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Robotics

RealMan launches humanoid robotics data training center

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Humanoid robots, widely recognized as one of the most promising carriers of artificial intelligence, are moving rapidly from the lab into everyday life and industry.

To accelerate this transition, a large-scale Humanoid Robotics Data Training Center has officially been launched in Beijing, creating an innovative hub that unites core technology R&D, scenario-based application testing, operator training, and ecosystem collaboration.

As a core technology and equipment provider, RealMan Robotics plays a central role in both the deployment and daily operations of the center. [Read more…] about RealMan launches humanoid robotics data training center

MIT roboticists debate the future of robotics

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By Rachel Gordon, MIT CSAIL

When the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) first convened 40 years ago, the robotics community shared a clear vision: robots would one day combine elegant mathematical models with advanced computation to handle complex tasks.

Four decades later, the community is divided over how to reach that goal. That divide was on full display this May in Atlanta, where ICRA marked its anniversary with a unique closing keynote: a live Oxford-style debate on whether “data will solve robotics and automation”. [Read more…] about MIT roboticists debate the future of robotics

NEC develops AI robot control technology for safe navigation in obstacle-rich environments

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NEC has developed technology that utilizes AI to enable safe, efficient autonomous control of robot movement even in complex environments with many obstacles.

NEC’s in-house demonstrations of this technology have confirmed that a robot’s travel time can be reduced by “up to 50 percent when compared to conventional methods”.

This new technology utilizes NEC’s proprietary AI, which has been trained with the knowledge of multiple AIs, to generate optimal travel paths in real time. NEC aims to commercialize this technology by the end of fiscal 2026. [Read more…] about NEC develops AI robot control technology for safe navigation in obstacle-rich environments

Unitree unveils new A2 quadruped robot with 100 kg load capacity and 20 km range

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Unitree Robotics has launched its most advanced quadruped robot to date – the Unitree A2 – positioning it as a rugged and versatile platform for industrial deployment across inspection, logistics, and research applications. (See video below.)

Weighing 37 kg (81.6 lbs) unloaded, the A2 boasts a maximum standing load of 100 kg (220 lbs) and can walk while carrying up to 25 kg (55 lbs).

On a single charge, the robot can walk continuously for up to 20 km (12.4 miles) unloaded, or 12.5 km (7.8 miles) when fully loaded. Runtime can be extended via hot-swappable dual batteries designed for uninterrupted missions. [Read more…] about Unitree unveils new A2 quadruped robot with 100 kg load capacity and 20 km range

Exclusive interview with Vorago Technologies: The risks of failure in home robots

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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. [Read more…] about Exclusive interview with Vorago Technologies: The risks of failure in home robots

MIT engineers design new handheld interface that gives ‘anyone the ability to train a robot’

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Teaching a robot new skills used to require coding expertise. But a new generation of robots could potentially learn from just about anyone.

Engineers are designing robotic helpers that can “learn from demonstration”. This more natural training strategy enables a person to lead a robot through a task, typically in one of three ways: via remote control, such as operating a joystick to remotely maneuver a robot; by physically moving the robot through the motions; or by performing the task themselves while the robot watches and mimics.

Learning-by-doing robots usually train in just one of these three demonstration approaches. But MIT engineers have now developed a three-in-one training interface that allows a robot to learn a task through any of the three training methods. [Read more…] about MIT engineers design new handheld interface that gives ‘anyone the ability to train a robot’

Safety standards and innovations in human-robot collaboration

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The latest in sensors, programming, and risk assessment for safe collaborative deployment

Collaborative robots – or cobots – are rapidly transforming industrial automation by working safely alongside human workers.

Unlike traditional industrial robots, which are typically caged off, cobots are designed for direct interaction, enabling flexible, efficient workflows.

But as adoption grows, so too does the need for advanced safety systems, smarter programming environments, and comprehensive risk management frameworks. [Read more…] about Safety standards and innovations in human-robot collaboration

How autonomous mobile robots are picking up the slack caused by labor shortages

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Autonomous mobile robots and their more versatile cousins, mobile manipulators, are increasing in number across many different sectors.

They are rapidly becoming the backbone of modern logistics and are now extending their reach far beyond the warehouse floor, revolutionizing how goods are moved, tasks are performed, and industries operate.

This burgeoning trend, frequently covered on Robotics and Automation News, underscores their critical role in addressing pressing challenges like labor shortages and the demand for greater efficiency in dynamic environments. [Read more…] about How autonomous mobile robots are picking up the slack caused by labor shortages

Can robots play football? Why AI still struggles with physical movement

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The world’s first AI robot football match shows how far we still have to go

At first glance, it looked like a slow-motion parody of the world’s most beloved sport. On a small indoor pitch in Beijing, teams of humanoid robots wobbled across the turf, scanning the field with glowing blue eyes, tripping over their own feet, and occasionally collapsing in awkward heaps. At one point, two machines had to be stretchered off after failing to stand up again.

Yet for the engineers behind the event, this wasn’t a failure – it was a breakthrough.

Staged in June 2025, China’s first fully autonomous robot football match marked a milestone in the development of embodied artificial intelligence. Each of the robots, including several built on the well-known Nao platform, played without any remote control or manual input. [Read more…] about Can robots play football? Why AI still struggles with physical movement

China hosts world’s first fully autonomous humanoid robot football match

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Beijing has hosted what is believed to be the world’s first fully autonomous football match between humanoid robots, marking a milestone in the development of embodied artificial intelligence.

Held on June 28 in the Yizhuang Development Zone, the match featured four teams of robots developed by Chinese universities, including Tsinghua University and China Agricultural University. In the final, the THU Robotics team beat the Mountain Sea team 5-3.

Each robot operated entirely without human control, using onboard cameras, sensors, and deep reinforcement learning algorithms to detect the ball, make tactical decisions, and navigate the field. Organizers say the event represents a breakthrough in real-time AI decision-making in dynamic physical environments. [Read more…] about China hosts world’s first fully autonomous humanoid robot football match