Physical AI & robotics news
- · Research & technology
Zhongke (Shenzhen) Wireless Semiconductor and Guangxi University Win ACM MM 2026 EgoLink Challenge
A team from Zhongke (Shenzhen) Wireless Semiconductor Co., Ltd. and Guangxi University won the ACM MM 2026 EgoLink Challenge, leaderobot.com reported on the 18th.
- · Industry
ITmedia Reports SUGENA’s Mapping of 15 Chinese Physical AI Companies and Five Major Hubs
ITmedia published an article mapping China’s physical AI sector through 15 leading companies and five major hubs. The focus is less on individual company developments than on viewing the companies and regional layout as “points, lines and planes.” See the original source for details.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Quikbot Partners With Mitsubishi Elevator Singapore and Hitachi High-Tech Singapore to Roll Out Building Robot Operations Platform
Quikbot Technologies formed a strategic partnership with Mitsubishi Elevator Singapore on September 8. The following day, it signed an agreement with Hitachi High-Tech Singapore. The partnership centers on QuikSync, a platform for safely operating autonomous robots inside buildings. The deals are said to be Quikbot’s first full-scale strategic partnerships with Japanese companies. Potential applications include indoor transport and facility operations.
- · 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.
- · Industry
Nikkei Business Digital Publishes Interview With Noetra President Hirotora Tamba
Nikkei Business Digital published an interview with Hirotora Tamba, president of AI development company Noetra.
- · Industry
TIER IV CEO Kato calls for democratizing autonomous driving through open-source platform, Nikkei Business reports
Nikkei Business’ online edition reported that TIER IV CEO Kato said the company would “democratize autonomous driving” through an open-source development platform. The article describes the company’s thinking about its development platform. Related articles in this newspaper have also reported TIER IV’s MoU with Astemo and its membership in imec’s automotive chiplet program.
- · 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
Agility Robotics to hold analyst and investor briefing on Oct. 6
Agility Robotics will hold an analyst and investor briefing in New York on Oct. 6, 2026. The company says the event will cover the technology, commercial strategy, and manufacturing and operating model of its recently announced humanoid robot, Digit 5. Agility is pursuing a Nasdaq listing through a business combination with Churchill Capital Corp XI.
- · 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.
- · Industry
Bloomberg Reports Humanoids’ Debut on China’s Stock Market
Bloomberg reported that humanoids are set to make their stock market debut in the context of China’s AI push. The focus is the report itself; the original article is needed to confirm the details. Based on publicly available information alone, the full picture of the companies involved and market reaction remains limited.
- · 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.
- · Deployment & production
Daicel to Begin Physical AI Equipment Inspection Trial at Hiroshima’s Otake Plant in December
Daicel will begin a trial in December at its Otake Plant in Otake, Hiroshima Prefecture, using physical AI for chemical plant patrols and equipment inspections. AVITA will lead development, testing the technology’s potential applications and operating conditions using a quadruped robot. The aim is to reduce employees’ inspection workload and improve the working environment.
- · Deployment & production
UPS and Geek+ Deploy RoboShuttle at Taoyuan International Logistics Center, Report Says
leaderobot.com reported that UPS and Geek+ deployed a RoboShuttle carton-to-person solution at the Taoyuan International Logistics Center in Taiwan, China. The main source describes the site as one of the largest logistics centers in the Asia-Pacific region. Geek+ says it has received more than 10 global repeat orders from UPS. The report describes the deployment as part of continuing warehouse automation projects.
- · Product launches
AIRoA unveils seven prototypes from domestic general-purpose robot development competition
On Sept. 16, AIRoA unveiled the results of its domestic general-purpose robot development competition at the Physical AI Summit in Tokyo. Prototypes developed by seven companies were on display.
- · Deployment & production
Waymo launches public robotaxi service in 3 cities
Waymo began offering its robotaxi service to the public simultaneously in Denver, San Diego and Tampa on September 1.
- · Industry
Yaskawa Electric Chairman Signals Avoidance of Head-On Competition With China; ¥500 Billion to ¥2 Trillion Opportunity in Physical AI
Yaskawa Electric Chairman Hiroshi Ogasawara said “we won’t compete head-on with China” in an interview with Nikkei Business online. He said he sees opportunities in the physical AI market, which he estimates at ¥500 billion to ¥2 trillion. The excerpt confirms only these remarks and his view of the market; it does not set out specific business plans.
- · Tenders
ABEJA signs contract with ATLA to examine VLA model validation and operational platform
The contract is due to be completed by March 26, 2027, and focuses on autonomous driving by unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in off-road environments. Beyond validation, the work will define requirements for “VLAOps,” a framework for continuously operating and improving VLA models, making its scope broader than a one-off demonstration.
- · Product launches
Tacta Hand featured
humanoid.guide featured the Tacta Hand robot hand from Tacta Systems Inc.
- · Product launches
Sankei reports Tesla has begun operating Cybercab robotaxis
Sankei Shimbun reported that Tesla has begun operating its Cybercab robotaxis. The service is in Austin in the southern United States, and photos of the vehicle’s interior were also published. See the original report for details.
- · Industry
36Kr Publishes Interview on the “Moats” and “Hidden Reefs” of Embodied Intelligence
36Kr published an interview on Sept. 16 about the “moats” and “hidden reefs” of embodied intelligence.
- · Industry
Noetra President Hints at Task-Specific Physical AI Development, Nikkei Reports
The Nikkei reported on September 16, 2026, that Noetra’s president said Physical AI models should be developed “for each task.” The remarks were made at a related exhibition, and the article focused on the company’s development policy. See the original report for details of the remarks.
- · Deployment & production
TEPCO to Survey Fukushima Daiichi With Robotic Arm
The Nikkei reported that Tokyo Electric Power Company plans to investigate debris at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant using a robotic arm.
- · Deployment & production
RealMan Operates 150 Robots at Training Center in Changzhou
A secondary report by leaderobot.com said RealMan had established a data training center in Changzhou equipped with 150 robots.
- · Product launches
Unitree Unveils H2 Humanoid Robot, Standing 180 Centimeters Tall and Weighing 70 Kilograms
Unitree has unveiled the H2 humanoid robot, leaderobot.com reported. The robot stands 180 centimeters tall, weighs 70 kilograms and has 31 joints. The company said its previous-generation H1 weighs about 47 kilograms, making the H2 closer to human proportions in terms of build. leaderobot.com highlighted improvements in the H2's movement smoothness and biomimetic qualities.
- · Product launches
ugo unveils domestically developed semi-humanoid robot ‘ugo Nova,’ with mass production scheduled to begin in 2027
prtimes.jp reported on September 16, 2026, that ugo had unveiled the domestically developed semi-humanoid robot ‘ugo Nova,’ with mass production scheduled to begin in 2027.
- · Product launches
Agility Robotics Announces Digit 5
Agility Robotics was reported to have announced on Sept. 15 a new humanoid robot, Digit 5, designed to work safely near people.
- · Industry
Profitability of Humanoid Robot Manufacturers and the Revenue Structure of Dexterous Hands
leaderobot.com reported that humanoid robot manufacturers have low gross margins, while upstream component suppliers, including those making dexterous hands, are relatively more profitable.
- · Industry
GO, Waymo and Nihon Kotsu partner to commercialize autonomous taxis in Tokyo
GO, Waymo and Nihon Kotsu announced a strategic partnership to commercialize autonomous taxis in Tokyo.