Physical AI & robotics news
- · Deployment & production
SOMPO Care to Introduce Physical AI in Elder Care
Nikkei reported that SOMPO Care plans to introduce physical AI in elder care settings, aiming to deploy robots to handle ancillary tasks such as meal delivery and laundry around 2031.
- · Product launches
Hai Robotics’ HaiPick A3S ACR Wins 2024 Red Dot Design Award
Business Wire reported that Hai Robotics’ HaiPick A3S ACR won the Product Design category of the 2024 Red Dot Design Award.
- · Product launches
Schaeffler unveils molded strain wave gear for humanoids
Schaeffler announced a molded strain wave gear for humanoid robots on August 13, 2026.
- · Partnerships & M&A
AutoStore Announces Global Supply Agreement With Amazon
AutoStore announced on August 13, 2026, that it had entered into a framework agreement with Amazon for the supply of automated warehouse systems.
- · Industry
NVIDIA Supports Vehicle-Specific Perception Development With Omniverse NuRec
NVIDIA’s developer blog introduced Omniverse NuRec, noting that differences between vehicles affect the perception stack.
- · Product launches
Germany’s Festo unveils robotic dragonfly BionicOpter
German technology company Festo has unveiled BionicOpter, a robot that can fly like a real dragonfly.
- · Industry
China to Deploy Humanoid Robots at Customs on Vietnam Border
UBTECH Robotics will deploy Walker S2 humanoid robots at a border checkpoint in Fangchenggang under a $37 million contract.
- · Industry
DARPA Lift Challenge, a heavy-lift drone competition, taking place over the weekend, IEEE Spectrum reports
IEEE Spectrum reported on August 7, 2026, that DARPA’s Lift Challenge is taking place over the weekend.
- · Industry
ABB Robotics Outlines Localization Strategy in China
Bloomberg reported on July 20, 2026, on ABB Robotics’ business in China. Henry Han, head of its China entity, said a large factory in Shanghai and a large number of research and development engineers support a consistent supply system for its products and customized responses.
- · Industry
Hyundai to invest 9 trillion won in Saemangeum, sign MOU to establish innovation hub
Hyundai Motor Group signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Korean government and Jeonbuk Province to invest about 9 trillion won in Saemangeum, Gunsan, and establish an innovation hub focused on robotics and AI data centers, among other areas.
- · Product launches
ZF Accelerates Electric Brake Development, Targets 2028 Mass Production
Germany’s ZF has said it plans to launch electric brakes in the U.S. market by 2028.
- · Product launches
VLA, Key to End-to-End Autonomous Driving, Featured in Nikkei XTECH’s CVPR 2026 Report
Nikkei XTECH published an article on Aug. 10, 2026, about VLA, a key to end-to-end autonomous driving.
- · Partnerships & M&A
NVIDIA Announces Open Platform “Isaac GR00T” for Humanoid Robot Development
NVIDIA announced the open-source Isaac GR00T Development Platform to streamline humanoid robot development.
- · Deployment & production
JMU President Discusses Expanding Use of Shipbuilding Robots
The Nikkei reported that Japan Marine United (JMU) President Takashi Hirose said the company plans to expand the use of robots at shipyards.
- · Product launches
NTT DATA CCS launches sales agency business for facility robots
NTT DATA CCS, an NTT DATA Group-affiliated company, has launched a sales agency business for multifunctional service robots, The Nikkei reported.
Omron to Strengthen Semiconductor Packaging Inspection Technology With NVIDIA
Omron will use NVIDIA technology to strengthen its inspection equipment business for semiconductor package substrates.
- · Industry
Bucket Robotics Makes Its CES Debut
TechCrunch reported that Bucket Robotics exhibited at CES for the first time in 2026.
AI Chip Developer DMP Opens New Facility to Accelerate Physical AI Deployment
DMP has opened a new showroom at the Tokyo Distribution Center in Ota, Tokyo, to strengthen its proposals for physical AI solutions.
- · Deployment & production
Takara Standard Makes Large-Scale Robot Deployment in Kitchen Production
Nikkei XTECH reported this on April 9, 2018.
- · Industry
Samsara Announces Brand Refresh for the Physical AI Era
Business Wire reported that Samsara is refreshing its brand with the Physical AI era in mind.
- · Policy & regulation
Wayve, Uber and Nissan to collaborate on robotaxis in Tokyo
According to a Wayve press release, Wayve, Uber and Nissan announced that they had signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on developing and providing robotaxis.
- · Product launches
monoAI technology’s interim loss widens as revenue falls 58% for fiscal 2026
monoAI technology reported revenue of ¥268 million, down 58.0% from a year earlier, and an operating loss of ¥269 million for the interim period of its fiscal year ending December 2026.
- · Product launches
Canadian Research Team Unveils Drone That Lands on Ice
IEEE Spectrum reported that a Canadian research team developed the Ice Dart, a drone that can land and anchor itself on slippery surfaces such as icebergs and glaciers.
- · Product launches
Remote Welding Robot “WELDEMOTO” Deployed in Japan for First Time at Hozumi Alloy Manufacturing
“WELDEMOTO,” a remote welding robot developed by Hyogo Prefecture-based Takamaru Kogyo, has been deployed for the first time in Japan at Hozumi Alloy Manufacturing.
- · Funding
LimX Dynamics Raises About $200 Million in Pre-IPO Funding
Chinese robotics company LimX Dynamics announced that it had completed a Pre-IPO funding round of about $200 million.
- · Industry
Unitree and UBTECH pursue different strategies for commercializing humanoid robots in China in 2026
Pandaily reported on July 9, 2026, that Chinese humanoid robot companies Unitree and UBTECH are pursuing different paths to commercialization in 2026.
- · Industry
Galbot records more than 100 consecutive rallies in autonomous humanoid tennis
Beijing-based Galbot held an autonomous humanoid tennis match at the opening ceremony of the second World Humanoid Robot Games on Aug. 23, 2026, PR Newswire reported. The robots recorded more than 100 consecutive rallies, according to the announcement. The announcement was made by Beijing-based Galbot Co., Ltd.
- · Industry
36Kr Publishes Article Asking Which Humanoid Company Will Follow Unitree
36Kr published an article about which company will follow Unitree. This article does not restate the source article’s argument or figures. We consider the basis for comparison in light of our subsequent coverage of Unitree.
- · Product launches
LG to Develop Next-Generation Humanoid Powered by NVIDIA Isaac GR00T
LG announced Aug. 13, 2026, that it will develop a bipedal humanoid using NVIDIA’s Isaac GR00T foundation model and unveil it in the first quarter of 2027.
- · Deployment & production
CATL and Galbot Form Global Strategic Partnership, Deploy Heavy-Duty Galbot S1 Humanoid Robot at CATL Factory
On June 24, 2026, CATL and Galbot announced a global strategic partnership and deployed the Galbot S1, the world’s first mass-produced humanoid robot powered by CATL batteries, on a CATL production line.