Video Friday: Two Birotors Make a Quadrotor

spectrum.ieee.org Sep 18, 2026

Video Friday: Two Birotors Make a Quadrotor

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 18, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

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.

💡 Why It Matters

· The showcased innovations illustrate how modular, adaptive mechanisms can extend robotic capabilities into new environments, potentially reshaping inspection, rescue, and remote interaction services.

Capsules Robotics

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Samsung Taps Stanford Scholar to Lead North America AI Research

Samsung Electronics appointed Juan Carlos Niebles, former director of Stanford’s Vision and Learning Lab and adjunct computer‑science professor, as head of its North America AI Center at Samsung Research, reporting at the executive‑vice‑president level. Niebles brings experience from the Stanford‑Toyota AI center and a stint leading AI research at Salesforce, with over 100 publications in computer vision, multimodal learning and robot control. The hire underscores Samsung’s shift toward “physical AI,” targeting humanoid robots, manufacturing automation and wearable devices, and follows the July launch of a dedicated robotics unit, the RX Business Promotion Office, in Korea. Industry analysts anticipate a rapid rise in demand for talent at the robotics‑AI convergence as major tech firms intensify competition in this space.

💡 Samsung’s recruitment of a top academic signals a decisive push to translate cutting‑edge research into commercial robotics products, accelerating the race for market‑ready physical AI solutions.

therobotreport.com · Sep 19

Neptune Medical earns FDA clearance for its Triton 1 robotic system

Neptune Medical Inc. received FDA clearance for its Triton 1 robotic endoscopy system, designed to enhance colonoscopy precision and control. The system, capable of full-colon navigation, aims to improve screening, surveillance, and therapeutic procedures such as EMRs and ESDs. In a first‑in‑human CARE 1 study, Triton achieved 100 % cecal intubation, a 54.2 % adenoma detection rate, and reduced endoscopist workload by 67 %. The clearance follows a $97 million Series D round and positions Triton as a potential game‑changer in colorectal cancer care.

💡 By delivering higher detection rates and lower operator fatigue, Triton could raise colonoscopy quality standards and reduce missed precancerous lesions, directly impacting colorectal cancer outcomes.

therobotreport.com · Sep 19

F-Prime Capital to give insights on the state of robotics investments at…

At RoboBusiness 2026 in Santa Clara on Oct. 20‑21, F‑Prime Capital partners Sanjay Aggarwal and Betsy Mulé will present the firm’s annual State of Robotics Investments report. The study, based on 162 transactions tracked by The Robot Report, shows the sector raised $4.87 billion in August 2026 alone, highlighting where capital is flowing and which technology categories and end‑markets attract the most interest. Attendees will receive a data‑driven overview of current funding trends and actionable guidance for building and financing robotics startups. Aggarwal brings a background in frontier tech, enterprise software, and machine automation, while Mulé focuses on early‑stage enterprise and robotics investments, both drawing on extensive experience in venture and consulting roles.

💡 The report pinpoints the hottest investment niches, giving founders and investors a precise map of where money is converging in the rapidly expanding robotics ecosystem.

therobotreport.com · Sep 19

SoftBank agrees to acquire Robotics and AI Institute

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’ Atlas. The financial terms remain undisclosed, and the deal’s progress through CFIUS is unclear.

💡 The acquisition could consolidate SoftBank’s robotics portfolio, pairing RAI’s advanced AI research with its planned purchase of ABB’s robotics business, potentially accelerating the commercialization of cutting‑edge robotic technologies.

analyticsinsight.net · Sep 19

Top Manufacturing Logistics Trends Set to Reshape Supply Chains in 2027

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 by FY2027, powered by Warehouse Management Systems, RFID, IoT sensors and AI. Physical AI, including autonomous robots capable of operating in unstructured settings, is expected to rise from 9 % to 22 % adoption among manufacturers within two years, extending automation beyond repetitive tasks to material movement, sorting and distribution.

💡 The convergence of AI, robotics and digital twins will turn warehouses into predictive, self‑optimizing hubs, fundamentally reshaping how manufacturers respond to demand spikes and supply shocks.

industrialnews.co.uk · Sep 18

ABZ expands Hungarian civilian drone manufacturing capacity

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 its drones can cut water use by up to 90 % and chemical use by 50 % in certain applications.

💡 The expansion signals ABZ’s ambition to scale its impact on precision agriculture and industrial automation, potentially reshaping how farms and factories manage resources and maintenance.