Physical AI & robotics news
- · Product launches
Anthropic Releases MHS Device Connectivity Standard
Sankei Shimbun reported that U.S. company Anthropic announced the Model Hardware Standard (MHS), a common standard for connecting AI with equipment such as microscopes and robotic arms.
- · Industry
Finance Minister Katayama Visits Honda Autonomous Driving Demonstration
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama visited a public-road autonomous driving demonstration conducted by Honda R&D Co., Ltd. in Joso, Ibaraki Prefecture. Katayama posted on X that she rode in the rear seat.
- · Tenders
AirX Selected for Oita Prefecture Project
AirX announced on PR TIMES that it was selected for Oita Prefecture’s commissioned project to hold events promoting interest in next-generation air mobility in fiscal 2026.
- · Industry
36Kr reports Unitree holds 70%-80% share of robot dog market
36Kr reported on July 24, 2025, that Unitree Technology holds 70%-80% of the robot dog market.
- · Deployment & production
Nikkei Reports on Hitachi’s Shop-Floor Reforms at Kasado Works
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that it covered efforts at Hitachi Ltd.’s Kasado Works to support skilled workers’ techniques with digital technology.
- · Product launches
CADDi Publishes Announcement About Mitsubishi Materials USA
CADDi was reported to have published an announcement about Mitsubishi Materials USA on its website.
- · Product launches
University of Tokyo spinout Commissure launches UMI data acquisition service
Commissure Inc. announced the launch of its UMI Data Acquisition Service, which turns human tasks into data for robot training.
- · Research & technology
Michinori Holdings and KDDI Begin AI Communications Optimization Trial for Autonomous Driving in Hitachi
Michinori Holdings and KDDI will conduct a demonstration of technology that uses AI to optimize communications quality for autonomous buses in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, starting Sept. 1, 2026.
- · Product launches
BOCCO emo adds generative AI conversation feature, using memories to become part of the family
Yukai Engineering has added a generative AI-powered conversation feature to its family robot, BOCCO emo.
- · Product launches
YMTREND to Pre-Sell AI Robot Dog ‘Sirius’ on Makuake, With Prices Starting at ¥199,980
YMTREND Co., Ltd. launched a Japan-focused project for ‘Sirius,’ an AI robot dog developed by HENGBOT, on Makuake on Aug. 28, 2026. Weighing about 1 kg, it recognizes voices, faces and touch, and responds with doglike movements. Prices start at ¥199,980, including tax, and shipping is scheduled for around December 2026.
- · Industry
Kyushu Institute of Technology to Support Human Physical Intelligence as a Kyutech Startup
Kyushu Institute of Technology decided on July 27, 2026, to support Human Physical Intelligence Co. (HPI), a developer of robots that assist people with physical activities, as a Kyutech startup. Founded in May 2026, HPI is headquartered in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. The company has also been selected for the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s Mobility for ALL project.
- · Funding
General Intuition in Funding Talks at $6 Billion Valuation
TechCrunch reported Aug. 24 that New York-based General Intuition is pursuing a new funding round.
- · Product launches
ImaCreate Announces Latest Version of MR Welding Simulation Tool
ImaCreate released the latest version of its MR welding simulation tool, WeldNext Ver.2.0.0, on August 18, 2026. Users can import CAD data and rehearse welding tasks at full scale. ITmedia reported the news on August 28, 2026.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Timee, ZEALS sign co-creation agreement
The Nikkei reported on the 27th that Timee and ZEALS had formed a co-creation partnership for the physical AI era.
- · Product launches
AMD Announces New Products for AI Infrastructure and Physical AI
At Advancing AI 2026, AMD announced its sixth-generation EPYC CPUs, Instinct MI400 series GPUs and more.
- · Research & technology
Morpho Selected for TIRI Joint Research to Develop Indoor Autonomous Inspection Drone Measurement Service
Morpho announced that its joint proposal with Prodrone and Murata Machinery, titled “Demonstration of an Indoor Autonomous Inspection Drone Measurement Service,” was selected for the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute’s FY2026 open-call joint research program. The research will run from July 1, 2026, for up to one year. Morpho aims to bring its image-processing and AI technologies to industrial fields.
- · Research & technology
Tohoku University and others develop six-legged robot that learns stick insect walking with AI
A research team including Tohoku University announced that it had developed a six-legged robot trained by AI on the walking cycle of a stick insect.
- · Industry
Teradyne Robotics sues JAKA's German subsidiary for patent infringement
Teradyne Robotics A/S sued the German subsidiary of Chinese company JAKA Robotics for patent infringement at the Unified Patent Court on August 27, 2026.
- · Product launches
Ambi Robotics unveils physical AI model CARGO, surpassing 75% packing density with simulation-based reinforcement learning
Ambi Robotics on Aug. 26, 2026, announced CARGO, a physical AI model for industrial package loading. Trained with Sim2Real reinforcement learning, it achieved packing density above 72.5% and more than 340 sorts per hour in real customer operations. The global package-loading market is estimated at more than $400 billion annually.
- · Industry
International Logistics Expo 2026 to Be Held at Tokyo Big Sight Starting Sept. 8
International Logistics Expo 2026 will run from Sept. 8 to 11.
- · Funding
SoftBank in Talks to Acquire Majority Stake in 1X Technologies at About $6 Billion Valuation, Report Says
Reuters reported Aug. 26, 2026, that SoftBank is in talks to acquire a majority stake in OpenAI-backed humanoid robot developer 1X Technologies. The company is valued at about $6 billion. Negotiations are ongoing, and terms could change.
- · Research & technology
RIKEN and Honda to Invest ¥10 Billion Over Five Years in AI Technology for Multi-Fingered Hands
The Nikkei reported that RIKEN and Honda will invest ¥10 billion over five years in developing AI technology for multi-fingered hands.
- · Product launches
AISIN, Others Develop Two-Motor Hybrid Drive Module for New Jeep Cherokee
BluE Nexus, AISIN and DENSO announced on August 27, 2026, that their newly developed two-motor hybrid drive module has been adopted for STELLANTIS’ new Jeep Cherokee. The transaxle and motor will be produced at AISIN North Carolina, and the inverter at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, supporting the rollout of HEVs in the North American market.
- · Partnerships & M&A
RYODEN and Polaris.AI Advance Joint Technical Validation of VLA for Robots
RYODEN, a technology trading company, and Polaris.AI Inc. announced they are advancing joint technical validation of physical AI (VLA) for robots. They have published an article on their collaboration, which looks toward deployment at manufacturing sites. Specific technical details and a schedule have not been disclosed.
- · Deployment & production
INSOL-HIGH to Build Data Generation Center for Up to 50 Simultaneously Operating Humanoid Robots in Spring 2026
INSOL-HIGH announced it will work with companies in the manufacturing and logistics industries to build a physical data generation center in spring 2026, where up to 50 humanoid robots will operate simultaneously.
- · Deployment & production
Loki office building trial begins
Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate and JDSC announced they have begun a trial of the physical AI cleaning robot Loki at an office building in Japan.
- · Deployment & production
HAI ROBOTICS surpasses 10,000 cumulative orders for HaiPick Climb
HAI ROBOTICS JAPAN announced that worldwide cumulative orders for its case-handling robot, HaiPick Climb, exceeded 10,000 units as of July 2026.
- · Funding
Gatik Raises $200 Million in Series D Led by QIA and KDT
Gatik AI Inc. announced Aug. 25, 2026, that it raised $200 million in a Series D round. The round was led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT), with participation from Millennium Management, ARK Invest, Intact Private Capital and others. The company operates dozens of driverless trucks in North America and plans to expand its fleet to thousands over the next several years.
- · Deployment & production
IDS Imaging Adds Nion ToF Sensor to 3D Camera Lineup, Begins Mass Production
IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH announced its industrial ToF camera, Nion, on August 26, 2026, and began mass production. Featuring 1.2-megapixel resolution and integrated depth processing, it provides high-precision 3D data for logistics, automation and robotics. Its IP67-rated housing and PoE support enable use in harsh environments.
- · Funding
Einride Founders Launch Investment Company for Europe
According to Bloomberg, the founders of Swedish electric truck company Einride have launched Navisalma, a company that will invest in European technology startups.