CASIA's Peiyan Li Brings Two VLA Papers to IROS 2026
CASIA Ph.D. candidate Peiyan Li co-authored two IROS 2026 papers on VLA models for long robot tasks. We also cover his BridgeVLA and SpatialVAM work.
IROS 2026 Category Award Finalists: All 22 Papers
From humanoid tennis to bin picking and farm robots: the 22 finalists for IROS 2026's eight category awards, and what each one means for industry.
IROS 2026 Best Paper Finalists: South Korea Leads
Ten papers made the IROS 2026 Best Paper and Best Student Paper shortlist, four from South Korea. What each one does and what it means for industry.
IROS 2026 by the Numbers: Papers, Countries, Topics
RobotToday analyzed all 1,933 IROS 2026 papers: acceptance fell to 36.5%, the U.S. overtook China, and VLA titles jumped from 4 to 65.
Innovation Works Venture Expo 2026: 58 Pittsburgh Startups Pitch to Investors
58 health, deep tech and robotics startups pitched at Innovation Works Venture Expo 2026 in Pittsburgh. Full company list, program and 2025 funding data.
Robotics Investing: Intuitive Surgical or Unitree?
Unitree (STAR 688836) trades near 410x earnings after a 46% drawdown; Intuitive Surgical sits at 42.5x. A definition-aligned comparison of both companies.
Inside RSF Domain 1: The Five-Phase Robot Service Lifecycle
RSF Whitepaper v1.0 defines the first five-phase service lifecycle for industrial robots. How Domain 1 relates to ISO 55001, ANSI/A3, Japan's law & GB standards.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly July 13 – 17, 2026
This week in robotics: Hyundai takes full ownership of Boston Dynamics, Xpeng targets 1,000 Iron humanoids a month, LimX Dynamics raises $200M pre-IPO, and Agility opens a Silicon Valley physical-AI hub. July 13–17, 2026.
2026H2 Robotics Events Briefing: Tailored Recommendations for Robotics Readers
Discover the ultimate directory of global robotics events in 2026. Tailored briefings for engineers, investors, and founders on humanoid robots, AI, and industrial automation by RobotToday.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly June 30 – July 4, 2026
Unitree wins CSRC approval for China’s first humanoid IPO, Korea unveils ₩312T AI investment, RoboCup 2026 opens in Incheon, and Paris launches Europe’s inaugural Physical AI summit.
From ASE to RSF: What the Automotive Certification Model Teaches Robotics
ASE solved automotive service in 1972. Fifty years later, RSF does the same for robotics. Learn how the certification blueprint was adapted — and what had to be built from scratch.
Why RSF Exists: Five Gaps No ISO Standard Has Filled
ISO standards define what a safe robot looks like. RSF defines who should service it. Discover the 5 capability gaps no standard has addressed — until now.
Robotics Service Framework (RSF) Officially Launches
RobotToday.com launches RSF — the robotics industry's first capability certification framework. 6 domains, 4-tier certification.
Vietnam Robotics Industry Report 2026
Comprehensive analysis of Vietnam's robotics industry: market size, industrial policy, key companies (Vingroup, Apicoo, Phenikaa-X), geopolitical dynamics, and 2030 growth opportunities.
Unitree's IPO Review: What It Means for China's Humanoid Robot IPO Landscape
On 1 April 2026, China's Securities Association (CSAC) randomly selected Unitree Robotics for a mandatory on-site IPO inspection — just 12 days after its STAR Market application was accepted. The event has generated significant market commentary. This analysis examines the regulatory context, what the inspection actually means, the four core controversies in Unitree's prospectus, and the implications for competing humanoid robot companies pursuing public listings.
TARS AI Closes $455M Pre-A Round, Setting China Embodied-AI Financing Record
TARS AI closes a record $455M Pre-A round led by Hillhouse, Sequoia China and Meituan, setting China’s largest single embodied-AI funding round. Full briefing.
RAI Institute Study: Driving Boston Dynamics' Spot Changes How People See Robots
A 10-week study of 753 mall visitors found that driving Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot for just minutes significantly boosted comfort and acceptance — even in homes and hospitals.
Serve Robotics FY2025: Scaling Sidewalk Delivery Robots Toward <$1 Last-Mile Cost
Serve Robotics (NASDAQ: SERV) scaled its sidewalk delivery fleet 20× to 2,000+ robots in FY2025, posting $2.7M revenue (+50%) and guiding $26M for 2026. An in-depth look at the autonomy stack, unit economics, competitive landscape, and what Level 4 delivery actually means in dense urban environments.
AI Space Data Centers: Power the Next Generation of Robotics
From Starcloud's $170M Series A to Google's Project Suncatcher and China's operational LEO constellations, AI space data centers are moving from concept to infrastructure. Here's what the robotics industry needs to know.
One Robot, Any Load: Inside FlexQube's AMR Platform
lexQube AB (FLEXQ) secured a record USD 13M order and saw its stock rally over 150% from its 2025 low. Explore 12 months of order flow, AMR technology, and market cap growth in this in-depth RobotToday analysis.
Rokae Clears Beijing Hurdle, Advances to Hong Kong IPO
Rokae Robotics receives CSRC approval for its Hong Kong Stock Exchange IPO under Chapter 18C, marking a pivotal milestone for China's only mass-producer of both industrial and collaborative robots. Read RobotToday's full briefing on technology, market position, and financials.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with DFRobot Founder Ricky Ye
Exclusive interview with DFRobot Founder & CEO Ricky Ye on lowering barriers in AI and robotics, the evolution of HUSKYLENS, open-source hardware, and the future of embodied AI.
Flexiv Launches “Enlight” Platform to Expand General-Purpose Robotics Capabilities
Flexiv unveils the Enlight robotics platform, Orion controller, and MICO system—advancing force-centric, general-purpose robots for real-world applications.
Spirit AI × JD.com: Embodied AI Robots Enter Retail Operations at Scale
Spirit AI partners with JD.com to deploy embodied AI robots in retail, combining VLA models, real-world data loops, and scalable automation.
Boston Dynamics IPO and $100B Valuation: How It Compares to Tesla Optimus, Figure AI and Humanoid Rivals
Boston Dynamics' valuation has surged from $1.1B to a potential IPO target of $85B+. We verify the numbers, benchmark against Tesla Optimus, Figure AI and Apptronik, and explain what a listing would mean for the humanoid robotics industry.
Humanoid Robotics Standards HEIS 2026 vs. the International Landscape
HEIS 2026 vs. global robot standards: how China's humanoid AI framework compares to ISO 10218, ANSI/A3 R15.06-2025, and the EU AI Act across safety, cybersecurity, and certification.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030): Embodied Intelligence as National Industrial Strategy
China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) elevates embodied intelligence to a national industrial priority for the first time. This RobotToday briefing analyses the plan's robotics directives, new standards framework, and competitive implications for European and North American industry.
World-First: China Approves Neuracle’s Invasive BCI for Commercial Use
Neuracle advances implantable brain–computer interface technology in China, enabling neural control of devices and accelerating clinical applications in neurorehabilitation.
China's Humanoid Robot & Embodied Intelligence Standard System (HEIS 2026)
China's HEIS 2026 framework — the world's first comprehensive national standard for humanoid robots and embodied AI — sets technical specs across six pillars covering AI models, components, safety, and ethics. Here's what every EU and North American robotics manufacturer, integrator, and policy maker needs to know, and why the international standards race is already underway.
EU Industrial Accelerator Act Signals Supply Chain Shift for Robotics Industry
The EU's Industrial Accelerator Act introduces "Made in EU" procurement rules and stricter foreign investment conditions, creating indirect pressure on robotics supply chains that rely heavily on Chinese components.
Global Robotics Market 2026: Forecast Analysis & Key Trends
Comprehensive 2026 global robotics market forecast compilation from IFR, Markets and Markets & more. Market size, growth rates & regional analysis by segment.
RobotToday Weekly Industry Briefing: January 19 – January 23, 2026
iRobot emerges from Chapter 11, Tesla sets a 2027 Optimus release, and Hyundai faces labor pushback. Explore the top robotics industry news for Jan 18-23, 2026.
Shubham Tulsiani Receives NSF CAREER Award: Teaching Robots to Learn from Videos
CMU's Shubham Tulsiani receives NSF CAREER Award for pioneering work teaching robots to learn manipulation skills from internet videos. Zero-shot learning breakthrough.
RobotToday Weekly Industry Briefing: January 12 – January 16, 2026
NVIDIA advances physical AI with Cosmos and GR00T, humanoid robots move into real factories, China leads global deployments, and robotics stocks gain momentum.
ACIRS 2026
ACIRS 2026 is an international robotics conference in Hong Kong, bringing together research on intelligent robotic systems, AI, control, and real-world applications.
Sunny t2000 china s first 2 ton turboprop cargo uav signals a new era for heavy unmanned logistics
The SUNNY-T2000 signals a shift in heavy cargo UAVs, showing how two-ton unmanned aircraft are reshaping regional and industrial air logistics.
RobotToday Weekly Industry Briefing: January 4 - january 9, 2026
Global robotics shifts from CES 2026: humanoid commercialization accelerates, industrial AI deepens, labor tensions rise, and robotics markets recalibrate.
RobotToday Weekly December 29, 2025 - January 2, 2026
RobotToday Weekly Industry Briefing covering robotics, AI, humanoids, automation, funding, and policy developments from December 29, 2025 to January 2, 2026.
What 67 Listed Robotics Companies Reveal About the Global Robotics Industry
An analysis of 67 listed robotics companies reveals how capital concentrates at the top, why most firms remain small-cap, and what valuations signal about robotics’ future.
RobotToday Weekly December 22 - 26, 2025
A concise weekly briefing on global robotics: drone regulation, robotaxi resilience, Tesla’s autonomy strategy, and CES 2026 signals shaping the industry.
Schaeffler & NTU Launch Corporate Lab to Drive AI-Enabled Humanoid
Schaeffler and NTU launch a new corporate lab in Singapore to accelerate R&D in AI-enabled humanoid, collaborative, and assistive robotics technologies.
CES 2026 Robotics: From Physical AI to Real Deployment
CES 2026 marks a turning point for robotics as Physical AI moves from demos to real deployment. RobotToday analyzes humanoids, home robots, industrial automation, and world models shaping the next robotics era.
Can China’s Humanoid Startups Lose ¥1B Like Yunji and Still IPO?
China’s humanoid robotics boom has over 300 startups—but with high costs and uncertain markets, only a few may survive, absorb huge losses, and reach IPO-ready scale.
Primech AI's HYTRON: Inside the Architecture of the World's Most Advanced Restroom Cleaning Robot
Primech AI's HYTRON is a fully autonomous restroom cleaning robot powered by the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Super, featuring a 6-DoF cleaning arm, electrolyzed water sanitation, and automated fluid management — delivering independently verified >99% bacterial reduction for airports, hospitals, and high-traffic commercial facilities.
Skana Robotics: A Software-Defined Maritime Autonomy Stack for Distributed Naval Operations
Skana Robotics is building a unified, software-defined autonomy stack for naval surface, subsea, and amphibious fleets, enabling coordinated ISR, ASW, and littoral operations.
MIT Debuts Speech-to-Reality AI Robotics System
MIT unveils a Speech-to-Reality system that turns voice commands into physical objects using generative AI and robotic assembly, enabling rapid on-demand fabrication.
iRex 2025: Asia Leads Industrial Robotics as Japan and China Reinvent Automantion
iREX 2025 revealed Asia’s dominance in industrial robotics, with Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan shaping the global automation supply chain far beyond humanoid hype.
iREX 2025: Asia’s Industrial Robotics Engine Shows Its Real Strength—Far Beyond the Humanoid Hype
iREX 2025 revealed Asia’s dominance in industrial robotics, with Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan shaping the global automation supply chain far beyond humanoid hype.
iREX 2025 Opens Tomorrow in Tokyo
IREX 2025 opens in Tokyo as the world’s largest robotics exhibition, showcasing new humanoids, industrial automation systems, Physical AI technologies, and the latest global robotics innovations.
Hypershell Launches Next Gen Exoskeleton for Everyday Mobility
Hypershell unveils its next-gen X series exoskeleton for everyday mobility, boosting human endurance and reducing effort for walking, hiking, and cycling.
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