision.

But for researchers working at the intersection of robotics and artificial intelligence, table tennis represents one of the most demanding real-world tests imaginable.

A successful table tennis player must perceive a fast-moving object, predict its trajectory, decide on a response, position themselves correctly and execute a precise movement – all within fractions of a second. The challenge combines vision, motion planning, control, prediction and decision-making in a constantly changing environment. [Read more…] about How Sony AI’s table tennis robot is advancing physical AI

MassRobotics honors Stanford’s Allison Okamura and Seoul National University’s Ayoung Kim with 2026 robotics medals

by

MassRobotics, a robotics innovation organization, announced its 2026 Robotics Medal and Rising Star recipients at the recent IEEE ICRA conference in Vienna.

The Robotics Medal is the world’s first major award to recognize the wide-ranging impact of female researchers focusing on the development of robotics around the globe.

The Robotics Medal is awarded to a nominated woman researcher in robotics to recognize her impactful contributions to the field and includes a $50,000 prize awarded to the individual. [Read more…] about MassRobotics honors Stanford’s Allison Okamura and Seoul National University’s Ayoung Kim with 2026 robotics medals

Interview with Columbia professor and co-founder of SceniX Yunzhu Li: ‘Simulation is central’

by

The robotics industry is enjoying a surge of investment, media attention, and ambitious promises about the future of humanoid machines.

Companies are announcing plans to manufacture thousands of robots, while advances in artificial intelligence have fueled expectations that general-purpose robots may soon become commonplace in factories, warehouses, workplaces, and even homes.

Yet beneath the excitement lies a fundamental technical challenge that many researchers believe remains far from solved. [Read more…] about Interview with Columbia professor and co-founder of SceniX Yunzhu Li: ‘Simulation is central’

Kirisense wins funding to develop robotic fingertips that can sense touch and slip

by

UK robotics startup Kirisense has secured funding from the Henry Royce Institute to develop advanced tactile sensing technology designed to give robots a more human-like sense of touch.

The project, supported through the Henry Royce Institute’s Industrial Collaboration Programme and delivered in partnership with the University of Sheffield, will focus on creating robotic fingertips capable of detecting shear forces and slip in real time.

The funding comes as the robotics industry increasingly turns its attention from perception to manipulation. While advances in artificial intelligence and machine vision have significantly improved what robots can see and understand, handling objects reliably remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges. [Read more…] about Kirisense wins funding to develop robotic fingertips that can sense touch and slip

Why robotics can’t advance without physical AI

by

The next leap in robotics won’t come from faster processors or more sophisticated mechanical design. It will come from better data, specifically, from training environments that replicate how the physical world actually behaves.  [Read more…] about Why robotics can’t advance without physical AI

ABB and Salzburg researchers patent AI system to cut energy use in industrial robots

by

Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and ABB’s Machine Automation Division – B&R –  are working together to apply artificial intelligence to improve energy efficiency in industrial automation.

The collaboration, anchored in the Josef Ressel Center for Intelligent and Secure Industrial Automation (JRZ ISIA), focuses on translating advanced research into practical solutions for industrial drive systems.

A recent milestone of this collaboration is the filing of a joint patent application in the field of energy-optimized motion control for drive systems used in industrial automation – such as robots, machine tools and automated production lines – where highly dynamic motion sequences including positioning, acceleration, deceleration and cyclic movement must be controlled with high precision. [Read more…] about ABB and Salzburg researchers patent AI system to cut energy use in industrial robots

Flexiv to offer exclusive preview of next-generation robots at ICRA

by

Flexiv, a provider of general-purpose robotics, has announced it will host an exclusive preview of its next-generation robotics portfolio at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), taking place June 1-5 in Vienna, Austria.

At Hall B, Booth 130, visitors will get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of two groundbreaking robotic platforms ahead of their international launch later this year.

Flexiv is using the event to demonstrate the core architecture and technical capabilities of its new lineup, showcasing new benchmarks in tactile intelligence and modular adaptability. [Read more…] about Flexiv to offer exclusive preview of next-generation robots at ICRA

Rotaku launches Domo humanoid robot platform starting at $2,999 for developers

by

Rotaku has opened reservations for Domo, a compact humanoid robot platform designed for developers, makers, educators and robotics teams working with real humanoid hardware.

The Domo lineup starts at $2,999 and is intended to make humanoid robot development more accessible to users working on motion control, teleoperation, manipulation, robot interaction and embodied AI. [Read more…] about Rotaku launches Domo humanoid robot platform starting at $2,999 for developers