Industry Trends
When a Materials Giant Meets Robotics: Covestro at Automate 2026
At Automate 2026, Covestro brought Makrolon, Bayblend, Baysafe BEF and Vulkollan to robotics — tackling weight, heat, sensing and sustainability for humanoids and AGV/AMRs.
Faraday Future Completes Six-Series EAI Robot Lineup, Launches Faber Mobile Manipulator
Faraday Future unveils its full six-series EAI Robot World portfolio at Automate 2026, featuring the $89,900 All-New Futurist humanoid and the commercial release of the Faber mobile manipulator.
Pittsburgh Regional Alliance Convenes Nine CMU-Rooted Robotics Firms at Automate 2026
At Automate 2026, the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance convened nine robotics firms — most spun out of Carnegie Mellon — spanning materials, perception and AMRs.
Automate 2026 | Ubicept Explores Photon-Level Machine Vision
Ubicept demonstrated single-photon SPAD imaging at Automate 2026, achieving 140 dB HDR and >10 dB SNR gains for industrial robotics edge AI.
Automate 2026 | A3’s Jeff Burnstein on the New Geography of Robotics Adoption
RobotToday interviews A3 President Jeff Burnstein post-Automate 2026 on sector diversification, China’s 10x robot installation lead, a proposed U.S. national robotics strategy, and global cooperation through the IFR.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly June 23 – 27, 2026
This week in robotics: Agility Robotics $2.5B SPAC deal for first humanoid IPO, BMW Figure 03 logistics deployment, Morgan Stanley doubles China humanoid forecast, ON Semiconductor acquires Synaptics for $7B, Sony halts aibo in Japan. June 23–27, 2026.
Vention Announces Two Major Robotics Collaborations at Automate 2026 | FANUC & Teradyne Robotics
Vention reveals AI-powered platform partnerships with FANUC America and Teradyne Robotics at Automate 2026, enabling software-defined automation across collaborative and industrial robot deployments.
OMRON Robotics to Demonstrate Next-Generation Autonomous Mobile Robots at Automate 2026
OMRON Robotics introduces the next-generation LD-150 and LD-300 autonomous mobile robots at Automate 2026, featuring higher payloads, 30-minute wireless charging, 360° safety scanning, and FLOW Core fleet integration for high-throughput manufacturing.
XELA Robotics Launches Next-Gen Tactile Sensors at Automate 2026
XELA Robotics unveiled five major uSkin® tactile sensor advances at Automate 2026 — including a force-sensitive nail fingertip, UMI AI integration, and fragile object handling. Full product report by RobotToday.com.
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.
Doosan Robotics Unveils AI Palletizing Solution PalletizHD+ at Automate 2026
Doosan Robotics unveils PalletizHD+ at Automate 2026 — an AI-powered palletizing solution with PalletizOS, SwiftMove technology, and up to 11 boxes per minute throughput for smarter factory automation.
Capex Analysis 2025: AI Hyperscalers vs Humanoid Robots — Financing Risk Deep Dive
Compare how Microsoft, Google, Oracle, Tesla Optimus, Figure AI and UBTECH finance their Capex. Supply chain risk, ROIC analysis and a 3-dimension investment framework included.
FORT Robotics Joins NVIDIA Halos to Launch Outside-In Safety for Physical AI | Automate 2026
FORT Robotics integrates with NVIDIA Halos for Robotics to deliver Outside-In Safety — extending robot perception beyond onboard sensors via external infrastructure and visual AI agents for safer, higher-throughput autonomous operations.
Taiwan Excellence Pavilion at Automate 2026: 23 Companies Showcase Edge AI and Robotics
Taiwan Excellence Pavilion brings 23 certified companies to Automate 2026 in Chicago (June 22–25), showcasing edge AI, collaborative robots, precision motion and industrial computing solutions for U.S. smart manufacturing.
DBR77 Launches Consultify™ AI Platform at Automate 2026 | Industrial Reasoning for Manufacturing
DBR77 introduces Consultify™, powered by Vector™ Industrial Reasoning Engine, at Automate 2026. The AI platform helps manufacturers identify automation opportunities, prioritize investment, and produce ROI-backed action plans in under two minutes.
Robot.com Launches R-noid Humanoid Robot for Industrial and Service Sectors
Robot.com announces R-noid, a general-purpose humanoid robot deployed via RaaS across five solution categories and six industry verticals. Operational in 8–12 weeks. Debuting at Automate 2026.
Beyond the Gantt Chart: How Skody AI Explains Why Orders Are Late
Skody AI goes beyond traditional APS by decomposing job lead times into specific delay causes — material waits, bottleneck queues, and off-shift gaps — giving discrete manufacturers a continuous, explainable finite-capacity schedule.
Why RSF Exists: Five Gaps No ISO Standard Has Filled (Until Now)
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.
The Robot Interoperability Imperative: How Warehouse Robotics Platforms Enable Multi-Vendor Automation
As warehouses deploy robots from multiple vendors, interoperability becomes critical. Learn how robotics orchestration platforms like Roboteon enable seamless multi-vendor AMR integration, fleet management, and plug-and-play automation for distribution centers.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly, June 15 – 19, 2026
This week in robotics: Japan commits $65B to physical AI, UBTECH’s U1 humanoid companion robot nears 5,000 pre-orders, XDOF raises $70M for robot foundation model infrastructure, and Waymo recalls ~3,900 robotaxis after construction-zone failures. June 15–19, 2026.
Inside OLO Robotics: a technical look at browser-based ROS 2 development and hardware integration
OLO Robotics brings ROS 2, Gazebo, Nav2 and MoveIt 2 into one browser-based platform. Discover how its appliance, Cloud Sim, and live data handling accelerate robot development.
The Association for Advancing Automation Hires Aaron Prather as Director of Market Intelligence
Aaron Prather joins the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) as Director of Market Intelligence, bringing expertise from FedEx and ASTM International to drive robotics industry insights.
Boston Dynamics: How a Put Option Ended Five Years of Shared Ownership
Hyundai Motor Group acquires SoftBank's remaining 9.65% stake in Boston Dynamics for $325 million, triggered by a 2021 put option. Analysis of ownership history, Atlas commercialization challenges, and what full control means for the humanoid robot industry.
Robotics Service Framework (RSF) Officially Launches
RobotToday.com launches RSF — the robotics industry's first capability certification framework. 6 domains, 4-tier certification.
VisionNav Robotics at Automate 2026: Autonomous Stacking, Counterbalance Truck & BrightEye Vision
VisionNav Robotics showcases the VNE40-66 autonomous precision stacking solution, VNE20-07 counterbalance truck, and BrightEye vision platform at Automate 2026 in Chicago, June 22–25.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly, June 8 – 12, 2026
This week in robotics: Bezos’ Prometheus raises $12B for physical AI, NEURA Robotics closes $1.4B Series C, NVIDIA deepens partnerships with Hyundai and LG in Seoul, and Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics robot dogs debut at FIFA World Cup 2026. June 8–12, 2026.
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.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly June 1 – 5, 2026
This week in robotics: NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang visits Seoul to deepen physical AI ties, Generalist AI raises $400M at $2B valuation, Amazon upgrades Proteus with natural-language control, and UBTECH humanoid attracts 1,200 pre-orders. June 1–5, 2026.
RoboBusiness 2026 | Oct 20–21, Santa Clara | Commercial Robotics Business Conference
RoboBusiness 2026 takes place October 19–21 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Produced by WTWH Media (The Robot Report / RBR), this premier commercial robotics event covers business strategy, investment, deployment trends, and innovations across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and more.
IMTS 2026: North America's Largest Manufacturing Technology Show | Chicago Sept 14–19
IMTS 2026 — the 36th edition of the International Manufacturing Technology Show — returns to McCormick Place, Chicago, September 14–19. 2,000+ exhibitors, 114,000 attendees, covering industrial robots, AI manufacturing, CNC, and automation.
FABTECH 2026 | Oct 21–23, Las Vegas | Welding, Fabrication & Manufacturing Robotics
FABTECH 2026 returns to Las Vegas, October 21–23, for North America's largest metal forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing event. 31,000+ attendees, 1,500+ exhibitors. Key showcase for industrial robot welding and automation applications.
CIIF 2026 | China International Industry Fair | Oct 12–16, Shanghai | CIROS Robot Show
CIIF 2026 — the 26th China International Industry Fair — takes place October 12–16 at Shanghai NECC. 10,000+ exhibitors, 280,000 sqm, including the CIROS Robot Show covering industrial robots, AMR, cobots, and intelligent manufacturing.
World Humanoid Robot Games 2026 | Aug 22–26, Beijing | 2nd Edition
The 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games takes place August 22–26, 2026 at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval. 32 events, 500+ humanoid robots, fully autonomous 100m sprint and real-world scenario tasks — the world's only Olympics for humanoid robots.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly May 23 – 29, 2026
This week in robotics: the Humanoids Summit debuts in Tokyo, China assigns every humanoid robot a digital ID, Figure signs a Catalyst Brands deployment deal, and Unitree heads to a June 1 IPO hearing. May 23–29, 2026.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly May 18 – 22, 2026
This week in robotics: Hyundai plans 25,000 Atlas robots for its factories, XPENG rolls off China’s first mass-produced L4 robotaxi, Singapore launches its first multi-operator physical AI testbed, and Kawasaki Heavy opens a Silicon Valley physical AI center with NVIDIA. May 18–22, 2026.
ROBOTTODAY WEEKLY May 11 - 15, 2026
This week in robotics: Figure AI's humanoids hit a 24/7 nonstop autonomous work milestone, Mind Robotics raises $400M to top $1B, Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis over flooding, Unitree debuts the world's first mass-produced human-carrying mecha, and WIRobotics closes a $68M Series B. May 11–15, 2026.
ROBOTTODAY WEEKLY May 4 - 8, 2026
RobotToday Weekly covers the week's top robotics developments: Meta acquires humanoid robotics startup ARI, Genesis AI unveils GENE-26.5 foundation model, Hugging Face launches Reachy Mini robot app store, and 1X begins NEO humanoid production in California. Plus SoftBank's $100B robotics spinoff plans, $200M+ funding for humanoid robots, and 20 curated product launches across foundation models, robotaxi, surgical robotics, drone policy, and more. Curated for industry executives, investors, and robotics engineers.
SoftBank’s $100B Robotics Spinoff: Why Masayoshi Son Is Rebuilding the AI Infrastructure Stack Around “Physical AI”
SoftBank’s planned $100B Roze spinoff signals a major shift in robotics and AI infrastructure, combining ABB Robotics, AI chips, and data center automation into a “Physical AI” platform.
GLOBAL ROBOTICS INDUSTRY Comprehensive Sector Overview
A comprehensive global robotics industry overview for 2025, analyzing 14 key market segments — from industrial and humanoid robots to logistics AMRs, military systems, and service robots — with expert market sizing, US case studies, five-year forecasts, and bilingual English-Chinese analysis for executives and investors.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly April 27th – May 1st, 2026
This week in robotics: Figure scales to one humanoid per hour, Meta acquires Assured Robot Intelligence, China's State Grid commits $995M for 8,500 AI robots, and SoftBank plans $100B IPO for robotics spinout Roze. April 28–May 2, 2026.
Meta Acquires ARI to Capture the Brain of the Humanoid Robot
Meta’s acquisition of Assured Robot Intelligence (ARI) signals a pivot from hardware race to intelligence capture. We break down why Meta moved now, what ARI does, and how Amazon, Tesla, NVIDIA and Apple are responding — with different bets and different risks.
State Grid’s $938M Robot Mega-Order Signals China’s Industrial AI Shift
State Grid Corporation of China plans to buy 8,500 robots for $938M — the largest embodied AI procurement in history. What it means for China's robot market.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly April 20 – 24, 2026
This week in robotics: Chinese humanoid wins Beijing half-marathon, Tesla begins Cybercab production, bipartisan American Security Robotics Act targets Chinese-made robots, and Figure hints at exponential manufacturing ramp-up. April 20–24, 2026.
Train-to-Test Scaling: A Smarter Way to Budget AI Compute
New T2 scaling laws from Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford show that smaller, overtrained models outperform frontier LLMs on reasoning tasks when total compute cost is equal — with direct implications for robotics inference pipelines.
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.
Germany Court Issues Preliminary Injunction: Universal Robots Parent Teradyne Prevails Over Elite Robots in IP Dispute
A German court grants Teradyne Robotics a preliminary injunction against Elite Robots, halting sales over alleged software infringement—signaling rising IP enforcement risks for robotics companies in Europe.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly April 13 – 17, 2026
This week in robotics: AGIBOT declares Deployment Year One with 5 platforms and 8 AI models at APC 2026, Physical Intelligence’s π0.7 solves unseen tasks, TARS raises a record $455M, and Siemens deploys humanoids in live factory operations. April 13–17, 2026.
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.
BOTINKIT Closes ~$50M in Back-to-Back Series B Rounds as Foodservice Robotics Draws Long-Term Capital
BOTINKIT closes ~$50M in Series B+ and B++ rounds, bringing total funding to ~$70M. The Shenzhen AI kitchen robotics firm deploys its OMNI robot and Restaurant-LM model across 29 countries.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly Industry Briefing April 5 – 11, 2026
This week in robotics: UniX AI’s Panther becomes the first household humanoid in real deployment, Hyundai reveals a mass-production factory robot, ShengShu raises $293M for physical AI, and Spirit AI closes $420M in 30 days. April 5–11, 2026.
Robotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
