robots

The Canadarm2, the large robotic arm on the International Space Station, has stopped working, according to a report by Ars Technica. The arm is essential for capturing cargo spacecraft, moving equipment and supporting spacewalks outside the station. Engineers are reportedly working to diagnose the fault, and the outage raises questions about operations aboard the ageing orbital outpost until the arm can be restored.

The Yuelu Conference 2026 was held in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, on September 23–24, bringing together artificial intelligence companies, robotics developers, researchers and investors. The event featured an opening ceremony, ten 'AI+' themed forums and further programme focused on connecting China's AI and robotics sectors with research and investment communities.

Black Forest Labs has announced Flux 3 Action, a 7-billion-parameter open-weight world action model designed for robotics. The model is being released openly so developers can adapt it to control robots, and the announcement has drawn attention among AI and robotics researchers debating how far vision-action models can push general-purpose robot control.

A one-day Prime Day deal has cut the price of the Yeedi S14 Plus robot vacuum to $360, its lowest recorded price. The offer, reported by CNET, is available for today only, making it a time-limited opportunity for shoppers considering a robot vacuum during Amazon's Prime Day sales event.

Researchers filmed bumblebees landing on an artificial flower that slid sideways twice a second, capturing 48 landings with three high-speed cameras and reconstructing them in 3D. The bees banked to match the platform's motion, lagging slightly behind it, offering new insight into how bees control mid-air landings, with possible applications for flying robots.

An engineer has written about a hands-on crash course in robotics, arguing that the key lesson was learning when to step back and let automated systems act rather than intervene. The piece walks through practical mistakes and fixes from building and running robots, and it is drawing attention from readers interested in hands-on robotics experience.

A Hindi-language animated story about three children who build a unique robot that begins moving on its own at night is drawing massive attention, with hundreds of thousands of viewers engaging with the tale. The story blends robotics themes with suspense, making it a hit among family and children's entertainment audiences online.

IEEE Spectrum reports that generative AI is giving spacecraft and rovers in deep space a level of autonomy engineers once feared. Robots operating far from Earth sometimes need to make their own decisions when communication delays make ground control impractical, and AI is increasingly being trusted to handle that decision-making.

A new technical article examines the key engineering obstacles facing underwater robot power systems, including battery endurance, pressure resistance, and energy efficiency at depth. It outlines emerging solutions such as improved battery chemistries, power management techniques, and energy harvesting approaches. The piece is aimed at engineers and researchers working to extend the operational range and reliability of subsea robotics.

Arrowfly, the parent company of robotics publication The Robot Report, has launched AI for Engineers, a new platform aimed at helping engineers understand and adopt artificial intelligence. The offering includes events designed to guide engineers through the practical challenges of navigating AI technologies in their work, marking an expansion of the company's coverage beyond robotics into broader engineering-focused AI education.

Cognex Corporation has agreed to acquire RealSense, a 3D camera spinout from Intel, for roughly $500 million. The deal aims to expand Cognex's machine vision business into robotic perception, addressing a basic weakness in factory automation: robots struggle when objects arrive even a few centimetres off-target, since reliable real-world automation requires machines that can see in 3D.

Electric vehicle maker Faraday Future says it plans to begin production of its first EAI robot in 2027. The announcement marks an expansion beyond electric cars into robotics, though the company has provided few details on the robot's design, capabilities or intended market. Observers are watching closely given Faraday Future's history of missed production targets with its vehicles.

Space-mining company AstroForge says it intends to let artificial intelligence run an entire mission autonomously using its Solo system. If successful, it would be one of the first deep-space missions operated end to end by AI rather than ground controllers, a notable step for autonomous spacecraft operations and for the company's asteroid-mining ambitions.

Ukraine has put a new uncrewed ground robot, nicknamed Frodo, into battlefield service, with a reported operating range of 150 kilometres. The system is presented as part of Ukraine's growing fleet of robotic vehicles used for logistics and assault tasks, reducing the risk to soldiers. The Tolkien-themed nickname has drawn attention as coverage highlights how Ukrainian drone and robot innovations continue to expand along the front line.

Industry analysts say physical AI — artificial intelligence that operates in the real world, such as robots and autonomous vehicles — is reshaping how work is divided across the semiconductor supply chain. Chipmakers are repositioning between design, manufacturing and application layers as demand shifts toward specialized hardware for embodied AI systems.

Bethel presented its new robot joint modules for the first time at the 2026 World Manufacturing Convention, marking its entry into the robotics components market. The debut drew attention from the manufacturing and automation sectors, with observers watching how the modules could serve the fast-growing demand for humanoid and industrial robot parts.

Ukraine has deployed a new unmanned ground vehicle capable of operating both on land and in water, carrying out its first mission, according to Newsweek. The amphibious robot adds to Kyiv's growing fleet of robotic systems used for logistics, evacuation and combat support along the front line, where drones and ground robots are increasingly replacing soldiers in dangerous tasks.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is purchasing four modified Boston Dynamics robot dogs from a Connecticut company. The acquisition puts law-enforcement use of quadruped robotics back in the spotlight, with critics likely to raise concerns about surveillance and immigration enforcement, while the maker's robots have previously been used by police and industrial sites for inspections and hazardous-environment work.

China shipped more than 19,000 humanoid robots in the first half of 2026, representing 77.9% of global shipments, according to figures attributed to IDC. Worldwide shipments reached nearly 25,000 units, a 432.1% year-over-year increase, and IDC also raised its global humanoid robot forecast. Commenters are citing the numbers as evidence of China's dominance in a fast-scaling robotics industry.

Nikon has added 3D vision tracking capability to its robot vision system, the company announced. The upgrade is designed to let industrial robots recognise and track objects in three dimensions, expanding potential uses in manufacturing and automation. Details on availability and specifications remain limited, and reaction from the robotics industry has so far been muted.

A Caltech roboticist argues that safety must be the top priority in the development and deployment of humanoid robots. The comments, published by Caltech and covered locally in Pasadena, stress that as humanoids move from labs into homes and workplaces, protecting humans from harm should outweigh speed of commercialization. The remarks come amid rapid industry progress in humanoid robotics and growing public debate about their risks.

A columnist for Pleasanton Weekly explores how homebuyers and sellers might use artificial intelligence alongside a traditional realtor, suggesting a workflow of consulting an agent, then an AI chatbot, then returning to the agent to verify. The piece reflects growing debate over whether automated tools can replace or merely supplement professional real estate advice in local housing markets.

The International Federation of Robotics reports that the United States has moved ahead of Japan in robot automation, with food and logistics sectors driving the surge in installations. The shift marks a notable change in the global robotics landscape, as Japan has long been the world's largest market for industrial robots.

Ukraine's former defense minister has launched an initiative likened to a 'Manhattan Project' aimed at developing autonomous lethal drones and robotic weapons. The effort reflects Kyiv's wartime push to accelerate AI-driven military technology, and is drawing attention over both its ambitions for the battlefield and the ethical questions surrounding fully autonomous killing systems.

Amazon has begun discounting robot lawn mowers ahead of its Prime Day sales event, with deals on models from Dreame, Mammotion and other brands. Shopping outlets are rounding up the offers, pointing to growing consumer interest in automated yard care as retailers roll out early promotions before the main sale.

Innodata has opened a motion-capture lab aimed at helping humanoid robots move more naturally, capturing human movement data to improve robotic mobility. The announcement was reported by The Robot Report, which covers the robotics industry. The move signals Innodata's push into providing training data services for the growing humanoid robotics sector, where lifelike movement remains a key technical hurdle.