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Boston Dynamics integrates Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics model into Spot inspection platform

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Boston Dynamics has partnered with Google Cloud and Google DeepMind to integrate advanced artificial intelligence models into its industrial inspection platform, in a move the company says will significantly expand the capabilities of autonomous robots in real-world environments.

The collaboration brings Google’s Gemini and Gemini Robotics-ER 1.6 into Boston Dynamics’ Orbit software, specifically its AI Visual Inspection (AIVI) and AIVI-Learning systems, which analyze images captured by the company’s Spot robot.

According to Boston Dynamics, the integration is designed to enable robots to move beyond basic detection tasks and instead perform more complex reasoning about their surroundings. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics integrates Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics model into Spot inspection platform

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

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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

Qualcomm joins MassRobotics to support startup ecosystem and robotics development

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MassRobotics has announced that Qualcomm Technologies has joined its organization as a sponsor, expanding the network of companies supporting robotics startups within its ecosystem.

The addition of Qualcomm Technologies is expected to provide new technical resources and collaboration opportunities for startups working within the MassRobotics community, which focuses on accelerating the development and commercialization of robotics technologies.

The move comes as Qualcomm Technologies continues to expand its presence in robotics and edge AI. The company recently introduced the Qualcomm Dragonwing Robotics Hub, a developer-focused platform within the Arduino Project Hub that provides sample applications and a shared environment for building and scaling robotics systems. [Read more…] about Qualcomm joins MassRobotics to support startup ecosystem and robotics development

ABB partners with Jacobi Robotics to roll out AI-powered palletizing for integrator network

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Jacobi Robotics, a Physical AI company for warehouse automation, has announced a collaboration with ABB Robotics, which will integrate Jacobi’s OmniPalletizer AI software within its portfolio of robotics hardware and software.

The collaboration will give ABB Robotics’ network of system integrators a productized, repeatable way to deploy AI-powered mixed-case palletizing without upstream sequencing infrastructure, facility redesign, or custom engineering.

Mixed-case palletizing – building stable, store-ready pallets from live, unsequenced case flows – is one of the most labor-intensive and costly manual workflows in distribution. [Read more…] about ABB partners with Jacobi Robotics to roll out AI-powered palletizing for integrator network

Cognibotics receives $1.7 million order for its robot calibration technology

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Cognibotics has announced that a “leading global industrial robot manufacturer” has placed an order valued at approximately SEK 16 million ($1.7 million) for its CogniCal robot calibration technology.

The order expands the customer’s use of CogniCal in robot production, and reinforces the growing role of calibration in industrial robot manufacturing.

CogniCal’s high-accuracy robot performance compensates for geometric deviations, elastic effects, and payload influence. The result is improved accuracy, reduced variance between robots, and shorter start time for end customers. [Read more…] about Cognibotics receives $1.7 million order for its robot calibration technology

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

OpenMind launches app store for robots

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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

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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