Physical AI & robotics news
- · Product launches
Aurora Outlines Driverless Operations for Second-Generation Trucks and Expansion Plans at Investor Day 2026
At Investor Day 2026 on September 23, 2026, Aurora said its second-generation trucks are driving driverless on public roads every day.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Qualcomm Agrees to Acquire PickNik; MoveIt to Remain Open Source
Qualcomm Technologies Inc. has agreed to acquire PickNik Inc. The deal includes robotics software and MoveIt, an open-source manipulation framework. The companies said they will work to integrate the Qualcomm Dragonwing platform with MoveIt, creating a workflow that links AI models with planning, manipulation and real-time control. PickNik said it will preserve MoveIt’s openness, indicating that it plans to maintain its open-source approach after the acquisition.
What Is Figure AI? A Look at Helix 2.5 and Demonstrations in Factories and Homes
Figure AI is a company testing humanoid robot control policies on physical robots and discussing them in the context of household tasks and factory integration. Articles published by this newspaper cover home trials of Helix 2.5 and reports of robots being connected to production lines at Tesla, BMW and Mercedes. For readers seeking a straightforward answer, Figure AI is best understood as a company working to move humanoid robots from research toward practical use.
- · Policy & regulation
China’s regulators effectively halt approvals for humanoid robot IPOs
Reuters reported that China’s securities regulators are effectively halting approvals for initial public offerings by humanoid robotics companies.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Waymo reportedly exploring autonomous-driving technology deal with Toyota
The possibility of Waymo providing its autonomous-driving technology to automakers has been raised. The focus was on a potential deal with Toyota, and the report mentioned licensing as an option. The backdrop is the view that a business centered on robotaxis alone may have limited growth potential and profitability. However, no specific terms or timing for providing the technology to Toyota were given.
- · Policy & regulation
Government Set to Launch Full-Scale Research on Defense Uses for Humanoid Robots; FY2027 Budget Request Includes Unpriced Item
The government is considering launching full-scale research into the use of humanoid robots in defense. The plan envisions using AI-equipped autonomous “physical AI” for support missions such as base security and transporting supplies. The Ministry of Defense included the research in its FY2027 budget request as an item without a specified amount.
- · Research & technology
Forbes Publishes Article on AI for Autonomous Trucks
Forbes reported on AI for autonomous trucks that is said to be able to drive on highways without prior training.
- · Policy & regulation
Government considers humanoid robots for defense, including AI-powered base security and transport
The government is considering using humanoid robots in the defense sector. The robots would be equipped with AI and are envisioned for use in base security and transport. The aim is to reduce staffing needs, but the conditions for actual deployment and safety checks will be key issues. See the original source for details.
- · Product launches
Google Is Open-Sourcing Software for Robots, Forbes Reports
Forbes reported that Google is open-sourcing software for robots. Sundar Pichai reportedly called the software “Android for robots.” The report described the move as part of a strategy to drive demand for high-value AI components.
- · Funding
May Mobility to Go Public on Nasdaq Through SPAC Merger
May Mobility announced a merger agreement with ACP Holdings Acquisition Corp. and said it plans to list on Nasdaq.
- · Deployment & production
Boston Dynamics Opens RMAC
Boston Dynamics announced on the 21st that it had opened the Robotics Metaplant Application Center (RMAC), where Atlas will be trained and demonstrated, inside Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America.
- · Deployment & production
Report: Toyota Plans to Deploy Humanoids in Factories
Toyota Motor plans to begin deploying humanoid robots at production sites worldwide in 2028, according to reports. The planned deployment could reach up to 400,000 units, with the robots expected to work alongside people in the company’s factories. The plan reportedly also includes ELEY, a robot developed in-house by Toyota.
- · Deployment & production
UBTECH’s 10,000-Unit-Class Humanoid Robot Factory in Liuzhou Starts Production, With Plans for One Robot Every 10 Minutes
UBTECH held a production launch ceremony on September 12 for its industrial humanoid robot factory in Liuzhou, designed for more than 10,000 units a year. The production line is designed to turn out one robot every 10 minutes. The factory is built around a dedicated digital manufacturing platform developed with Siemens to refine material handling, assembly and precision control for mass production.
- · Industry
Tesla Holds Cybercab Public Tour in Tokyo and Other Cities
jidounten-lab.com reported that Tesla Japan held events in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya in September 2026 where visitors could see a Cybercab in person. The vehicle is designed for autonomous operation and seats two, with no steering wheel or pedals. It is equipped with eight external cameras, the report said. The article also said deployments began in Austin, Texas, in September 2026.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Government, DMG MORI and Komatsu to Join Forces on Data Collection for Physical AI, The Nikkei Reports
The government and major machinery makers, including DMG MORI and Komatsu, are moving toward a collaboration to collect training data for physical AI, The Nikkei reported. The plan calls for assigning common IDs to machines in factories and gathering manufacturing data across company boundaries. The article also cited the government’s goal of growing Japan’s domestic AI robotics industry to more than 30% of the global market and a scale of ¥20 trillion by 2040.
- · Research & technology
Forbes Reports on MIT Optical Project Research to Improve Robot Dexterity
Forbes reported that an MIT optical project is working to improve robot dexterity.
- · Research & technology
York University publishes convergent binocular depth estimation research in Science Robotics
A research team at York University in Canada published a method in Science Robotics that uses disparity information from converging binocular vision to estimate depth.
- · Product launches
Tesla Unveils Cybercab in Japan for the First Time
Tesla is displaying the Cybercab, a vehicle developed for autonomous taxis, in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya in succession.
- · Product launches
Figure Unveils Helix 2.5
Figure announced that it has released Helix 2.5, a humanoid control policy.
- · Product launches
Unitree Unveils G1+ and New Foundation Model
Unitree announced the G1+ humanoid robot on Sept. 14, saying it had updated the robot’s perception and motion capabilities. The company also unveiled UnifoLM-WLA-1.0, a new-generation general-purpose humanoid robot foundation model.
- · Deployment & production
Toyota to deploy 400,000 humanoid robots at factories worldwide, Nikkei reports
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that Toyota Motor will deploy 400,000 internally developed humanoid robots at its factories worldwide. The excerpt provided does not confirm related technical specifications or the deployment timeline. The report can be viewed as a move to connect Toyota’s robot development with factory operations.
- · Product launches
Kawasaki Heavy Industries unveils a robot with force-feedback capabilities
Kawasaki Heavy Industries unveiled Plesio, a communicator that can be used for stirring tasks with the Successor robotic system, on Sept. 9, 2026, ITmedia reported on Sept. 18.
- · Research & technology
Noetra to build a real-world model
Nikkei xTECH reported that Noetra will build a real-world model using about 27,500 NVIDIA GPUs.
- · Industry
Nikkei xTECH publishes article on autonomous driving
Nikkei xTECH published an article about an E2E autonomous-driving unicorn.
- · Product launches
Nikkei xTECH introduces MW’s smart-home concept
Nikkei xTECH introduced MW’s vision for homes with dual-arm robots installed in the ceiling.
- · Product launches
QBit Semiconductor Announces Physical AI and Drone Road Map With QB88XX Series
QBit Semiconductor outlined a road map for chipsets for robots and drones at SEMICON Taiwan 2026. At its core is the QB88XX series, which integrates a robot’s “cerebellum” control functions and is designed to control up to 32 motors, among other capabilities. For drones, the company unveiled a two-stage strategy: QB77XX from 2026 to 2028, followed by QB88XX from 2029 onward.
- · Research & technology
ETH Zurich and Others Unveil Robot for Fetal Surgery
A research team including ETH Zurich has unveiled a magnetically controlled flexible endoscopic robot for fetal surgery, leaderobot.com reported.
- · Industry
OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra reportedly achieves 95% success rate in robotic arm control
leaderobot.com reported that OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra can directly control robotic arms without additional training. In real-world tests by Robocurve, it reportedly achieved a 95% success rate on a dual-arm pick-and-place task. The debate centers on whether large foundation models will become the core of embodied AI or whether a separate spatial and physical control layer is still needed.
- · Partnerships & M&A
AVITA, Daicel to begin joint trial of quadruped robot for factory patrols and equipment inspections in December 2026
AVITA and Daicel will begin a joint trial in December 2026 at Daicel’s Otake Plant in Otake, Hiroshima Prefecture, using a quadruped robot. The trial will focus on patrols and equipment inspections inside a manufacturing plant, with the Unitree Go2 used for initial testing. The focus is less on replacing hazardous work than on establishing the conditions and operating procedures needed for sustained use in an actual factory.
- · Partnerships & M&A
ExaWizards and Sumitomo Wiring Systems to Jointly Develop AI Agent Suite Using Physical AI
The companies say they will begin building multiple AI agents for anomaly detection and skills transfer. The focus is on designing AI for manufacturing sites as a suite of agents rather than as a standalone support tool.