Articles tagged with "AI-robots"
Hyundai labor union warns humanoids could trigger major job losses
Hyundai Motors’ Korean labor union has strongly opposed the company’s plan to introduce Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robots into its factories, citing significant job security concerns. The union declared that no robots would be allowed on the factory floor without a formal labor-management agreement, warning that robot deployment would cause a major employment shock. Hyundai aims to produce 30,000 humanoid robots annually by 2028, initially deploying them at its U.S. plant in Georgia for simple tasks, with plans to expand their use across all production sites by 2030 for more complex operations. The union accused Hyundai of using robot adoption as a pretext to reduce its workforce and maximize profits, highlighting that the robots’ maintenance costs are substantially lower than human labor expenses. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, Hyundai showcased the Atlas robot as a key component of its Physical AI initiative, emphasizing that human involvement would continue alongside robot deployment. The company is transitioning from hardware-centric robotics to AI-driven systems that
robothumanoid-robotsHyundaifactory-automationAI-robotsmanufacturing-technologylabor-union-concernsAI robot dogs take over missions too risky for human firefighters
DEEP Robotics has developed the “Emergency Firefighting Solution,” an AI-driven robotic system designed to transform firefighting by reducing human risk and enhancing operational efficiency. This integrated platform employs a team of specialized robots—including quadruped reconnaissance units, water gun and water cannon firefighting robots, and logistics bots—to manage various disaster scenarios such as fires, chemical leaks, and natural disasters. Equipped with advanced sensors like LiDAR, dual-spectrum cameras, and gas detectors, the reconnaissance robots can navigate hazardous environments, detect dangers, and locate trapped individuals, while the firefighting robots use high-pressure water mist and foam with dual-layer cooling to suppress flames safely from a distance. The system features a closed-loop design that covers forward reconnaissance, precise firefighting response, intelligent transport of supplies, and reliable communication, including integration with drones for comprehensive situational awareness through real-time data and 3D mapping. DEEP Robotics’ technology has been validated in multiple real-world tests, including emergency drills and competitions, where their robots
roboticsAI-robotsfirefighting-robotsemergency-responserobot-dogsautonomous-robotsdisaster-managementChinese automaker debuts multipurpose humanoid and service robots
Chinese automaker Chery Group’s subsidiary AIMOGA Robotics unveiled a series of multipurpose humanoid and service robots at the “Technology Meets AI” 2026 Chery AI Night event in Wuhu on January 17. The showcase highlighted AIMOGA’s advancements in embodied intelligence, enabling robots to perform complex tasks across diverse real-world environments. Key models included the “Wuyou” Intelligent Police R001 and the “AiMOGA Care” RN001 medical service robot, both demonstrating capabilities such as seamless communication, intelligent guidance, and collaborative interaction. The flagship AiMOGA humanoid robot features 41 degrees of freedom and highly dexterous hands with 12 degrees of freedom each, allowing precise manipulation. It can walk at 1 meter per second, communicate in 10 languages with approximately 95% accuracy, and quickly learn industry-specific tasks within about an hour, making it adaptable for various scenarios. Powered by DeepSeek’s large language models, AiMOGA interprets natural language and gestures
roboticshumanoid-robotsAI-robotsservice-robotsintelligent-systemsembodied-intelligenceautomationPhotos: New WALL-E inspired robots turn sci-fi into real-life home helpers
At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, robotics startup Zeroth Robotics officially entered the US market by unveiling a lineup of five AI-powered robots designed for homes and small businesses. The company’s flagship product, the W1 robot, draws inspiration from the iconic WALL-E character but features a neutral, unbranded design to avoid copyright issues. Priced at $5,599, the W1 is built for household mobility tasks with a dual-tread system enabling it to traverse various terrains like grass and gravel. Equipped with lidar, RGB cameras, and other sensors, it can carry loads up to 110 pounds, navigate autonomously, and perform limited tasks such as transporting items, following its owner, hosting games, and taking photos. Alongside the W1, Zeroth introduced the smaller M1 humanoid robot, standing 15 inches tall and priced at $2,899. The M1 focuses on companionship and light assistance, leveraging Google’s Gemini AI for conversational abilities. It offers practical features
robotAI-robotshome-robotsZeroth-RoboticsWALL-E-inspiredinteractive-robotsrobotics-startupParallax Worlds raises funding for hyper-realistic digital twins to test robots - The Robot Report
Parallax Worlds, a San Francisco-based startup specializing in hyper-realistic digital twins for robotics testing, recently raised $4 million in seed funding, bringing its total funding to $4.9 million. Led by Pear VC with participation from several venture firms and angel investors, the financing will support research and development, staffing, and product commercialization. The company’s co-founders, Tanmay Agarwal and Aumkar Renavikar, bring strong backgrounds in robotics and industrial automation, having worked with institutions like Stanford and companies such as BMW and Michelin. Parallax Worlds’ platform creates high-fidelity digital twins from simple video captures, such as iPhone walkthroughs, enabling robot developers to simulate and stress test AI-based robots—particularly those using cameras for tasks like metal sanding, welding, and pick-and-place operations—before physical deployment. This approach addresses the costly, slow, and risky transition from pilot programs to full-scale production in factories by allowing users to measure reliability and performance upfront, compress on-site
roboticsdigital-twinsAI-robotsindustrial-automationfactory-automationsimulation-softwarerobotics-testingAI robots speed up installation of 500,000 solar panels in Australia
An Australian electricity and gas provider, ENGIE, is using AI-powered autonomous robots developed by US company Luminous Robotics to install nearly 500,000 solar panels at the 250-megawatt Goorambat East Solar Farm in Victoria. The LUMI S4 robots employ AI-driven pick-and-place technology to lift and position solar modules onto racking structures, reducing the physically demanding manual labor involved in solar farm construction. This robotic assistance enhances installation speed, improves worker safety by minimizing injury risks, and allows human crews to focus on skilled tasks. The project is ahead of schedule, with first energization expected by October 2025 and full operation targeted for mid-2026, supplying power to over 100,000 homes. Funded in part by a USD 4.9 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of its Solar ScaleUp Challenge, the deployment marks Luminous Robotics’ first international use of the LUMI fleet. The company
roboticssolar-energyAI-robotsrenewable-energysolar-panel-installationautomationclean-energy-technologyCarbonSix says its toolkit brings robot imitation learning to the factory floor - The Robot Report
CarbonSix Inc., a manufacturing-focused AI developer, has launched SigmaKit, a toolkit that brings robot imitation learning directly to factory floors. Designed for industries such as electronics, batteries, and food and beverage, SigmaKit enables manufacturers to deploy AI-powered robots without needing specialized expertise or extensive programming. The system uses imitation learning, allowing robots to learn complex, delicate, and non-standardized tasks—like film attachment, assembly, and cable fastening—by observing human demonstrations. This approach addresses traditional automation challenges in unstructured and variable manufacturing environments, where conventional robots struggle to adapt. SigmaKit integrates AI algorithms, precision robotic grippers, sensor modules, and a teaching tool that simplifies operation. Users build training datasets by repeatedly demonstrating tasks, with models generated in less than a day depending on complexity. The resulting robotic "skills" can then be deployed to handle variable, non-routine tasks efficiently. Founded in 2024 by co-CEOs Jehyuk Kim and Terry Moon, CarbonSix leverages deep
roboticsindustrial-automationimitation-learningAI-robotsmanufacturing-technologyrobotic-toolkitfactory-automationAI Humanoids Play Football in China Robo Games
The World Humanoid Robot Games recently took place in Beijing, featuring over 500 AI-powered robots from 16 countries competing in various events such as running races, football matches, and even dancing performances in terracotta armor. The competition showcased the advancing capabilities of humanoid robots in dynamic physical activities, highlighting their agility, coordination, and AI-driven control. This event not only demonstrated significant progress in robotics technology but also sparked discussions about the potential emergence of a "Robot Olympics," where machines could regularly compete in diverse athletic and artistic disciplines. The games symbolize a milestone in the integration of AI and robotics into sports and entertainment, pointing toward a future where humanoid robots may become prominent participants in global competitions.
robotshumanoid-robotsAI-robotsrobotics-competitionrobot-gamesartificial-intelligencerobot-sportsNimble moves to cloud-based PTC development tools for logistics robots - The Robot Report
Nimble, a developer of AI-powered logistics robots designed for picking, packing, and handling warehouse items, is transitioning from legacy file-based design and management tools to cloud-native platforms provided by PTC Inc. Specifically, Nimble is adopting PTC’s Onshape CAD and PDM platform alongside the Arena PLM and QMS system to enhance collaboration, reduce latency, and improve reliability across its teams. This shift to connected, cloud-native development tools was made swiftly—within 60 days of evaluation—and is aimed at supporting Nimble’s scaling efforts in manufacturing and R&D for its advanced mobile manipulator robots. PTC highlights that Onshape and Arena facilitate digital transformation by enabling more agile, collaborative workflows and efficient scaling, replacing traditional file-based systems with integrated cloud solutions. Onshape offers capabilities such as CAD, simulation, and built-in product data management accessible from any web-connected device, while Arena centralizes product information and processes to accelerate product development and introduction. Founded in 2017, Nim
roboticslogistics-robotscloud-computingAI-robotswarehouse-automationPTC-Onshapeproduct-lifecycle-management