robotics engineering

A new essay argues that 'robot' is less a technical category than a social construct, examining why some automated machines get called robots while others, like dishwashers, do not. The piece explores how culture and expectations, rather than engineering definitions, shape what people consider robotic, and it is drawing attention and debate among robotics enthusiasts.

Rivian has appointed Doug Field as president of Mind Robotics, a new industrial AI and robotics startup created by the electric vehicle maker. Field, known for his senior engineering roles at Tesla, Apple and Ford, will oversee day-to-day product, engineering and operations. The company is developing purpose-built manufacturing robots rather than humanoid designs, positioning itself as a practical alternative in the crowded robotics field.

Boston Dynamics has detailed the new four-fingered robotic hand developed for its Atlas humanoid robot, designed to deliver superhuman grip strength and fine motor control. IEEE Spectrum reports on the engineering behind the hand, which allows the humanoid to manipulate objects with a level of dexterity beyond typical robot grippers, marking another step toward practical humanoids in industrial work.

Mind Robotics, a startup backed by Rivian, has hired Doug Field, the former head of Ford's electric vehicle program, TechCrunch reports exclusively. Field, a veteran engineer known for senior roles at Tesla, Apple and Ford, is a prominent figure in the auto and tech industries. His move into robotics signals the startup's ambitions to compete for top engineering talent as interest in industrial and consumer robotics accelerates.

Johnson & Johnson is spotlighting its FDA-approved surgical robot as part of a drive to reach $100 billion in revenue. The company is positioning the robotic surgery platform as a key growth engine, betting on medical technology to offset slower pharmaceutical growth and compete with rivals in the fast-expanding surgical robotics market.

ABB has expanded its artificial intelligence capabilities for robot vision applications, according to Design World. The move strengthens the Swiss engineering company's robotics offering, giving industrial robots improved perception powered by AI. Details on the specific tools and customer availability were not included in the available coverage, but the announcement lands amid growing industry interest in AI-driven automation.

MES Inc., a manufacturing engineering firm, says humanoid robot output is climbing toward 100,000 units, a milestone it argues will force the industry to move from billet machining of individual parts to true volume production methods. The company outlines how suppliers will need processes suited to mass manufacturing rather than low-volume metal removal to keep pace with demand for humanoid robots.

Mind Robotics, a spinoff of electric truck maker Rivian, has hired Doug Field, the former head of Ford's electric vehicle division. Field previously worked on Apple's secretive car project and oversaw development of the Tesla Model 3, making him one of the most experienced figures in automotive and EV engineering. His move signals Mind Robotics' serious ambitions as it builds out its leadership team.

An engineering project has demonstrated an industrial robot arm programmed to juggle, a task demanding precise timing, fast dynamic control and accurate object tracking. Projects like this are typically shared as showcases of robotics skill, since juggling sits well outside a robot arm's usual factory duties and tests the limits of real-time motion planning and feedback control.

MindRobotics, a startup linked to electric vehicle maker Rivian, has brought on Doug Field, the former head of Ford's electric vehicle programs. Field, a veteran of Tesla and Ford who led development of the Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, is seen as one of the industry's top engineering executives. His move to a young robotics venture is drawing attention across the automotive and startup worlds.

Elon Musk said that robotic hands remain 'shockingly difficult' to build, highlighting one of the toughest engineering problems in robotics. The comment, reported by Benzinga, underscores the gap between current humanoid robots and the dexterity of the human hand, a key challenge for companies like Tesla developing Optimus and other next-generation robots.

A trade article examines the certification of robots intended for use in hazardous industrial environments, looking at what certificate registers actually show about approved equipment and the open questions engineers should resolve before specifying a robot for such zones. It highlights gaps between formal certification records and practical deployment requirements in explosive or dangerous atmospheres.

Hyundai's humanoid robot Atlas is built with four fingers, while Tesla's Optimus uses five, and Korean media are explaining the design difference. A four-fingered hand can reduce cost, weight and mechanical complexity while still covering most gripping tasks, whereas Tesla favours a human-like five-finger design. The comparison highlights competing engineering philosophies between Boston Dynamics, owned by Hyundai, and Tesla in the race to commercialise humanoid robots.

Researchers have published a new definition of robot-assisted nursing care in intensive care units, setting out what tasks robots can realistically perform in the ICU. The work aims to give clinicians, engineers and hospitals a common framework as automation moves into critical care settings, and it is drawing attention from both the robotics community and healthcare professionals weighing the technology's promise and limits.

Engineers have developed a worm-like robot that can travel both on land and in water by shifting fluid inside its own body. By redistributing internal water, the robot changes its shape and weight distribution, allowing it to move across different terrains without external mechanisms. The design draws on how real worms control their body segments, and researchers say it could inspire adaptable machines for environments where wheeled robots struggle, such as coastlines, wetlands and submerged structures.

Mind Robotics, a spinoff of electric vehicle maker Rivian, has hired Doug Field, the former head of Ford's EV division, TechCrunch reports. Field, a veteran engineer who has held senior roles at Tesla and Apple, brings extensive experience in vehicle and hardware development to the young robotics company as it builds out its leadership team.

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has revealed details of a humanoid robot featuring 31 degrees of freedom and a dexterous hand, according to a report by Interesting Engineering. The announcement puts the automaker in direct competition with companies like Tesla and Unitree in the fast-growing humanoid robotics race, as firms leverage manufacturing expertise to build general-purpose robots.

MIT researchers have developed a shape-sensing sheet that digitally tracks its own movement as it bends and twists. The material can sense and record its deformation in real time, a capability that could matter for robotics, wearable devices and soft structures. The news is drawing attention on tech discussion forums, where readers are weighing potential engineering and consumer applications.

A team in Switzerland has developed a minuscule fiber-based motor designed to keep robots soft and flexible while still allowing them to move. The component is aimed at soft robotics, where conventional rigid actuators undermine pliability. Coverage highlights its potential to help squishy robots bend, contract and perform tasks without losing their pliable structure.

Robotics startup Matic is reflecting on nine years of development marked by a long trail of discarded prototypes, describing the failed designs as hard-won lessons on the way to a finished product. The company's account of its iterative process is drawing attention as a window into how slow and expensive consumer robotics engineering can be.