Industry Briefing
A single destination for timely, editor-curated robotics news from around the world.
How can robots acquire skills through interactions with the physical world? An interview with Jiaheng Hu
Researchers are tackling the challenges of controlling high-degree-of-freedom systems, such as mobile manipulators, which are essential for both household and industrial robotics. Despite the potential of reinforcement learning to develop effective robot control policies, scaling these methods to more complex systems has presented significant difficulties. To address this issue, a team has introduced SLAC, or Simulation-Pretrained Latent Action Space, a novel approach designed to enhance the scalability of reinforcement learning in robotic applications. This innovative method aims to streamline the process of training robots, making it easier to implement advanced control strategies in real-world scenarios. The ongoing research highlights the importance of developing efficient robotic systems that can adapt to various environments and tasks, ultimately paving the way for more versatile and capable robots in the future.
ROKAE Robotics Highlights at HANNOVER MESSE 2025
ROKAE Robotics showcased its advanced robotic solutions at HANNOVER MESSE 2025, which commenced on March 31, attracting 4,000 companies from over 60 countries. Located at Hall 6, Booth C67, ROKAE presented seven innovative applications, including intelligent welding and mobile manipulators, emphasizing the integration of robotics with artificial intelligence to demonstrate China's manufacturing prowess. During the event, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz highlighted the importance of technological innovation, particularly in AI and robotics, as central themes for this year's exhibition. ROKAE's commitment to a global strategy has seen its products exported to over 100 countries, with a particular focus on the European market, especially Germany, which has a strong demand for automation in its automotive and machinery sectors. ROKAE's robots are designed to meet the high standards of precision and reliability required by European clients, offering high-speed performance and safety features. The company has gained trust in the European market through its efficient services and quality products, establishing partnerships with leading manufacturers. To further enhance its presence, ROKAE is setting up a branch in Germany to leverage local expertise. As ROKAE continues to innovate and collaborate within the robotics ecosystem, it aims to contribute significantly to the smart transformation of global manufacturing, positioning itself as a key player in the international robotics arena.
Japan Pioneered Humanoid Robots—Can It Now Catch China?
“In the future, the relationship between humans and robots will deepen, and the distinction between them will probably disappear.” This prediction, from one of the attendees at the recent Humanoids Summit in Tokyo, might have been unremarkable had it not come directly from an android that was first introduced to the world 20 years ago. Geminoid HI-6 is the sixth-generation of a robot originally designed in 2006. The mechanical twin of Osaka University professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, Geminoid HI-6 is now equipped with a large language model trained on Ishiguro’s own writings and interviews. It has advanced conversational skills and can even have a chat with its creator, an eerie spectacle. But at the Humanoids Summit, Geminoid was one of the few humanoid robots from Japan, the country that pioneered the form factor.While the event in Tokyo only had about 40 robots on display, Chinese systems outnumbered Japanese by roughly three to one. Some Japanese robotics firms were even using Chinese robots in their own technology demonstrations, something that would have been unthinkable in the recent past—one Japanese engineer described the situation as “sad.” The conference was a stark reminder of how Japan has ceded its early lead in humanoid robot development to overseas competitors, and the challenge it now faces to secure a place in an ecosystem increasingly dominated by general-purpose robots powered by AI. Twenty-five years ago, Japan was turning out groundbreaking humanoids that were showstopping in their abilities, but they were not commercialized as practical machines in any meaningful way. Heavily influenced by science fiction and lacking practical applications, they were mostly expensive technology demonstrations that were eventually mothballed. What Japan retains, however, is robotics design and know-how, which it must leverage to be a key player in the rapidly evolving humanoid ecosystem. Learning to Walk—Then Standing StillTo anyone who has seen recent videos of Chinese humanoids doing kung-fu and synchronized acrobatics, as well as half-marathon races, China’s remarkable progress in the field is nothing new. At the Humanoids Summit, Toyota showed a video of its latest basketball-playing robot, and Honda exhibited its latest robot hand, but the full-scale humanoids on the floor were mostly Chinese–the kid-size K1 machines from Booster Robotics of Beijing were dancing to Michael Jackson tunes. The full-scale G1 humanoid from Unitree Robotics of Hangzhou was also doing demos. “You cannot sell these bipedal systems in Japan for safety and compliance reasons,” says Shuichi Nagao, a frequent visitor to China as CTO of Omakase Robotics, a division of Zeals, a Japanese humanoid robot developer. Omakase was exhibiting a G1 modified with an external PC controller, a dextrous hand, a suction-cup manipulator and a sensor “hat” with an extra speaker, mic and camera. “In China, the government is pushing humanoid development. They didn’t have an industry 20 years ago. The people pushing it are young, in their 20s and 30s. It’s a really different mentality out there,” says Nagao. “Big players in Japan are still looking for use cases for humanoids. In China, they’re already doing mass production and reducing the cost, so other countries can’t compete with them anymore.”Another Japanese company showing off G1 bots was summit sponsor GMO AI & Robotics, a subsidiary of Japanese internet company GMO. It’s using the robots in partnership with Japan Airlines to load and unload cargo containers at Tokyo’s Haneda airport. The cargo project is a trial—like many other humanoid experiments—but the fact that Chinese machines have penetrated so far into Japan’s ecosystem upends a long history. In 1973, scientists at Waseda University in Tokyo built WABOT-1, considered the first full-scale humanoid robot and capable of slow bipedal locomotion, grasping objects and simple communication. It inspired Honda’s groundbreaking Asimo humanoid, but it was never commercialized. Asimo was eventually retired in 2022, the year ChatGPT was released. Two years later, Unitree’s G1 went on sale for US $16,000. China’s High Torque Technology Co. showed off its Mini Pi biped, customized with an anime-inspired head, at Humanoids Summit in Tokyo. The regular version is priced at $3,500. Tim HornyakSupply and DemandJapan’s development of humanoids happened before practical applications or widespread demand were in place, but bad timing is only part of the story—Japan also has a history of developing technologies that might appeal to domestic consumers but not necessarily those overseas. For example, decades after they first appeared, its highly engineered, multifunction toilets have only recently found a following abroad. Japan’s humanoid prowess was partly built on the back of its legendary industrial automation, yet even that stronghold has eroded. Ani Kelkar, a partner from McKinsey & Company in Boston who produces analytical reports about the robotics industry, told the summit audience that while Japan occupied the top spot in the world in manufacturing robot density (the number of multipurpose industrial robots in operation per 10,000 employees) from at least 1994 to 2009, it then slipped to second in 2014, third in 2019 and fifth in 2024. In that year, South Korea was at the top of the leaderboard with a robot density of 1,220 compared to Japan’s 446. The International Federation of Robotics estimates China now has the most operational industrial robots in the world, with around 2 million total units, approximately 4.5 times more than Japan. “The annual installation numbers are impressive too: 54 percent of all robots installed worldwide in 2024 were deployed in China,” the IFR said in a release in April 2026. “I think the loss of Japanese leadership is more to do with the rise of China as a manufacturing powerhouse including for sectors that Japan had high export levels,” Kelkar said in an email interview. “The recovery has not yet happened as Japan ‘missed’ the rapid acceleration in AI for robotics and is now playing catchup.”How Japan Can Adapt Kelkar believes Japan has a US $100 billion opportunity in general-purpose robotics, which are machines that can perform a wide variety of tasks, and it cannot rely on the slower-growing industrial robot market, which is centered on factory machines that do one simple and predictable task like welding car parts. He points to a McKinsey white paper suggesting that while Japan has much of the hardware and technology experience needed to support general purpose robot development, it must change its strategy to capture more share in AI, software, data collection and robotics platforms.Tetsuya Ogata is a professor of engineering and director of the Institute for AI and Robotics at Waseda University, the birthplace of humanoids in Japan. He briefed the summit on how a nonprofit he chairs, the AI Robot Association (AIRoA), is working with Toyota and other members to develop foundational technologies for collaborative use. For instance, AIRoA has collected some 80,000 hours of data on remote operation of mobile manipulators, and Ogata believes it’s the largest dataset of its kind. Using the data, it built and verified Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models, and it has also started data collection for dual-arm mobile manipulation. In an interview, Ogata acknowledged Japan’s struggle to find its place in the changing landscape. “The world of AI is inherently a game of scale,” says Ogata. “Therefore, Japan’s absolute prerequisite is to secure a competitive baseline of scale—in data, computing resources, and talent. Beyond that, what I consider most critical is a mindset shift: rather than trying to hoard scale within a single nation or company, we must grow stronger by collaborating with a diverse ecosystem of domestic and international players.” Specifically, this means creating a ‘collaborative domain’ to address data—the single biggest bottleneck—through industry-wide cooperation rather than data-siloing. By collectively nurturing a pre-competitive, shared data infrastructure and foundation model, individual companies can then compete on top of it with their own applications. “By offering this open ‘data ecosystem’ to the world, we can engage global players and establish a ‘third pole’ alongside the US and China,” says Ogata. “I believe this is how Japan can reclaim its global presence.”In 1999, Japan introduced the world’s first mobile internet services platform. But being first didn’t turn Japan into a smartphone manufacturing or design center—it’s now merely a supplier of parts to other countries who are leading the smartphone industry. If Japan can avoid a repeat of that experience and successfully deregulate, diversity, and commercialize its original humanoid dreams, it stands a better chance of influencing the direction of the industry and reaping billions in value. As automobiles and electronics were pillars of Japan’s industrial strategy in the last century, Japan could make humanoid robots one of its key value generators in the 21st century, an approach that would not only deliver economic benefits but give Japan greater clout in how the industry will evolve. Just like Japanese cars, electronics, and even toilets, Japanese humanoids could stand for craftsmanship and reliability. It’s a legacy that Japan can’t afford to give up.
Japan Robotics Humanoids Humanoid-robots
Faraday Future's FFAI Accelerates Robotics Expansion and Exceeds Shipment Goals at Automate 2026
Faraday Future's AI subsidiary, FFAI, announced its accelerated expansion into commercial robotics at Automate 2026 in Chicago. The company showcased its 'one brain, multiple forms' robotics platform and revealed that June robot shipments are expected to exceed 100 units, bringing total first-half deliveries to over 220 units, surpassing its initial target ahead of schedule. This milestone is significant as it marks FFAI's transition from an education-focused robotics business to industrial automation, targeting commercial deployments across manufacturing, logistics, and research. The company presented a range of robotics products, including the All-New Futurist humanoid robot and the FF Faber mobile manipulator series, highlighting its commitment to integrating advanced AI technologies into various applications. Looking ahead, FFAI outlined a broader strategy focused on an open embodied AI ecosystem, which includes its EAI Brain software platform and an EAI Data Factory for operational data collection. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
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The Future of Cobot Palletizing: Autonomous Mobile Robots and Modular Systems
As the manufacturing and logistics sectors evolve, JAKA is pioneering advancements in cobot palletizing, emphasizing flexibility and autonomy. Customers are increasingly demanding systems that can adapt to varying layouts, product types, and throughput requirements without extensive reconfiguration. The integration of six-axis robot arms is central to this shift, enabling dynamic handling of mixed loads and pallet patterns. A key trend in this field is the combination of autonomous mobile robots with collaborative manipulators. This integration allows for palletizing tasks to occur beyond fixed stations, enabling cobots to move between production lines and adjust to seasonal shifts or temporary capacity needs. The use of modular mechanical interfaces and standardized communication protocols facilitates scalable system development, transforming cobot palletizing into a shared resource that enhances operational efficiency and investment planning. Advanced control capabilities are also crucial for the future of cobot palletizing. Features such as precise path planning, responsive motion control, and adaptable force management enable collaborative robots to handle various packaging formats consistently. For instance, the JAKA Zu7 robot can seamlessly transition between palletizing and secondary tasks like automated screwdriving, adjusting torque settings as needed. Looking forward, JAKA envisions a future where cobot palletizing is characterized by autonomous mobility, modular design, and intelligent control. This approach aims to ensure that palletizing solutions evolve alongside production demands, rather than limiting them. By aligning collaborative robots with mobile platforms and adaptable end-effectors, JAKA is committed to developing systems that integrate into broader automation strategies, supporting reliable operations and sustainable growth in modern automated facilities.
Robot Talk Episode 159 – Robot sensing and manipulation, with Maria Koskinopoulou
Claire recently engaged in a conversation with Maria Koskinopoulou, an Assistant Professor in Robotics and Computer Vision at Heriot-Watt University, regarding the advancements in autonomous robotic manipulators. The discussion highlighted the applications of these technologies in various fields, including surgery and industry. Koskinopoulou, who co-leads the ARM²Lab—focused on Autonomous Robotic Manipulation and Multi-Agent Systems—alongside Ignacio Carlucho, shared insights into her research interests and the potential impact of robotics on future innovations. The dialogue underscores the growing significance of robotics in enhancing efficiency and precision across multiple sectors.
Video Friday: This Floor Lamp Will Do Your Chores
IEEE Spectrum robotics has released its weekly roundup of notable robotics videos, along with a calendar of upcoming events in the field. Key events include the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) scheduled for June 1-5, 2026, in Vienna, and the Robotics Science and Systems (RSS) conference from July 13-17, 2026, in Sydney. Among the highlights is Lume, a sculptural floor lamp that reportedly can perform household chores such as making beds and folding laundry, though skepticism surrounds its capabilities due to the presentation of its functionality in promotional materials. Additionally, researchers from MIT Media Lab and Politecnico di Bari have introduced Electrofluidic Fiber Muscles, a new type of artificial muscle that is soft and flexible, utilizing electric fields to operate silently without external pumps. Another innovation is GEN-1, a general-purpose AI model that significantly improves success rates in physical tasks and enhances speed, marking a step towards achieving generalist intelligence in robotics. The report also discusses advancements in legged manipulators, which face challenges in interacting with diverse articulated objects, and highlights the development of Tether, a system for autonomous interactive play that enhances policy learning through efficient data generation. As the robotics community continues to innovate, these developments signal exciting possibilities for the future of robotics applications.
Home-robots Video-friday Artificial-muscle Agricultural-robots Robot-ai Quadruped-robotsRobotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
