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IEEE Spectrum rounds up robotics videos, including a Skydio fixed-wing drone using a robot arm for launch and capture, humanoid performances, and underwater manipulation. The roundup does not establish autonomous operation for the humanoid performance.
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.
Robotiq has released updated Isaac Sim assets for the 2F-85 gripper, addressing simulation inaccuracies by supporting both PhysX and Newton physics backends. Newton enables precise closed-loop kinematics, crucial for sim-to-real fidelity, while Phys, and is part of Robotiq's open-source developer tools.
MIT researchers have developed a reconfigurable robotic lab that autonomously assembles, tunes, and dismantles optical experiments. The system uses robotic arms, 3D-printed component housings, and a cloud-based interface to enable remote operation. It can build and fine-tune a laser cavity in under 30 minutes, demonstrating the potential for fully automated optical experiments.
Universal Robots has launched Gen 7, its seventh-generation robotics platform, featuring a reengineered control box, teach pendant, and tool flange. The platform includes new g-Series robot arms, the CB7 Core controller, PolyScope X operating system, and TP7 teach pendant, all aimed at improving AI integration, safety, and ease of use in industrial automation.
MIT researchers have developed a new technique that helps generative AI models meet strict safety and task-specific constraints without sacrificing output quality. The method, called HardFlow, reformulates constraint satisfaction as a trajectory-optim, allowing models to explore more freely during generation while ensuring final compliance with hard constraints. It is tested on robotics, control, and computer vision tasks, consistently outperforming existing methods in constraint satisfaction and solution quality.
Universal Robots launched Gen 7, its seventh-generation robotics platform, featuring AI-ready hardware, a reengineered control box, and PolyScope X software. The platform aims to simplify AI deployment in industrial automation with enhanced safety, cybersecurity, and open architecture.
Aletta, the first autonomous blood-draw device approved for use in the U.S., uses imaging and robotics to perform blood draws with high success rates, even in challenging cases. While it addresses staffing shortages in clinical labs, concerns about skin tone bias and sample quality persist, requiring further validation.
This release introduces the ability to export a scene and trajectory as a standalone archive for bit-exact replay, along with numerous bug fixes and new features such as applying external wrenches, morph pose offsets, and improved FEM vertex constraints. It also includes enhancements for offscreen rendering and cross-platform compatibility.
Researchers from MIT Lincoln Laboratory deployed sensors in the Arctic to monitor under-ice sounds and test through-ice communication using a magnetic modem. The study addresses challenges in extreme weather and highlights the importance of community collaboration and sensor deployment strategies for Arctic research.
Robotiq has released official ROS 2 packages for their adaptive grippers, providing a drop-in replacement for existing community-driven packages. These packages support multiple ROS distributions, include hardware validation, and offer improved communication and control features for advanced robotic applications.
Skild AI introduces S1, a robotic foundation model that leverages in-context learning to execute complex, long-horizon tasks without post-training. This marks a significant shift from traditional fine-tuning approaches, enabling rapid deployment and reducing data requirements. The model demonstrates strong performance on unseen tasks, including plant potting, pancake cooking, and kit assembly, and shows robustness to perturbations and common-sense reasoning.
Researchers at MIT have developed FloatForm, a system of robotic tiles that can autonomously assemble into floating structures. Inspired by ant colony behavior, the system uses magnetic latches, sensors, and thrusters to reconfigure dynamically, addressing challenges like hydrodynamics and slipstreams. Potential applications include emergency response, public space, and infrastructure on water.
NEURA Robotics has acquired the ACTIVE Shuttle automated guided vehicle from Bosch Rexroth, effective October 1, 2026. This acquisition expands NEURA's portfolio and integrates the platform into its Physical AI ecosystem, enhancing autonomous transport solutions with AI and expanding its open robotics platform.
The article explores how the DARPA Grand Challenge and Robotics Challenge offer lessons for the development of physical AI. While autonomous driving has benefited from structured environments and abundant data, physical AI must address challenges like diverse physical interactions, limited real-world data, and the need for system reliability in industrial settings. The article emphasizes the importance of transitioning from demonstrations to reliable, economically viable production systems.
NEURA Robotics presents a seven-stage pipeline for training robots, from defining use cases and capturing real-world data to model training, optimization, and deployment. The process emphasizes physical AI, multimodal data collection, and iterative refinement to ensure reliable, scalable robotic capabilities.
This article explores the legacy and impact of the DARPA Robotics Challenge, which aimed to develop robots capable of performing complex tasks in disaster scenarios. It discusses key lessons learned, including the importance of shared autonomy, mechanical design, and reliability in robotic systems. The piece also examines the long-term impact of the DRC on industry and research, emphasizing how it shaped the development of physical AI and its current applications.
The Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) mission, supported by NASA, has launched with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) will service satellites in geosynchronous orbit using advanced robotics, including twin dexterous arms developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. NASA's support includes simulation tools, software analysis, and flight operators to enable in-orbit servicing and extend satellite lifespans.
Boston Dynamics deployed their production Atlas robot at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Norway-Brazil match, where it performed a ceremonial role and showcased its capabilities. The demonstration involved dynamic movement and precision, trained through reinforcement learning, and highlighted the robot's potential for industrial applications beyond entertainment.
Figure's latest generation robot, F.03, has arrived at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, demonstrating advanced dynamic whole-body control and sequencing use cases. Powered by Helix 02, the robot performs complex material manipulation tasks that require both precision and force, marking progress in embodied AI for manufacturing.
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