Papers & Evaluations Latest coverage

Humanoid Robot Patents: China Claims 60% Share, What Next?

The article analyzes China's leading position in the field of humanoid robot patents, noting that as of the first half of 2026, China holds 60.8% of relevant patents, significantly surpassing the United States and South Korea. The article examines the evolution of patent strategies, the trend of technological shift from hardware to software, and the progress made by Chinese companies in patent quality, application scenarios, and global layout. It also points out that patent quantity does not equate to comprehensive technological leadership, emphasizing the challenges of manufacturing costs and quality, as well as the dual role of patents in industrial competition.

Robotic Systems Lab@leggedrobotics· 16:29SignalEditorial score6262

The team at ETH Robotic Systems Lab demonstrated high-speed rough-terrain locomotion on ANYmal using an automatic curriculum learning approach called LP-ACRL. This method dynamically samples terrain types, difficulty levels, and velocity commands based on policy performance, without requiring pre-defined training sequences. The work was presented at RAL 2026.

Wind-up elastic robot jumps forever when fed infrared light

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a soft, non-electronic robot that jumps continuously using infrared light. The 'soft ring jumper' uses elastic energy stored through torsion, with a V-shaped aluminum stopper controlling the direction of movement. By adjusting the geometry of the V-stop, the robot can crawl, jump forward, or leap vertically. The design enables autonomous jumping without external resets, opening possibilities for use in environmental navigation and unstructured terrain.

LAMP Helps Robots Find a Way Through

Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed LAMP, a system that allows multiple robots to work together to move objects through crowded spaces. LAMP combines learned models with search-based planning to enable efficient navigation and coordination, with successful testing in complex environments and a demonstration at the 2026 IROS conference.

Microscopic Robots Inspired by Fireflies and Cilia Sync to Reshape Surroundings

Cornell researchers have developed microscopic robots that can sense temperature and work together to alter their environment by pumping liquid between hot and cold regions. Inspired by natural systems like fireflies and cilia, these robots use synchronized motion and electronic communication to achieve collective behavior, marking a significant step toward advanced micro-robotics with potential applications in medical and agricultural settings.

Robotic lab sets up and runs optics experiments on demand

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.

Skeleton-guided geometry-aware auto-labeling for robotic grasping: From 4-DoF learning to 6-DoF execution

This research introduces a novel algorithm for generating grasp keypoints using straight skeletons to identify high-potential regions for stable grasping. A fully automated pipeline enables large-scale annotation without human intervention, and a new architecture, SkelGG-CNN, is introduced for 4-DoF grasping. The method is extended to 6-DoF grasping using a generalized quasi-3D skeletonization algorithm, achieving high accuracy on multiple benchmarks and real-world experiments. The framework enables efficient training of lightweight models for real-world deployment.

New method enables AI for safety-critical situations

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.

Robots Are Learning to Feel

This article explores how tactile data is helping robots improve their dexterous manipulation skills. Researchers are creating large tactile datasets and models that can use tactile feedback to enhance robot performance in tasks like folding laundry or turning keys. Challenges include the difficulty of integrating tactile data with vision-based models and the need for more diverse and scalable datasets to achieve significant improvements in robot dexterity.

Cyborg Roaches Can Stab You With Needles

Researchers at the University of Queensland have developed 'Paraborgs'—cyborg cockroaches equipped with needles and cameras to assist in search-and-rescue missions. These insects, grafted with electronic interfaces, can navigate rubble, deliver drugs, and operate in teams. The study addresses challenges in autonomy, communication, and human interaction with the technology.

Robotic tiles autonomously Lego-snap into floating smart structures

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.

Physical AI: The DARPA Legacy & the Road Ahead — From Face-Plants to Foundation Models

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.

Training Robots in Real-World Conditions: Why Physical AI Can’t Learn From the Internet

The article discusses the challenges of training physical AI systems in real-world environments, highlighting the need for real-world data and the limitations of simulated training. It introduces NEURA Gyms as a global network of physical training facilities that convert human expertise into scalable robot skills, enabling companies to deploy with confidence and reduce rework. NEURA Gyms offer a full deployment cycle, data control, and a marketplace for sharing trained skills.

New flapping robot swims and flies like a diving bird

Engineers at MIT and EPFL have developed a flapping-wing robot, or FAAV, that can swim underwater and then flap into the air, mimicking the movement of diving birds. The robot, weighing less than 300 grams, can transition between water and air using optimized wing size, flapping frequency, and tail angle. The study, published in Science, could enable new aerial-aquatic drones for oceanographic research and environmental monitoring.

Tiny robot boats build floating structures

MIT researchers have developed FloatForm, a system of small robotic boats that can autonomously assemble into floating structures, disassemble, and reconfigure. Inspired by ant rafts, the system uses decentralized control and modular components to create dynamic, programmable water-based infrastructure. The work has potential applications in urban planning, emergency response, and adaptive public spaces.

NASA Robotic Tech Demo Will Advance Prototype Gamma-Ray Detectors

NASA's AstroPix gamma-ray sensor technology will be tested on a robotic arm demonstration mission as part of the Fly Foundational Robots mission, set to launch in late 2027. The sensors are designed to measure gamma rays between 20,000 and 700,000 electron volts, addressing gaps in current detection capabilities for high-energy gamma rays. The mission also includes a robotic servicing demonstration and will host the AstroPix payload in an Orbital Replacement Unit.

Powered by Clearpath: Research Highlights from ICRA 2026

Clearpath Robotics highlights research presented at ICRA 2026, showcasing how their robots are used in autonomous navigation, human-robot interaction, and agricultural applications. The papers demonstrate methods for far-field image-based mapping, social preference learning for crowd navigation, and shared control for UGVs in orchards.

Sanctuary AI Demonstrates Zero-Shot In-Hand Manipulation on Hydraulic Hand

Sanctuary AI has demonstrated zero-shot in-hand manipulation using their proprietary hydraulic hand, autonomously reorienting a lettered cube ten times without dropping it. This showcases successful simulation-to-reality transfer, overcoming challenges in simulating dexterous hands and highlighting the company's advanced robotic hardware and policy training capabilities.

Robots, Rovers, and Regolith: NASA Brings Exploration to FIRST Robotics 2025

NASA showcased its robotic technologies and future space exploration vision at the 2025 FIRST Robotics World Championship, engaging over 55,000 students and 75,000 parents and mentors. The event featured interactive exhibits, including lunar rovers, robotic arms, and the Mars Perseverance Rover, with NASA centers highlighting innovations like automated assembly systems and surface manipulation technologies.

Sanctuary AI Leads the Industry in Controlling Advanced Hydraulic Hands Using Reinforcement Learning

Sanctuary AI has demonstrated advanced manipulation skills using reinforcement learning to train dexterous policies for their high-performance hydraulic hands. The system successfully reorients objects in the real world under gravity and with added weight, showcasing the effectiveness of their approach. This represents the first successful transfer of such policies to five-fingered hands, highlighting the company's proprietary technology and hardware capabilities.