SoftBank Group Corp. has agreed to acquire the Robotics and AI Institute (RAI) from Hyundai Motor Group, a move that has entered review by the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS). RAI, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was founded in 2022 after Hyundai’s purchase of Boston Dynamics and has received over $400 million in initial funding. The institute specializes in robot control, perception, manipulation, navigation, and AI, developing technologies such as the whole‑body learning framework used in Boston Dynamics’ [...]

AI and automation are set to overhaul manufacturing logistics, with smart warehouses, robotics, and digital twins driving higher inventory accuracy, efficiency, visibility and scalability. The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s 2026 roadmap highlights industrial data analytics, autonomous systems, and sustainable manufacturing as key AI‑enabled advances, allowing earlier disruption detection and supplier substitution. In India, rapid manufacturing growth is spurring demand for modern logistics infrastructure; ICRA projects warehousing capacity to expand 12‑14 % annually to 550‑570 million square feet [...]

ABZ Innovation has opened a new manufacturing plant in Szentendre, Hungary, quadrupling its floor space and positioning the company to triple production by 2026. The expansion follows a €7 million funding round led by Vsquared Ventures, Day One Capital, and Assembly Ventures. ABZ produces heavy‑duty drones for agriculture and industry, operating in more than 40 countries. The new facility will accommodate larger platform ranges, increase assembly and testing capacity, and support a growing distributor network. The company emphasizes [...]

Researchers at Delft University of Technology have equipped a sub‑100‑gram drone with a pair of rodent‑inspired artificial whiskers that provide real‑time tactile feedback. Each whisker contains three miniature pressure sensors at its base, detecting minute deflections, vibrations, and pressure changes when the whisker contacts a surface. An onboard processing pipeline, using only 34 kilobytes of memory, filters out propeller turbulence to deliver millimeter‑precision depth data. Flight tests showed the drone navigating pitch‑black enclosures, mapping unknown rooms, and [...]

In Episode 262 of The Robot Report Podcast, Teddy Haggerty, founder and CEO of Robo Inc., discusses the company’s shift from a distribution model to a robotics education and deployment platform. Haggerty explains how Robostore evolved into a localized, solution-first ecosystem that connects robotics, manufacturing, and education. He highlights the company’s expansion in Plainview, N.Y., and its focus on building infrastructure that supports the growing robotics industry. The conversation underscores Haggerty’s track record across multiple tech waves. [...]

IEEE Spectrum’s Video Friday showcased a diverse set of robotics demonstrations, including a quadrotor formed from two birotors, an undulatory robot that manipulates internal water to climb slopes and clear steps, and a wheeled quadruped adapted for underwater use. The video also highlighted Kubi 2.0, a telepresence AI robot, and Ugo Nova, a semi‑humanoid robot aimed at industrial deployment. Each clip emphasized novel design strategies and practical applications across aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic domains.

Toyota Motor announced that modernising its factories with robotics could cost about 1 trillion yen ($6.4 billion) annually from 2028. The estimate covers Toyota, its group companies, and major suppliers, and is based on the deployment of roughly 400,000 robots—including industrial, humanoid, and non‑humanoid units—to replace aging equipment and support automated logistics and human‑robot collaboration. The company did not confirm whether the investment will be realized or its duration. Analysts note that the move could signal a broader [...]