Robotics

In the evolving world of robotics, one of the most transformative advancements is the development of AI-powered vision systems. These technologies enable robots not only to “see” but also to interpret and understand their environments with increasing sophistication. From assembly lines and warehouses to surgical suites and farm fields, vision-enabled robots are reshaping what machines can do – bringing a new level of autonomy, adaptability, and precision to automated tasks. Seeing the world in 2D and 3D Robotic vision begins with sensors – primarily cameras – used to capture visual data. Traditional 2D vision systems, which rely on flat images, have long been used for tasks like barcode scanning, surface inspection, and color detection. But as robotic applications grow more complex, there has been a rapid shift toward 3D vision systems, which provide depth perception and spatial context. 3D vision systems use technologies such as stereo cameras, time-of-flight sensors, and structured l...

Neura Robotics   has signed a strategic agreement with   HD Hyundai Samho   and   HD Hyundai Robotics   to develop and test humanoid and quadruped robots for use in the shipbuilding industry. The partnership, announced during the Automatica trade show in Munich at the end of June, brings together German cognitive robotics expertise and Korean shipbuilding and automation capabilities. The companies say the goal is to deploy intelligent robotic systems to boost safety, productivity, and operational efficiency in one of the world’s most demanding industrial environments. As part of the collaboration: HD Hyundai Samho will offer real-world demonstration sites at its shipyards, helping to assess the practical applicability of robotics in daily shipbuilding operations. HD Hyundai Robotics will contribute technical support and validation tools, including data for path learning and its experience in welding automation. Neura Robotics will supply its cognitive ...

The robotics and automation sector is experiencing a dramatic rise in investor interest, as the industry matures from theoretical science to real-world application, according to JPMorgan’s newly released   Applied Tech report . JPMorgan, the world’s largest bank, defines “Applied Technology” as the sector that bridges scientific discovery and engineering innovation – essentially translating lab-born concepts into real-world tools. Robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation form a core part of this applied frontier, where the theoretical is rapidly becoming practical. In 2024 alone, investments into robotics startups nearly doubled compared with 2020, with venture capitalists writing larger checks to fewer companies – indicating a shift toward commercialization and scale. The median deal size in robotics surged across stages, with late-stage valuations topping $160 million, up sharply from prior years. This spike isn’t just financial froth. As the report outlines, invest...

AtkinsRéalis, an engineering services and nuclear company, and Canadian robotic developer   Kinova   have agreed an extension of their global strategic partnership for a further three years. This renewed collaboration will help advance the integration of cutting-edge robotic technology in the nuclear sector globally, building on the successful deployment of Kinova’s robotic arm within the patented AtkinsRéalis Remote Glovebox Operation (ARGO) system in the United Kingdom, with demonstration units also operating at the AtkinsRéalis Technology Center (ATC) in Richland, US, and in Montreal, Canada. The ARGO system was recently used in a world-first deployment at the Sellafield site in the UK, retrofitting a nuclear glovebox with a robotic arm in a successful demonstrator project that proves viability to use at scale across nuclear decommissioning sites. The next phase of the partnership will focus on further refining and expanding the technology for use in nuclear world-wide to i...

Seegrid , a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robot (AMR) solutions for palletized material handling, says it is actively progressing its VDA5050 support – marking a major step forward in interoperability and system integration for industrial automation. With foundational capabilities already rolling out in 2025, the company is on track for full VDA5050 compliance in 2026. VDA5050 is an open interface standard developed by Germany’s VDA (Automotive Industry Association) and VDMA (Mechanical Engineering Industry Association) to promote seamless communication between AMRs and fleet management systems, regardless of manufacturer. As automation expands across inter-facility operations, this interoperability standard is becoming a vital component to the success of mixed-fleet deployments – accelerating integration timelines, and reducing long-term operational costs. Tom Panzarella, chief technology officer at Seegrid, says: “Supporting VDA5050 is part of Seegrid’s broader commitment to buil...

When you hear the word “robot”, you probably picture a massive, unmoving arm on an assembly line, precisely welding car parts or lifting heavy machinery. And for good reason – industrial robots have revolutionized manufacturing for decades.  But a new breed of robotic assistants, collaborative robots or cobots, are breaking free from the factory floor, proving their versatility and value in an array of surprising environments. Designed to work safely alongside humans, cobots are now making significant inroads into fields like healthcare, laboratory research, and even food service, transforming how we approach tasks in these diverse sectors. Healthcare: A helping hand for professionals and patients In the fast-paced and often understaffed world of healthcare, cobots are emerging as invaluable allies. They aren’t replacing human caregivers but rather augmenting their capabilities, taking on repetitive or physically demanding tasks that free up medical professionals to focus on direct...

Tennibot , the sports technology company behind the “Rover” ball-collecting robot, has unveiled the “Partner”, its groundbreaking AI-powered autonomous ball machine, is now shipping to consumers. Designed to emulate the experience of playing with a real human, The Partner is the first ball machine that moves, thinks, and reacts like a true hitting partner. Tennibot was recently celebrated by TechCrunch as one of the most disruptive companies of 2024 and named by The Robot Report among the most innovative robotics companies in the world. Shipping comes at an ideal moment, as tennis enthusiasm remains high following Wimbledon and with the US Open on the horizon. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or an aspiring pro, The Partner uses advanced AI and computer vision to track player movements and deliver realistic, dynamic shots anywhere on the court. It autonomously adjusts positioning, speed, and difficulty in real time – something no other machine on the market can do. Whether you’re drill...

Glīd Tech , a dual-use logistics company specializing in autonomous, electrified road-to-rail mobility, has unveiled “the world’s first” unmanned, dual-mode Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform at the New Mobility Futures event. The Glīd platform is built to serve the evolving demands of freight, defense, and industrial automation by uniting Rāden, a hybrid-electric unmanned ground vehicle, with EZRA-1SIX, Glīd’s AI-powered orchestration software. Freight and defense logistics are at a breaking point. Legacy infrastructure, labor shortages, carbon mandates, and geopolitical instability have exposed deep inefficiencies in how goods move. Most rail infrastructure is underutilized. Transload zones remain bottlenecks. Manual processes lead to injuries, delays, and unsustainable costs. Glīd is solving this by creating the first fully autonomous logistics platform that bridges road and rail — reclaiming idle infrastructure, reducing operating costs, and providing rapid-deploy mobility for b...

At a time when automation has become the main driver of technological progress, the role of automation designers goes far beyond engineering processes. With this change comes a new level of responsibility. Namely, ensuring the security of automated systems. Cyber threats, which were previously mainly a problem for IT departments, now pose a serious threat to those involved in the design of automation systems. Knowledge of cyber security is becoming critical for every professional involved in the design of automated solutions. Automation Designers in the New Cyber Environment: Their Role Automated systems are increasingly under attack because they are vulnerable due to their complexity and integration with other networks. The designers who create these solutions have a unique opportunity to influence the overall level of automation security at the design stage. It is up to them to decide: Many people still perceive cyber threats as something that should be dealt with exclusively by the ...

As home robotics begins to step beyond research labs and factory floors into everyday environments, the technology powering them is under new scrutiny – particularly the chips at their core. At this year’s Automatica trade show, several companies, including Neura Robotics (main image), unveiled new humanoid systems designed to operate in close proximity to people – in homes, care settings, and public spaces. While much attention has focused on the mechanical dexterity and AI capabilities of these robots, there’s another crucial layer that’s often overlooked: semiconductor reliability. To explore this topic,  Robotics & Automation News  spoke with Bernd Lienhard, CEO of Vorago Technologies, a company known for its radiation-hardened semiconductor solutions. Lienhard argues that as robots become more autonomous and human-facing, the risk of failure from environmental factors – including radiation-induced bit flips and electromagnetic interference – become...

In a world racing toward autonomous vehicles, Europe has taken a different path – demanding not just performance, but explainability, safety, and full legal compliance. Motor Ai is meeting that challenge head-on. The company has announced a $20 million seed funding round to bring its certified, neuroscience-driven technology into full deployment, starting with German public roads. The seed round was led by Segenia Capital and eCapital, with participation from mobility-focused angels. That reflects the national significance of the technology. The new capital will support hiring, commercial rollouts, and expansion. As the only German company, Motor Ai has built an intelligence for Level 4 autonomous driving that reasons through data, rather than just reacting. At the heart of the system is a cognitive architecture rooted in active inference, a model from neuroscience that allows vehicles to make structured, transparent decisions. That’s how Motor Ai makes autonomous technology transp...