Physical AI & robotics news
- · Product launches
DAIHEN launches VIVACE mobile robot combining material handling and collaborative robotics
DAIHEN announced Aug. 21, 2026, the market launch of VIVACE, a mobile robot combining a material-handling robot and a collaborative robot. Orders began in July 2026, and the company plans to sell 200 units annually. Described as Japan’s first product of its kind, it automates multiple processes with one unit through guide-free navigation and an automatic tool changer.
- · Industry
Introducing a Small Humanoid From China
WIRED.jp published an article about a 120-centimeter-tall humanoid robot, “Edvard Walczowski,” obtained from China. The article shows it walking through the streets of Poland.
- · Deployment & production
AGIBOT Deploys G2 Robots on Longcheer Technology Tablet Production Line, Announces World’s First Mass-Production Application
AGIBOT announced on April 15, 2026, that it had deployed G2 robots on Longcheer Technology’s tablet production line, calling it the world’s first mass-production application of embodied intelligence. The robots handle 310 units per hour, with a success rate above 99.9%; deployment took 36 hours. The company plans to expand the deployment to 100 units by the third quarter of 2026.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Apptronik Partners With Jabil, Paving the Way for Humanoid Apollo to Help Build Itself
Apptronik announced a pilot partnership with U.S.-based Jabil on Feb. 25, 2025. Apollo will perform tasks such as sorting and moving parts at Jabil’s factories. If its commercial viability is confirmed, Jabil will produce Apollo at its own factories, bringing closer the prospect of humanoid robots manufacturing themselves.
- · Industry
Anduril applies defense drone technology to physical AI, Nikkei xTECH reports
Nikkei xTECH reported Aug. 24, 2026, that U.S.-based Anduril Industries is applying defense drone technology to physical AI. The company provides an AI platform for integrated operation of multiple drones and also develops hardware. It also supports operating third-party hardware.
- · Partnerships & M&A
NEURA acquires autonomous cleaning robot maker ADLATUS
NEURA Robotics announced on August 24, 2026, that it had acquired all shares of autonomous cleaning robot company ADLATUS Robotics.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Nippon Steel Solutions Forms Capital and Business Alliance With iAuto to Collaborate on SDV/AIDV
Nippon Steel Solutions (NSSOL) entered into a capital and business alliance with automotive software developer iAuto, effective July 14, 2026. The companies aim to create businesses in the SDV/AIDV fields by combining AI and data-use technologies with automotive software technologies. NSSOL also established an internal SDV Business Promotion Office on August 1, 2026.
- · Product launches
CTC Launches New Solution to Improve Operations Through AI Video Analysis
CTC announced the launch of ProcessLens, a new solution that uses AI-powered video analysis to support operational improvements.
- · Research & technology
AIST develops glass-based dielectric material that operates stably at 300°C
The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) developed a new material combining glass and niobium oxide that maintains stable dielectric properties across temperature changes up to 300°C. It could enable capacitors to operate in high-temperature environments such as electric vehicle engine compartments.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Bloomberg Publishes Article About Michelo Robotics
Bloomberg published an article about Michelo Robotics Co Ltd. A publicly available supplementary page says the company offers an AI platform for robots.
- · Partnerships & M&A
SoftBank Group to acquire ABB robotics business for about ¥818.7 billion
SoftBank Group announced an agreement to acquire ABB’s robotics business.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Suota Wujie Signs Framework Agreement With One of Europe’s Largest Supermarket Groups
The outlet leaderobot.com reported that Suota Wujie, established in Shanghai in April 2026, signed a framework agreement covering about 1,000 robots over three years with one of Europe’s largest supermarket groups.
- · Product launches
Generalist AI Introduces GEN 1.5
humanoid.guide introduced Generalist AI’s foundation model for robot learning, GEN 1.5. The article describes it as a system designed to learn from short demonstrations.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Samsung SDI to Sell Samsung Display Shares for $3.2 Billion
Samsung SDI announced it will sell its stake in Samsung Display for $3.2 billion.
- · Funding
Vitestro raises $70 million in Series B to develop autonomous blood-drawing robot
Dutch medical robotics company Vitestro announced it raised $70 million in a Series B round to advance the development and commercialization of its autonomous blood-drawing device, Aletta.
- · Industry
Axtimes forecasts physical AI market will reach ¥189 trillion by 2040
Axtimes Inc. has forecast that the physical AI market will grow to ¥189 trillion by 2040.
- · Deployment & production
Anduril Establishes Mass-Production Facility for Dive-LD Underwater Drone
According to Design News, Anduril is setting up a facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, to produce its Dive-LD underwater drone.
- · Product launches
Genesis AI unveils general-purpose robot “Eno”
Genesis AI unveiled its first general-purpose robot, “Eno,” on June 16, 2026.
- · Deployment & production
ABB to Build $280 Million Robot Factory in Sweden
ABB announced Sept. 13, 2023, that it would build a new robot factory in Västerås, Sweden, at a cost of $280 million.
- · Deployment & production
Schaeffler Announces Plans for Mass Production of Humanoid Robot Gear Reducers in 2027
Schaeffler Technologies AG said it has completed validation testing of molded strain wave gear reducers for humanoid robots and will begin mass production in 2027.
- · Funding
Physical Intelligence Announces Robot Training Method Recap and VLA Model π*0.6
On Nov. 17, 2025, Physical Intelligence announced Recap, a robot training method, and developed π*0.6, an improved version of its latest VLA model, π0.6.
- · Funding
Robotics Company ROBOTERA Raises More Than $200 Million in Round Led by SF Group
Robotics company ROBOTERA announced it raised more than $200 million in a new round led by SF Group, HSG and IDG Capital.
- · Industry
AIRoA to Host ‘The UMI Arena’ Workshop at CoRL 2026
AIRoA will hold a workshop at CoRL 2026 and release real-world robot manipulation data collected using its YUBI data collection device.
- · Deployment & production
Figure Begins Logistics Demonstration of New Humanoid Figure 03 at BMW’s Spartanburg Plant
Figure announced on June 30, 2026, that its new humanoid Figure 03 demonstrated logistics workflows at BMW Group’s Spartanburg plant.
- · Deployment & production
MK Introduces Japan’s First Energy Storage System
The Sankei Shimbun reported that MK has introduced Japan’s first energy storage system using vanadium-ion batteries to charge EV taxis.
- · Partnerships & M&A
Atom and NSK Sign MOU on Domestically Developed Humanoid AI Robots
Atom and NSK announced that they had signed a comprehensive basic agreement to develop and deploy domestically developed humanoid AI robots.
- · Product launches
FastLabel launches Data Factory Operations to support setup and operation of data production facilities
FastLabel announced the launch of Data Factory Operations, a service that supports the setup and operation of data production facilities.
- · Product launches
Enactic Unveils OpenArm 02 Robot Arm
Tokyo-based Enactic unveiled OpenArm 02, a humanoid robot arm. The company presents it for physical AI research, teleoperation and evaluation of reproducible robot learning.
- · Product launches
Brother Develops Multi-Tasking Machine With Capacity for 64 Tools
Brother Industries announced Aug. 18, 2026, that it had developed the compact multi-tasking machine SPEEDIO M300Xd2-64T, which can hold 64 tools.
- · Industry
Hyundai Motor Envisions a Robotics-Focused Hub
The Nikkei reported that Hyundai Motor has a concept centered on its robotics business.