RoboStrategy Portfolio - July 20, 2026
#Google DeepMind
Andrew Kang@RewkangEditorial score1515Quoted postRoboStrategy@RoboStrategy
The Humanoid Hub@TheHumanoidHubEditorial score6868
High-tech Robotics — WeChatSignalEditorial score8585 A 2-Year-Old Embodied Intelligence Company Founded by Fei-Fei Li Sells for 55 Billion Yuan; Midea Group Plans to Acquire Welding Subsidiary for 6.64 Billion Yuan | Major Capital Events of the Week
The article reports on major capital events in the recent robotics and embodied intelligence sectors, including AMD's acquisition of WorldLabs, a company co-founded by Fei-Fei Li, for approximately 55 billion yuan, Midea Group's plan to acquire a welding subsidiary for 6.64 billion yuan, and several robotics companies such as Benmo Technology, Huanchuang Technology, and Juxi Intelligent completing financing or going public. Additionally, multiple embodied intelligence products and solutions have been launched, covering humanoid robots, service robots, flexible electronic skin, tactile perception systems, and more, showcasing the industry's rapid progress in technology, capital, and application scenarios.
RobohubEditorial score00 Accelerating Robot Learning with Michelle Lu
Michelle Lu, CEO of Vsim Technology, discusses using simulation and AI to teach robots new skills. She co-created Isaac Gym, a GPU-accelerated RL framework, and founded Vsim to address simulation-based robotics AI challenges.
arXiv Robotics — research abstractsEditorial score6262 DeepJEPA: Scaling World Models from Within
This research introduces DeepJEPA, a weight-tied joint-embedding predictive world model that scales computation internally by focusing on decision-critical transitions. It outperforms or matches fixed-depth planners in five visual-control settings while using fewer updates per transition, demonstrating that strategic allocation of internal computation improves planning without requiring uniform state decodability.
QbitAI — RoboticsSignalEditorial score8585 GPT-6 Astra Connects to Unitree G1, Cleans the Kitchen!
The Stanford team's HomeBody project demonstrates how GPT-6 Astra controls the Unitree G1 robot to complete kitchen cleaning tasks through a three-step process: spatial exploration, digital twin simulation, and task execution. The system uses pre-trained models and a skill library to perform complex operations in new environments without additional training.
Editorial context:The article explains how GPT-6 Astra controls the Unitree G1 robot to perform kitchen tasks using a three-step process: spatial exploration, simulation mapping, and task execution. It highlights the integration of perception, planning, and control systems, and discusses the role of pre-trained models and skill-based execution in enabling generalization across new environments.
arXiv Robotics — research abstractsEditorial score6262 DORA: Divergence-Oriented Data-Relay Algorithm for Partially Connected Robot Teams
This research presents DORA, a divergence-oriented data-relay algorithm that enhances communication in partially connected UAV teams by prioritizing the value of information to the team. The algorithm quantifies mission-relevant divergence between a robot's information state and its teammates' knowledge, improving MRT resolution delay by up to 74.8% over traditional methods.
arXiv Robotics — research abstractsEditorial score2828 In-Context Learning for Robots: Methods and Applications
Robots use in-context learning to infer new tasks from demonstrations. The study reviews four methods for contextual execution, focusing on transfer and memory in task adaptation.
arXiv Robotics — research abstractsEditorial score6363 SkillWeaver: Agentic Exploration over Neural Interaction Skills for Scalable Robot Data Generation
SkillWeaver is a framework that autonomously generates robot experience by exploring over Neural Interaction Skills (NIS), which are reusable, parameterized, closed-loop policies. It enables the agent to discover successful long-horizon behaviors through verifier-guided tree search, improving generalization across novel objects, tasks, and environments.
arXiv Robotics — research abstractsEditorial score6565 Test-Time Adaptation of Manipulation Policies Under Actuator Degradation
This research introduces TeAR, a policy-agnostic method that adapts manipulation policies in real-time using telemetry data to account for actuator degradation. Evaluated across 18 policy-task pairs, TeAR improves success rates by 10-15% under heating without requiring on-robot fine-tuning.
Sergey Levine@svlevineEditorial score6565Quoted postsimon@nautsimon_Over the weekend, I put an unreleased checkpoint of π0.7 inside an excavator and placed 2nd at the @ActorLabs + @physical_int 36hr hackathon. With about an hour of embodied data (3 cameras and joystick values, no joint angles), the policy could continuously move dirt with a single prompt. This was so straightforward to get working (pi is cooking) we spent the rest of the hackathon mounting a Nerf minigun on the roof. We added a people searching/tracking + firing feature to prevent people from getting too close to the dangerous machinery (ai safety feature). Here’s how we built it + more details (data collection, hardware hax, sim2real, video of me getting shot)🧵
Andrew Kang@RewkangEditorial score6262Quoted postDyna Robotics@DynaRoboticsWe are releasing Dyna-2.1, the first Physical Agent that achieves reliable super long-horizon whole-body autonomy. It combines our brand-new semi-humanoid hardware with an agentic system built around Dyna-2 to handle ultra-long real-world workflows. Here is an uncut footage of Dyna-2.1 completing an entire hour-long laundry room workflow, just like a human does.
Remi Cadene@RemiCadeneEditorial score2525Quoted postNicolas Keller@Nicolas_KellerThe Era of Evals is coming to AI robotics. Today we’re launching Reality Check: our leaderboard & first public robot manipulation benchmark. 14,400 real-world rollouts. Four models. Multiple tasks & data regimes. Object placements. Confidence intervals. FR3 Duo stations. 1/10
Yuke Zhu@yukezEditorial score2222
Eric Jang@ericjang11Editorial score1515
RobohubSignalEditorial score8585 Robotics Roadmaps from Around the World: Spotlight of the Month - China
China is pursuing a strategic roadmap through its Five-Year Plans to dominate the global robotics industry, focusing on embodied AI and humanoid robotics. The 13th and 14th FYPs laid the foundation for industrial automation, while the 15th FYP emphasizes embodied intelligence, with state support for R&D and mass deployment of humanoids. Despite achievements in market share and production scale, challenges remain in precision hardware and semiconductor self-sufficiency, with risks of overcapacity and market volatility.
Editorial context:This analysis provides a detailed overview of China's strategic approach to robotics through its Five-Year Plans, highlighting the shift from industrial automation to embodied AI and the challenges in achieving self-sufficiency in critical components. It emphasizes the role of state coordination, domestic manufacturing capabilities, and the risks associated with the rapid expansion of humanoid机器人.
MuJoCo — ReleasesEditorial score1515 MuJoCo 3.14.0 Release Notes
MuJoCo 3.14.0 introduces ipc flag for penetration-free flex contact, improves MJCF frame preservation, and updates API for actuator control.
Sergey Levine@svlevineEditorial score2323
Quoted postE Harrison@ehharrison4Asynchronous VLA inference reduces inference delay, but breaks the Markovian assumption necessary for RL fine-tuning. How can we enable RL fine-tuning of VLAs with async inference? We introduce ARLI: Asynchronous RL with Intermediate Information! https://async-rl-intermediate-information.github.io/ (1/n)
RobohubEditorial score3030 NASA's Curiosity Rover Offers Ground-Level Insights on Mars
NASA's Curiosity rover captures detailed images of Mars, aiding scientists in analyzing ancient water signs and potential life-supporting environments. The rover's data helps shape mission strategies and scientific understanding of Martian geology.
Genesis — ReleasesEditorial score1515 Genesis v1.4.1 Enhances Performance in Large Scenes
Genesis v1.4.1 improves CPU and GPU performance in large scenes with sub-linear speed scaling. It also fixes bugs and adds features for better scene handling and simulation.
Vikash Kumar ✈️IROS2026@VikashplusEditorial score2727Quoted postLukas Ziegler@lukas_m_zieglerAnother week, another robotics map! 🇬🇧 This time, we will take a closer look at the busy streets of London and see what robotics companies are located there. London has excellent engineers and researchers, especially from universities like Imperial College London and UCL, which are well known for robotics, AI, and engineering. Many robotics founders and early employees come directly from these universities. London is home to @GoogleDeepMind, one of the world’s leading AI labs. Its work on robot learning, control, and general AI has helped push forward how robots learn and adapt in the real world. The city also has one of Europe’s strongest investor ecosystems. London is a major global finance hub, so it’s easier to find venture capital, corporate investors, and early customers, especially for robotics companies working in areas like logistics, healthcare, and automation. It is very international and business-friendly. It’s easy to hire talent from around the world, set up a company, and sell globally. → @TheHumanoidAI builds general-purpose AI-driven humanoid robots capable of physical tasks across domains. → Automata Tech develops easy-to-deploy robotic automation hardware and software for SMBs to reduce manual labor. → @shadowrobot creates advanced dexterous robotic hands and manipulation systems for research and industrial automation. → Paddington Robotics designs small autonomous robots for retail and service environments to assist staff. → @KAIKAKU_AI builds robotics and AI enterprise solutions to optimize warehouse and logistics processes. → Automated Architecture (AUAR) develops spatial computing and robotic systems that blend physical and digital environments for construction and design. → @recycleye creates AI-powered robotics that identify, sort, and automate recycling and waste processing, and has raised ~$20M+ in funding. → @Neuracore_AI builds AI-based perception and planning software for autonomous robots, and has raised $10M+ in venture funding. → @apianhealth_ develops autonomous robotic systems for automated medication dispensing and hospital logistics. → @SlamcoreLtd offers high-performance SLAM navigation and vision software to help robots map and localize in complex environments, and has raised ~$6M+. → @MoleyRobotics builds fully automated robotic kitchen systems (“robotic chef”) and has raised tens of millions in funding (reports ~$30M+). → @dexoryHQ develops autonomous warehouse robots and AI software that continuously scan inventory and turn it into real-time operational insights, and has raised $80M Series B and a $165M Series C & growth round. → Extend Robotics builds tele-operation technology for robots, and helps with orchestrating the fleets of robots. It seems that if you wanted to explore London from the perspective of robotic startups, it would take a few days! What city should I do next? :) ~~ ♻️ Join the weekly robotics newsletter, and never miss any news → http://ziegler.substack.com
MuJoCo — ReleasesEditorial score88 MuJoCo 3.13.0 Release Notes
MuJoCo 3.13.0 introduces new integrator discrete, improved mesh support, and Python 3.15 compatibility. Key changes include enhanced stability and API updates.
MuJoCo — ReleasesEditorial score1515 MuJoCo 3.12.0 Release Notes
MuJoCo 3.12.0 introduces a unified MJCF schema, PID actuators, and improved collision detection. Key changes include texture format updates and actuator control enhancements.
Google DeepMind — RoboticsSignalEditorial score8888 Gemini Robotics ER 2: Powering Robotics with Video Understanding, Task Orchestration, and Multi-Robot Collaboration
Google DeepMind has launched Gemini Robotics ER 2, a new model that enhances robotics through video understanding, task orchestration, and multi-robot collaboration. It enables robots to perform complex tasks, adapt in real-time, and work together in shared environments. The model also improves safety and spatial reasoning capabilities, with performance benchmarks showing significant gains over previous versions.
Editorial context:Google DeepMind's Gemini Robotics ER 2 introduces a significant advancement in embodied reasoning for robotics, integrating video understanding, task orchestration, and multi-robot collaboration. It outperforms its predecessor in tool orchestration and safety benchmarks, enabling more robust and adaptive physical AI systems.
Google DeepMind — RoboticsSignalEditorial score8888 Gemini Robotics 2 brings whole body intelligence to robots
Google DeepMind has released Gemini Robotics 2, a new model that enables robots to perform complex tasks with whole-body intelligence, advanced dexterity, and multi-robot collaboration. The model supports real-time reasoning, on-device adaptation, and safety features for human-robot interaction.
Editorial context:Google DeepMind introduces Gemini Robotics 2, a significant advancement in whole-body control and multi-robot collaboration for embodied AI. The release highlights improvements in dexterity, reasoning, and on-device adaptation, with a focus on safety and real-world task execution.
MuJoCo — ReleasesEditorial score1515 MuJoCo 3.11.0 Release Notes
MuJoCo 3.11.0 introduces surface velocity, adhesion, and improved integration for physics simulations. Key updates include better handling of conveyor belts, friction, and energy conservation.
Open Robotics — BlogEditorial score1515 Resources for ROS 1 Users
ROS 2 has been in development for over a decade, but many users still rely on ROS 1. This article lists commercial resources to support ongoing use, including security patches and bug fixes.
MuJoCo — ReleasesEditorial score00 MuJoCo 3.7.0 Released
MuJoCo 3.7.0 released with new assets and binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Update includes version 72cb2b2.
Google DeepMind — RoboticsSignalEditorial score8585 Gemini Robotics-ER 1.6: Powering real-world robotics tasks through enhanced embodied reasoning
Google DeepMind has released Gemini Robotics-ER 1.6, an upgraded model that enhances embodied reasoning for robotics. This model improves spatial reasoning, multi-view understanding, and safety compliance, enabling robots to perform complex tasks like instrument reading. It is available via the Gemini API and Google AI Studio, with examples provided in a developer Colab.
Editorial context:Google DeepMind's Gemini Robotics-ER 1.6 represents a significant advancement in embodied reasoning for robotics, enhancing spatial reasoning, multi-view understanding, and safety compliance. It introduces instrument reading capabilities, crucial for industrial applications, and demonstrates improved performance over previous versions in both task success detection and safety instruction following
Open Robotics — BlogEditorial score4040 Open Robotics Joins Google Summer of Code 2025 with Record Student Participation
Open Robotics reports record nine students participating in GSoC 2025 across five projects. Key projects include ROS 2 tracing improvements, C/C++ to ROS message conversion, and Gazebo-based sonar simulations.