Industry Briefing
A single destination for timely, editor-curated robotics news from around the world.
Marc Lore says that AI will soon enable anyone open a restaurant
Wonder, a company specializing in robotic kitchens, is set to transform its operations by launching AI-powered “restaurant factories.” This innovative initiative aims to enable individuals to create virtual food brands simply by providing a prompt. The announcement comes as part of Wonder's strategy to leverage artificial intelligence in the culinary space, enhancing accessibility and creativity in food entrepreneurship. By utilizing advanced technology, the company seeks to streamline the food production process, making it easier for aspiring restaurateurs to enter the market. The rollout of these virtual brands is expected to begin in the coming months, with Wonder's facilities serving as the backbone for this new model. This move not only reflects the growing trend of automation in the food industry but also addresses the increasing demand for diverse dining options in a rapidly evolving market.
AI Commerce Startups TC Cooking food
Magellan Complete Digital Twin of The Bismarck Ahead of Titanic Debris Field Release
Magellan Limited has achieved a significant milestone in deep-ocean surveying and maritime heritage by creating the first complete ultra-high-resolution digital twin of the German battleship Bismarck. This historic vessel, which sank during World War II, lies approximately 4,790 meters beneath the surface of the North Atlantic, on the steep slope of an underwater volcanic formation. The project, which underscores advancements in forensic wreck analysis, aims to enhance understanding of maritime history and preserve the legacy of the Bismarck through cutting-edge digital technology. The successful completion of this digital twin marks a pivotal moment in the field, showcasing how innovative techniques can be applied to explore and document underwater sites that are otherwise difficult to access.
megallan
Isar Aerospace Secures $150 Million Lease for Canadian Launch Pad to Support Spectrum Rocket
Isar Aerospace, a German aerospace company, has signed a $150 million lease agreement with Maritime Launch Services for the use of Spaceport Nova Scotia. This 10-year lease, with an option to extend for another decade, allows Isar to develop the launch pad infrastructure tailored to its Spectrum rocket's requirements. The facility is expected to support vehicle integration, testing, and mission control operations, with development set to begin later this year. The significance of this agreement lies in Isar's ambition to establish a reliable orbital launch capability from Canada, which is crucial for nations seeking independent access to space data. By 2029, Isar aims to conduct up to 40 launches annually from the new site, enhancing the operational landscape for satellite deployment and national defense. This collaboration marks a strategic move in the competitive space launch market, where few nations possess comprehensive launch capabilities. Looking ahead, Isar Aerospace plans to initiate its first orbital launches from Spaceport Nova Scotia by 2028. The company has faced challenges with its Spectrum rocket, including a failed launch in March 2025, but remains committed to overcoming technical and weather-related obstacles. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication regarding subsequent launches or developments at the Canadian site.
Launches & Spacecraft Space Exploration
Small-AI Models Gain Traction Around the World
One morning in 2019, Adebayo Alonge was in a Cape Town hotel room, preparing to demonstrate his startup’s AI answer to a serious problem in African health care: counterfeit medication, which kills thousands of people across the continent every year.The RxScanner is a handheld spectrometer that scans a pill with infrared light, then sends the item’s molecular profile to an AI model equipped with a pharmaceutical database. In seconds, the AI identifies the medication from its molecular profile—or reports that it’s phony.Pharmacies were using the system in more than a dozen countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Myanmar, and Alonge’s native Nigeria. But that morning in South Africa, it didn’t work. “I was shocked,” Alonge says.The spectrometer connected to the AI model—but the data center was 14,000 kilometers away and bandwidth was limited. “Our server was in the United States, and just to get the result of a single scan was taking me over 5 minutes.”So Alonge immediately asked his engineers to shrink the AI model down to a smaller, low-power, unconnected version that could run entirely on his Android phone. They produced it 2 hours later, and that saved the demo.More importantly, the work birthed a new version of his device, which can authenticate a pill in places without broadband, computers, or even reliable electricity. It also turned Alonge into an advocate for this kind of “small AI.”Small AI for Global Health Care AccessSmall AI is a far cry from wealthy nations’ colossal large language models (LLMs), hyperscale data centers, multibillion-dollar investments, and debates about AI consciousness. But for millions of people around the world, the only AI that matters, and often the only kind available, is small. (According to a World Bank Report issued in November, only 0.7 percent of internet users in the world’s poorest countries have used ChatGPT, compared to a quarter of all internet users in the most developed nations.)“Most people are discussing AI from the LLM/generative side. But that needs a lot of computing power, electricity, massive data, and skilled people to manage it,” Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank, said last January at the World Economic Forum, in Davos. “Outside the developed world, other than maybe India and China, very few countries have that combination.”By contrast, small AI can deliver useful, even life-saving services to people in areas that have none of those things, Banga said. In India, where the government’s AI plans call for more development of small AI, many such systems are working for farmers.For example, a drone-based system developed by Bala Murugan and colleagues at the Vellore Institute of Technology, in India, takes photos of cashew plants and quickly identifies those with splotches that indicate disease. All the processing takes place on the drone itself, so there’s no need for a computer on-site, nor for a connection to a central server.Using small language models trained for a specific problem, and sometimes running on cheap, low-power devices, other small-AI implementations have been developed to identify ant infestations in a Uruguayan vineyard, detect the presence of malaria-carrying mosquitoes in a number of nations, and run electrocardiograms from an Arduino device in parts of Brazil that lack access to more complex equipment.“This is the most important area in AI nowadays,” says Marcelo José Rovai, a professor at the Institute of Engineering and Information Systems at the Federal University of Itajubá, in Brazil, who was involved in all three projects. “It’s growing very fast.”Low-Power, Small-AI Models on Devices Small AI models can run on a variety of low-power devices, including [from left to right] an Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense, a Seeed Wio Terminal, and an Arduino Portenta.Moez AltayebFor Alonge, Rovai, and other advocates, small AI is not just “a promising trend,” as that November World Bank report calls it. It may be, in the long term, the form of AI that will touch the most lives and remain sustainable after some of the giant models become too costly for most users.“I think the future of AI is not like one giant model, at a center. I think it’s millions of small, precise models deployed at the edge, each one solving like a specific problem, a specific context,” Alonge says. This is partly because much of humanity—including people in parts of rich countries as well as the developing world—lives without access to cutting-edge frontier models. But, he says, it’s also because those models are not sustainable.“If someone is not subsidizing it, most people will not be able to afford those models. So those of us who are said to be small-AI developers are the ones who will have to build for the majority of the world,” Alonge says.There is no strict definition of “small AI,” but people often use the term for language models with at most a few billion parameters. (Compare that to cutting-edge models, which can include more than a trillion.) That’s small enough to run directly on a phone or a Raspberry Pi. That’s what allows these applications to run on devices without a connection to a data center and use only a few watts of power, often supplied by a battery or a solar panel.Despite their small footprint, these models aren’t fundamentally different technology from that of gigantic AI models, Rovai says. Many instances of small language models were created the same way the phone-based version of Alonge’s pharmaceuticals scanner was—by “pruning” large models, or removing the parameters that weren’t involved in the task. The result is a system that’s less capable generally but still very good at the specific job it was pruned for, Rovai says. A lighter version of RxAll’s RxScanner spectrometer sends its results to an AI model run locally on a phone to check that a drug’s molecular signature is genuine.RxAllOther small models are created by “distillation.” They are trained to mimic a large model, until their performance approaches that of their “teacher,” Rovai says. In other cases, a larger model’s precision is reduced, for example, so that a model run on 32-bit architecture can run on 8-bit designs. In situations where the machine learning application is being used to classify data or predict patterns (like an ant infestation), it’s trained from the beginning on a small device, not derived from a larger model at all. Running all these small, specialized systems is becoming easier, Rovai says, for two reasons.The first reason is that hardware is getting better and more capable while using less power, he says. This means more and more phones can run small AI—especially those equipped with neural processing units, which are specialized chips that handle AI tasks like facial recognition and changing the brightness, shadows, or contrast in a photo.In 2025, slightly more than a third of all smartphones shipped worldwide were capable of running generative AI, and that figure will reach 45 percent by the end of this year, according to the technology research firm Counterpoint. By the end of next year, slightly more than half of all smartphones will be able to run a small AI model.The second reason Rovai cites is the shrinking footprint of language models. Both Google DeepMind’s Gemma 4 (released in April) and Alibaba’s Qwen 3.5 are “fantastic” for small AI, Rovai says. Both models are “open weight,” meaning users can adjust the connections between parameters to suit their needs. This makes it easy, for example, “to take a lot of data from, say, the milk industry and retrain the model specifically on that,” Rovai says.Rovai illustrated these reasons on a Zoom call, using one of his most recent experiments. Holding up a device, he says, “This is the new Arduino UNO Q—a US $50 device with a Qualcomm chipset. I’m running a language model here, which collects data from sensors and analyzes that data to detect tiny pools of water where mosquitoes might be breeding. It takes 3 watts to run it.”Support for Small-AI DevelopmentConvinced that millions of people are already benefiting from these kinds of applications, the World Bank now actively promotes small AI with grants, mentorship programs, financing, technical advice, and models of government policies that are friendly for small-AI development. For example, in Rwanda, the World Bank is backing a government program to help low-income households get devices that can run AI.All that said, no one claims that large language models are going away entirely. To create a generative AI that can run on a phone or other small device requires the architectural insights, data processing, and results of a larger model, Rovai says. “We need the big models to create these smaller models.” And for all that small AI can benefit people without access to big AI, the technology can’t solve the larger problems of development and digital inequality, Alonge says. Implementing small AI won’t allow nations to escape the challenge of creating an ecosystem to support AI: reliable power, a supply chain that works, and an educational system that develops the talents needed to create AI tools.Though his drug-scanning system can run for days on a phone with no connection, “you still want to be able to enable periodic syncing for updates with new signatures for the medications and analytics,” Alonge says. “And even when you are using batteries, reliable power is important. That phone battery is not going to last forever.”In many parts of the world, the future of small AI isn’t assured, he says. “It works, and many places will eventually need to use it. The question is whether or not the political actors are wise enough to invest in infrastructure to support it long term.”
Small-language-models Artificial-intelligence Llms
ABB Robotics and PSYONIC Use Human-Generated Data to Advance Robotic Dexterity
ABB Robotics has partnered with California-based bionics company PSYONIC to enhance robotic dexterity and grasping capabilities by utilizing human-generated data from prosthetic use. Announced on June 16, 2026, this collaboration aims to address the significant challenge of replicating human-like dexterity in industrial robotics, which is essential for the development of Autonomous Versatile Robotics (AVR™). By integrating the PSYONIC Ability Hand with ABB's GoFa™ collaborative robot, the two companies will explore how real-world manipulation data can train robots to perform delicate tasks that are typically difficult to automate. This initiative is expected to reduce engineering time by up to 30% and improve productivity, flexibility, and workplace safety across various industries, including automotive, aerospace, packaging, logistics, and life sciences. Marc Segura, President of ABB Robotics, emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between human and robotic dexterity to enable robots to learn and interact with their environments more intuitively. Dr. Aadeel Akhtar, Founder and CEO of PSYONIC, highlighted that the collaboration will leverage high-fidelity data on movement and grip force to enhance robotic performance in complex tasks. The GoFa™ robot will provide the precision necessary for industrial applications, ensuring consistent execution of intricate movements, which is crucial for handling fragile or irregular objects. This partnership represents a significant step towards advancing physical AI in robotics, allowing for more effective collaboration between humans and machines.
Humanoid Secures Partnership with Bosch Following a Successful POC
Humanoid, a UK-based AI and robotics company, has announced a partnership with Bosch following a successful proof of concept (POC) in March 2026. This collaboration aims to scale the production of Humanoid's HMND 01 robots, which autonomously transferred boxes in Bosch's logistics facility in Bühl, Germany. The POC demonstrated the robots' capabilities in handling various box sizes and weights, confirming their adaptability in dynamic environments. The partnership will see Bosch serve as Humanoid's contract manufacturing partner, leveraging its expertise in production and supply chain management to ensure the effective scaling of humanoid robots for the European market. Humanoid's CEO, Artem Sokolov, emphasized that this agreement is a crucial step toward bridging the gap between innovation and real-world application, aiming to accelerate the adoption of humanoid robots across logistics and manufacturing sectors. Bosch's Head of Corporate Intellectual Property, Peter Svejkovsky, noted the shared vision for advancing robotics in industry, highlighting Bosch's role in transitioning from prototype to mass production. The collaboration will also explore integrating Bosch's advanced technologies into future versions of the HMND 01 platform, further enhancing its capabilities.
Do We Really Need Smarter AI to Cure Cancer?
Major tech companies like Meta and OpenAI are heavily investing in the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial superintelligence (ASI), with estimates suggesting over a trillion dollars has already been allocated to artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. Despite the excitement surrounding these advancements, Emilia Javorsky, director of the Futures program at the Future of Life Institute, cautions against over-reliance on future AI capabilities to solve complex health issues like cancer. In her March essay, "AI vs Cancer," Javorsky critiques the notion that AGI or ASI could cure cancer, emphasizing that cancer is not a singular disease but a collection of highly individualized conditions requiring tailored treatments. Javorsky argues that while current AI applications are making strides in areas such as drug discovery and clinical trials, the focus should shift towards collecting comprehensive health data and improving existing medical tools rather than solely investing in advanced AI technologies. She advocates for a balanced approach that prioritizes effective resource allocation in cancer research and treatment. Javorsky's insights highlight the importance of leveraging existing AI capabilities to enhance patient care and accelerate medical innovation, while also addressing systemic challenges within the healthcare system. Her perspective offers a hopeful outlook on the potential for AI to contribute meaningfully to cancer management and treatment.
Medical-ai Cancer Oncology Agi Superintelligence Cancer-treatments
韩国智造！节卡机器人亮相AW2026 韩国展，全场景通用智能机器人方案解锁产业无限可能！
The Automation World 2026 (AW2026) exhibition, a leading event in smart manufacturing innovation, kicked off on March 4, 2026, at the Coex Convention Center in Seoul. JAKA Robotics showcased its cutting-edge technologies, including the JAKA Lumi embodied intelligence platform and the JAKA K1 dual-arm robot, aimed at enhancing the smart upgrade of South Korea's manufacturing sector. The JAKA Lumi platform, a highly integrated training solution, garnered attention after a successful demonstration at the 2025 Korea International Machinery Fair, where it impressed major clients like Chimeak from the food industry. This platform is designed to improve training efficiency with minimal data input, making it suitable for various commercial applications. In collaboration with local integrator Cutshion, JAKA developed the JAKA Lumi platform to cater to new business clients, featuring advanced voice interaction and image processing capabilities. The JAKA K1 robot attracted significant interest with its VR remote operation demonstration, showcasing its flexibility and precision for industries such as automotive and electronics. JAKA's welding solutions, developed through a two-year partnership with a major South Korean shipyard, were also highlighted, demonstrating the effectiveness of their robots in various welding applications. Additionally, the JAKA A12L robot and JAKA S³ composite robot were presented, addressing key challenges in the robotics market. JAKA Robotics emphasized its commitment to education by collaborating with top South Korean universities to integrate robotics into academic programs. The company aims to foster local partnerships and adapt its products to meet regional market demands, marking AW2026 as a significant milestone in its expansion into East Asia. A product sharing session for the JAKA Lumi platform is scheduled for the following day, inviting attendees to explore its applications in service, new business, and light industry.
Marine Technology Industry Prepares to Unveil the Solutions Shaping the Future of Our Ocean
Oceanology International 2026 (Oi26) is set to take place from March 10 to March 12 at Excel London, providing a unique opportunity for attendees to explore the latest advancements in the ocean enterprise. This event aims to highlight the future of ocean technology and innovation, drawing participants from various sectors to engage with cutting-edge developments. By showcasing the evolution of ocean-related industries, Oi26 seeks to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among professionals dedicated to advancing marine science and technology. The event will feature exhibitions, presentations, and discussions, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices and the role of technology in ocean exploration and conservation.
oceanology international 2026
Gerald Mies, President and CEO of Estun Robotics Europe, Attends the “Nanjing Day” Event in Stuttgart to Deepen China–Germany Industrial Collaboration through Intelligent Manufacturing
On March 2, the 2026 “Nanjing Day” Economic and Trade Promotion Conference took place in Stuttgart, Germany, showcasing the collaborative efforts of the Nanjing Municipal People’s Government and the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Frankfurt. The conference aimed to strengthen economic ties and promote trade opportunities between Nanjing and German businesses. By highlighting Nanjing's economic potential and investment opportunities, the event sought to attract foreign investment and foster international partnerships. Attendees included government officials, business leaders, and potential investors, who engaged in discussions and networking to explore collaborative ventures. The initiative reflects a broader strategy to enhance Nanjing's global economic presence and encourage bilateral trade relations.
ESTUN AUTOMATION ROBOTICS SERVO SYSTEMS
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Global Technology Leaders to Showcase Age of AI at GTC 2026
NVIDIA has announced that the Global Technology Conference (GTC), recognized as the leading event in artificial intelligence and accelerated computing, is scheduled to occur from March 16 to March 19 in San Jose, California. This annual conference serves as a platform for industry leaders, researchers, and developers to explore advancements in AI technology and share insights on the future of computing. By bringing together experts and innovators, NVIDIA aims to foster collaboration and drive progress in the rapidly evolving field of AI.
Showcase at LogiMAT 2026: KUKA presents mobile robotics in an interactive arena
At LogiMAT 2026, taking place from March 24 to 26 in Stuttgart, attendees will have the opportunity to explore a unique exhibit spanning over 600 square meters. The ‘Interoperability Arena’ will feature demonstrations by KUKA alongside partners including SYNAOS, WIFERION, and FPT Robotik. This showcase aims to highlight the seamless interaction between autonomous vehicles and 6-axis industrial robotics, illustrating advancements in automation technology and its applications in various industries. The event underscores the growing importance of interoperability in enhancing operational efficiency and productivity in logistics and manufacturing sectors.
JAKA Robotics is heading to AW2026
Asia's premier smart manufacturing innovation expo, Automation World 2026 (AW2026), will be held at Coex in Seoul from March 4 to 6. JAKA Robotics will showcase its cutting-edge technologies at Booth D711, featuring the JAKA Lumi Embodied AI Platform and the JAKA K1 Dual-arm Robot. Attendees will have the opportunity to see firsthand how advancements in AI vision, smart mobility, and external axes are pushing the limits of robotic capabilities. The event aims to highlight the versatility of JAKA robots across various sectors, including education and commerce, and invites industry professionals and enthusiasts to explore the future of smart factories.
CMU Researchers Blend Materials at “Hard Textiles” Jam
On March 7, the Textiles Lab at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute held a “Hard Textiles” lab jam, led by Associate Professor Jim McCann. This event highlighted the innovative intersection of textiles and technology, offering insights into potential future research directions. It also provided an opportunity for the campus community to engage with the lab's work and explore the unique applications of materials in robotics and design. The lab jam aimed to foster collaboration and creativity among participants, showcasing how advancements in textile technology can influence various fields.
Research Uncategorized
iRobot Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Financial Results
iRobot Corp., based in Bedford, Massachusetts, announced on March 12, 2025, that its Board of Directors has begun a review of strategic alternatives as part of its ongoing "iRobot Elevate" strategy. This initiative aims to enhance the company's market position and drive innovation in home robotics. The decision to explore various strategic options reflects iRobot's commitment to adapting to changing market dynamics and consumer demands. The company is evaluating potential pathways to optimize its operations and maximize shareholder value, indicating a proactive approach to navigating the competitive landscape of the robotics industry.
Robotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
