Industry Briefing
A single destination for timely, editor-curated robotics news from around the world.
Phantom Blade Zero Unveils 11-Minute Gameplay Demo, Surges to Eight Million Views
On Wednesday, S-Game released an 11-minute gameplay demo for Phantom Blade Zero, which quickly garnered around eight million views on Bilibili within a day. The game, a dark wuxia-themed action RPG, has also reached No. 1 on Steam’s global best-sellers chart, showcasing its popularity. This demo provides a substantial look at the game, featuring two complete levels, Fog Forest Hunt and Lone City Showdown. It highlights the fast-paced combat and exploration mechanics, including the newly introduced Reality-Void switching system that allows players to alternate between dimensions during battles, enhancing the gameplay experience. Phantom Blade Zero is set to launch in the fourth quarter of this year on PS5, PC, and other platforms. As pre-orders open for three editions, the focus now shifts to whether the final release can maintain the quality and depth promised in the demo, particularly regarding combat feel and animation quality.
Heavy Hitters Content and entertainment Gaming Highlight News
Foundation Future Industries Deploys 'Phantom MK-1' Robotic Soldiers in Ukraine for U.S. Military
Foundation Future Industries has deployed two 'Phantom MK-1' humanoid robots to the front lines in Ukraine, marking a significant step in military robotics. These robots, standing 1.8 meters tall and weighing 80 kilograms, are designed for combat, capable of operating firearms such as handguns and M-16 rifles. They have already been utilized for reconnaissance and logistics tasks since their arrival in February. This development is crucial as it highlights a shift in military technology, with Foundation Future Industries taking a path contrary to many robotics firms that have pledged against weaponizing their products. The company has secured a $24 million research contract with the U.S. military to explore the feasibility of robotic operations across various branches, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Looking ahead, Foundation plans to introduce an upgraded version, the 'Phantom MK-2', which is expected to have double the payload capacity of its predecessor. As debates around autonomous weapons and ethical implications continue, the actions of Foundation Future Industries raise significant questions about the future of warfare and the role of robotics in combat scenarios.
Humanoid Robots Military Robotics AI Technology Defense Innovation
U.S. Navy Awards Ursa Major $10 Million for Mk 104 Rocket Motor Development
The U.S. Navy has awarded a $10 million contract to Ursa Major to enhance the Mk 104 solid rocket motor through critical design review and static-fire testing. This initiative is part of the Navy's ongoing efforts to expand U.S. missile propulsion manufacturing capabilities. This contract builds on Ursa Major's previous collaboration with the Navy, which included a $25 million investment in solid rocket motor prototyping. The Mk 104 is integral to the Navy's Standard Missile family, powering variants like the SM-2, SM-3, and SM-6, essential for both offensive and defensive operations. Looking ahead, Ursa Major's innovative Lynx manufacturing approach aims to produce solid rocket motors efficiently, addressing production bottlenecks. The Navy's investment signifies a commitment to diversifying the supply chain for solid rocket motors, enhancing production capacity as demand for advanced missile systems continues to rise. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Military
Perceptron Mk1 shocks with highly performant video analysis AI model 80-90% cheaper than Anthropic, OpenAI & Google
Perceptron Inc., a Bellevue-based startup founded by former Meta researchers Armen Aghajanyan and Akshat Shrivastava, has launched its flagship video analysis model, Mk1, aimed at revolutionizing how enterprises utilize AI in real-time video processing. Announced today, this innovative model is priced significantly lower than competitors, at $0.15 per million input tokens and $1.50 per million output tokens, making it accessible for large-scale industrial applications. The Mk1 model, developed over 16 months, excels in understanding complex physical interactions and temporal reasoning, outperforming established models like OpenAI's GPT-5 and Google's Gemini 3.1 Pro in various benchmarks. Its unique architecture allows it to process video streams continuously, maintaining object identity and providing precise analysis of dynamic scenes, which is particularly beneficial for sectors such as security, robotics, and marketing. Perceptron aims to position Mk1 as a leader in the "Efficiency Frontier," balancing high performance with cost-effectiveness. The model's capabilities extend to auto-clipping highlights from live sports and enhancing quality control in manufacturing. A public demo site is available for potential users to explore its functionalities. This launch signifies a significant step towards integrating advanced AI into real-world applications, as the company seeks to make "physical AI" as prevalent as its digital counterpart.
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