Physical AI & robotics news
- · Deployment & production
Yazaki and others launch warehouse trial
ITmedia reported that Yazaki Corp., Cuebus and Yamazen have begun a demonstration of a linear-motor-based automated 3D robot warehouse.
- · Policy & regulation
Nikkei XTECH examines who will bear U.S. costs amid ban on imports of new humanoid robot models
Nikkei XTECH discussed who in the United States would bear the costs of a ban on imports of new humanoid robot models. Based on secondary reporting, the focus is on the import restrictions themselves and who will bear their costs. Public information alone does not yet establish the full picture of the scope, exceptions or effects across industries.
- · Research & technology
Nikkei XTECH Reports on the Development of Basketball Robot CUE7
Nikkei XTECH reported on the development of basketball robot CUE7.
- · Industry
Humanoid robots’ 100-meter run highlights control challenges after the finish, The Nikkei reports
The Nikkei reported on Sept. 29 that a humanoid robot made contact with a wall after completing a 100-meter run. The issue appears to be less about speed than about controlling posture and direction after the run. Competitive demonstrations are increasing, but designing movement that includes stopping, slowing down and recovering in real-world settings is becoming a focus.
- · Product launches
IHMC Unveils Research Humanoid Alex With 29 Degrees of Freedom, Two-Hour Runtime
IHMC has unveiled Alex, a research humanoid. It stands 175 centimeters tall, weighs 85 kilograms and has 29 degrees of freedom. It features wired and wireless teleoperation, stereo vision and five-finger hands, and has a stated top speed of 3 kph. The platform is positioned for supervised research in hazardous environments and field work.
- · Product launches
humanoid.guide spotlights Sanctuary AI’s Hydraulic Hand
humanoid.guide featured Sanctuary AI’s “Hydraulic Hand” on September 29, 2026. The product is positioned as a human-sized robotic end effector for industrial automation and future humanoids. The article touches on its technology and price, but details require consulting the original source.
- · Deployment & production
AGIBOT and ASD to Deploy 100 AGIBOT X2 Humanoid Robots Across 100 Stores
AGIBOT announced that it will deploy 100 AGIBOT X2 humanoid robots with ASD across 100 retail stores. The primary source identifies retail stores as the deployment sites, with a plan to match each robot to one store. The public information indicates the scale of the rollout but does not provide details on its timing or operating conditions.
- · Research & technology
KAIST Team Develops Artificial Material That Grasps Objects With Light
A KAIST research team has developed an ionic soft material called “Ionograsper” that detects approaching objects and bends to grasp them under ultraviolet light. The material can retain its deformed shape for more than 10 minutes and could reduce the number of components and wires in soft robotic hands. The key question is how close a design that combines sensing and grasping in a single material has come to meeting practical requirements.
- · Industry
Review of Robotics Trends in Manufacturing
The Robot Report published an article reviewing the growing use of robots in manufacturing.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Hitachi develops ‘brains’ for AI robots on production lines with German startup
Nikkei reported that Hitachi Ltd. will develop the ‘brains’ for AI robots used on production lines with a German startup. The project targets production-line applications and appears to be part of Hitachi’s efforts to expand its physical AI-related business for the manufacturing industry. Details of the project should be confirmed in the original report.
- · Research & technology
36Kr introduces edge-side inference engine, touts reduced latency for large models on robots
36Kr introduced an open-source edge-side inference engine that it says lets robots run large models on the robots themselves without lag. The focus is software innovation, specifically optimizing the execution platform rather than adding hardware. The original article should be consulted for detailed specifications and performance conditions.
- · Product launches
Walker II Introduced
humanoid.guide introduced Walker II, a humanoid developed by DroidUp and Shanghai Zhuoyide Robotics.
- · Product launches
humanoid.guide introduces Daimon Robotics’ DM Hand1
humanoid.guide introduced Daimon Robotics’ DM Hand1 on September 29, 2026. The article describes the DM Hand1 as a five-finger robotic hand. It places the product at the development stage and characterizes it as intended for research and development in dexterous manipulation.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Hitachi and Agile Robots Reach Basic Agreement on Collaboration
Hitachi Ltd. announced Sept. 29 that it had reached a basic agreement with Agile Robots SE on a co-creation partnership to develop the “brains” of AI robotics.
- · Product launches
Introducing LinkerBot’s humanoid manipulation platform, LinkerArm A7
humanoid.guide introduced LinkerBot’s LinkerArm A7 on September 29, 2026. The article positions it as a humanoid manipulation platform combining a seven-axis arm with the Linker Hand series. We refer readers to the original source for details.
- · Funding
Mech-Mind Robotics Moves Toward Hong Kong Listing
36Kr reported that Mech-Mind Robotics is moving toward a listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
- · Deployment & production
ugo mini to be tested at Seibu Railway substation
ugo announced it will begin a demonstration of its inspection AI robot, ugo mini, at Seibu Railway’s Ikebukuro Substation.
- · Industry
Mobileye CEO Shashua to Step Down; Focus on Technology Supply to Nissan and Toyota
jidounten-lab.com reported on September 29, 2026, “Mobileye CEO Shashua to Step Down; Focus on Technology Supply to Nissan and Toyota.”
- · Industry
MONOist Publishes Feature on STRADVISION and AWS
MONOist published an article dated September 28, 2026, about STRADVISION and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The article covers AWS’s startup support and information shared during a media tour.
- · Industry
The Nikkei reports on FANUC’s U.S. shift in the AI era and parts supply chain
The Nikkei reported on Sept. 28 that FANUC is shifting toward the United States and faces challenges involving its parts supply chain. The article said that while the company is moving to center its business operations on the United States in the AI era, securing its parts supply chain has become a key issue. Details are limited to the excerpt from the main source, but it suggests that supply chain constraints are a prerequisite shaping the company’s strategy.
- · Partnerships & M&A
AMD to acquire U.S. startup for ¥1.3 trillion, report says, to bolster physical AI development
The Nikkei reported that AMD will acquire a U.S. startup for about ¥1.3 trillion. The report says the deal is aimed at strengthening development related to physical AI. Refer to the original source for details.
- · Product launches
NVIDIA Announces Safety Management Platform
NVIDIA announced the Open Agent Safety Platform to strengthen access control and management for AI agents.
- · Product launches
humanoid.guide introduces Sharpa Robotics’ wheeled humanoid North
humanoid.guide reported on September 28, 2026, that it had introduced Sharpa Robotics’ wheeled humanoid North.
- · Research & technology
TUM unveils soft exosuit with artificial tendons to help older adults stand and walk
The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has unveiled a lightweight soft exosuit that uses artificial tendons. Tests involving 10 older adults found an increase in sit-to-stand repetitions and lower metabolic cost while walking. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
- · Product launches
Be Able to Launch AI Robots for Nuclear Plant Decommissioning
The Nikkei reported that Be Able plans to launch AI robots for nuclear plant decommissioning around 2027.
- · Product launches
MW Demonstrates Household Chores With Dual-Arm Robot, Report Says It Aims to Sell Homes as Early as 2028
The Nikkei reported that MW demonstrated household chores using a dual-arm robot and aims to sell homes as early as 2028. The source is an interview/report and does not provide primary information on detailed specifications or sales terms. This article focuses on links to earlier coverage and issues involved in integrating homes and robots.
- · Research & technology
Takenaka Civil Engineering & Construction and Jinki Ittai develop technology to remotely load explosives for mountain tunnel construction, report says
Nikkei reported that Takenaka Civil Engineering & Construction and Jinki Ittai have developed technology to remotely load explosives during mountain tunnel construction.
- · Deployment & production
Tesla’s Optimus output grows nearly 10-fold, with manual assembly becoming a bottleneck
Reports say output of Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, has increased nearly 10-fold. At the same time, assembly of the robot’s hands is said to still rely on human labor, highlighting a bottleneck in mass production. The focus is not so much on the production increase itself as on constraints in the final assembly process.
- · Deployment & production
Tesla Optimus Weekly Output Reportedly Tops Several Hundred Units
Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus has reportedly reached weekly output of more than several hundred units. The report suggests the robot has reached a supply-chain milestone and points to business opportunities involving key components. However, the article’s details are limited to an excerpt, and the original source needs to be checked.
- · Industry
Reports on Tesla Robotaxi Crash Rates
U.S. tech outlet Engadget reported that the way Tesla robotaxi crashes compare with human-driven vehicles requires careful interpretation.