Articles tagged with "robotics-manufacturing"
Tesla To Eliminate Model S & Model X To Make Robots - CleanTechnica
Tesla announced it will discontinue production of the Model S and Model X next quarter, shifting focus away from its traditional luxury vehicles to concentrate on the Model 3, Model Y, and the upcoming Cybertruck and Cybercab. The production lines for the Model S and X will be repurposed to manufacture Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots, which Elon Musk claims will be the company’s “biggest product of all time” and could help eliminate poverty. Tesla plans to start producing these robots by the end of 2024 and begin public sales in 2027. Despite Musk’s optimism, experts caution that humanoid robots remain highly experimental, with significant technical and commercialization challenges ahead. This strategic pivot coincides with the end of federal exhaust emissions credits in the U.S., which had previously subsidized Tesla’s vehicle development, especially for the Model S and X. Tesla appears to have no plans to introduce new electric vehicle models beyond incremental updates to existing ones, foregoing development of lower-cost or new vehicle
robotTeslahumanoid-robotsOptimusAIautonomous-systemsrobotics-manufacturingElon Musk to end Model S and Model X as Tesla targets 1 million humanoid robots yearly
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced a significant strategic shift during a recent investor call, revealing plans to discontinue production of the Model S sedan and Model X SUV, two of the company’s longest-running premium electric vehicles. Production of these models is expected to wind down next quarter, with the Fremont, California factory—currently producing these vehicles—being repurposed to manufacture Tesla’s humanoid Optimus robots. Musk’s long-term vision is to produce up to 1 million robots annually at this facility, signaling a pivot from traditional electric vehicles toward artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous systems. The announcement coincided with Tesla’s latest quarterly earnings report, which showed a decline in vehicle sales but stronger-than-expected profits. Despite a 3% year-over-year revenue drop and an 11% decline in automotive revenue, Tesla beat Wall Street expectations with earnings per share of $0.50 and revenue of $24.9 billion. Vehicle deliveries fell 16% in the fourth quarter, particularly in Europe, reflecting
robotartificial-intelligenceTeslahumanoid-robotsrobotics-manufacturingAI-powered-systemsautonomous-vehiclesChina's 3D-printing firm made humanoid robot's viral catwalk possible
China’s Suzhou-based company PollyPolymer has played a pivotal role in enabling the lifelike movements of XPeng’s humanoid robot, which gained viral attention earlier this year. Founded in 2017 by materials scientist Wang Wenbin, PollyPolymer initially specialized in 3D-printed footwear components characterized by lightweight, elasticity, durability, and skin-safe materials. These qualities translated well into robotics, where flexible, skin-like structural parts are essential for creating smooth, human-like motion and protecting delicate internal mechanisms. PollyPolymer has supplied joint cushioning systems and integrated foot components to several Chinese robotics firms, including UBTech Robotics and EngineAI, helping advance the shift from rigid industrial robot designs to softer, more compliant systems suited for human environments. A key factor in PollyPolymer’s success is its proprietary high-speed photopolymerization technology called hindered asynchronous light synthesis (HALS), which enables rapid 3D printing of flexible parts without molds. This process supports fast design iteration and small-b
robothumanoid-robot3D-printingmaterials-sciencepolymersflexible-materialsrobotics-manufacturingMass-production of hospitality humanoid robots begins at Chinese firm
Chinese company Zerith Robotics has begun mass-producing its H1 service humanoid robots, scaling production to over 100 units per month within a year. Priced at approximately RMB 99,000 (around $13,600), the H1 is positioned at the lower end of the humanoid market, driving strong demand with orders exceeding RMB 100 million. The robots are already deployed in commercial settings across major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shenzhen, performing autonomous cleaning and sanitation tasks in shopping malls and other indoor public and enterprise locations. Distinct from general-purpose bipedal robots, the H1 features a wheeled base with a height-adjustable upper body and two articulated arms, optimized for indoor service and housekeeping roles. It uses advanced sensors including 3D LiDAR and depth cameras for navigation and obstacle avoidance, runs on the ROS2 framework, and offers up to four hours of continuous operation per charge. Zerith’s focus is on reliable, sustained task execution rather than experimental capabilities, signaling a transition
robothumanoid-robotservice-robotrobotics-manufacturingautonomous-navigationROS2indoor-service-robotUS firm Foundation plans to build 50,000 humanoid robots by 2027
San Francisco-based robotics startup Foundation plans an ambitious production of up to 50,000 humanoid robots, called Phantom MK-1, by the end of 2027. These robots, standing about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing around 175–180 pounds, are designed for both industrial and military applications, particularly combat-adjacent roles such as reconnaissance, bomb disposal, and high-risk ground operations. Foundation’s CEO Sankaet Pathak envisions these humanoids as the “first body in” during dangerous missions, potentially carrying lethal weapons while keeping human soldiers out of immediate harm’s way. The company aims to lease the robots at approximately $100,000 per year, highlighting potential cost savings through continuous operation and shift replacement, although these productivity claims have yet to be proven in real-world deployments. Foundation’s rapid scaling plan has evolved from an initial target of 10,000 units by 2026 to 50,000 by 2027, supported by acquisitions in AI
roboticshumanoid-robotsmilitary-robotsartificial-intelligenceactuatorsautomationrobotics-manufacturingVideo: China's marching humanoid robot 'army' sparks new debate
Chinese robotics company UBTECH Robotics has drawn global attention with a viral video showing hundreds of its Walker S2 humanoid robots marching in synchronized formation inside a warehouse. The footage, reminiscent of sci-fi scenes, sparked skepticism from industry figures like US robotics leader Brett Adcock, who publicly questioned whether the video was computer-generated due to inconsistent reflections on the robots. UBTECH defended the video's authenticity, releasing additional raw footage filmed with a drone and ambient audio to counter doubts, and emphasized China’s large-scale manufacturing and coordinated supply chain capabilities as enabling factors. UBTECH claims to have completed the world’s first mass delivery of humanoid robots, with hundreds of Walker S2 units already shipped to industrial partners for use in sectors such as automotive assembly, smart manufacturing, logistics, and AI data centers. The company views this rollout as a milestone marking the transition of humanoid robots from prototypes to real-world deployment. Despite UBTECH’s assurances and plans to ramp up production to 5,000 units annually by 202
roboticshumanoid-robotsindustrial-automationUBTECH-Roboticsrobotics-manufacturingrobot-deploymentrobotics-technologyYour guide to Day 2 of RoboBusiness 2025 - The Robot Report
RoboBusiness 2025’s second day at the Santa Clara Convention Center features a robust agenda with over 60 speakers, a startup workshop, the annual Pitchfire competition, and more than 100 exhibitors. The day begins at 10:00 a.m. PT with the first keynote and the opening of the show floor, which includes the Engineering Theater, networking lounge, Startup Showcase, MassRobotics Startup Alley, and the KAIST Korean Pavilion. The initial keynote panel, moderated by Eugene Demaitre of The Robot Report, features industry leaders such as Sanjay Aggarwal (F-Prime), Jon Battles (Cobot), Amit Goel (NVIDIA), and Brian Gaunt (DHL Supply Chain), discussing the current state of the robotics industry. This is followed by a panel on “Closing the Robotics Gap With China,” involving Jeff Burnstein (A3), Georg Stieler (Stieler Technology & Market Advisory), and Eric Truebenbach (Teradyne Robotics),
roboticsAIautomationrobotics-industryrobotics-manufacturingautonomous-machinesrobotics-innovationFigure AI raises $1B in Series C funding toward humanoid robot development - The Robot Report
Figure AI Inc. has raised over $1 billion in its Series C funding round, pushing its valuation to $39 billion. The San Jose-based company aims to accelerate the development and large-scale deployment of general-purpose humanoid robots through its Helix embodied intelligence platform and BotQ high-volume manufacturing environment. Figure plans to produce and ship 100,000 humanoid robots over the next four years to assist with household and commercial tasks. Recent demonstrations showcased the robots’ capabilities, including folding laundry and loading a dishwasher, powered by the Helix vision-language-action (VLA) model and supported by a next-generation GPU infrastructure developed in partnership with NVIDIA. The funding round was led by Parkway Venture Capital with participation from major investors such as NVIDIA, Intel Capital, LG Technology Ventures, and Qualcomm Ventures. Figure AI is expanding its workforce across manufacturing, software, and systems integration to support commercialization efforts. The company has already delivered Figure 02 systems to paying customers and won a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation
robothumanoid-robotsAI-roboticsrobotics-manufacturingembodied-intelligencerobot-automationrobotics-fundingUBTECH secures $1B in financing for Middle East humanoid production - The Robot Report
UBTECH Robotics Corp., a Shenzhen-based humanoid robot developer, has secured a credit line of up to $1 billion from Infini Capital to expand its industrial humanoid robot production, marketing, and deployment. The two companies plan to establish a joint venture to build a “superfactory,” a research and development center, and regional headquarters in the Middle East. This partnership aims to help UBTECH maintain leadership in robotics development, accelerate commercialization, and increase market share and profitability. UBTECH, founded in 2012, focuses on low-cost humanoid robots for sectors such as education, customer service, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing, with notable partners including BYD, Geely Auto, and Foxconn. The company recently won a $12.6 million contract from Miyi Automotive Technology, marking one of the largest current procurement orders for humanoid robots. Infini Capital, which holds a 5% equity stake in UBTECH, will provide flexible financing options through its High-Tech Fund, including
roboticshumanoid-robotsUBTECHindustrial-robotsrobotics-manufacturingAI-roboticsrobot-productionHumanoid robots could soon build Nvidia chips at US Foxconn facility
Taiwanese manufacturing giant Foxconn is collaborating with Nvidia to develop humanoid robots intended for deployment at a new Foxconn facility in Houston, Texas. The plan, still under negotiation but expected to be finalized soon, aims to use these robots to assist in the production of Nvidia’s upcoming GB300 AI servers. If realized, this would mark the first time Nvidia products are developed with humanoid robot assistance. The Houston factory was chosen due to its new construction and ample space, facilitating the integration of advanced robotics to potentially increase production speed and reduce manufacturing costs. Foxconn is developing two types of humanoid robots, one with legs and another with a wheeled autonomous mobile robot (AMR) base, the latter being a more cost-effective option. These robots are expected to be operational by early next year, coinciding with the start of GB300 server production. This initiative aligns with broader industry trends, as companies like Mercedes-Benz and BMW have also tested humanoid robots on their production lines. Nvidia recently
humanoid-robotsNvidiaFoxconnAI-serversrobotics-manufacturingautonomous-mobile-robotsrobot-foundation-model