robotics developers

NASA is reportedly developing infrastructure for a lunar base ahead of sending astronauts back to the Moon. The claim is that robotic and automated systems are laying groundwork for a sustained human presence on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis-era plans. Details on timelines, partners, and specific hardware remain limited, and the report has drawn attention among space enthusiasts.

The Yuelu Conference 2026 opened 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 and ten "AI+" themed forums, positioning the city as a growing hub for China's AI and robotics industries.

China is advancing rapidly in robotics and automation, while Hong Kong risks falling behind in the race to adopt and develop robot technology. According to DW, Hong Kong is struggling to keep pace with the mainland's push into industrial and service robotics, raising questions about the city's ability to remain competitive as automation reshapes industries across the region.

A roboticist at Caltech is arguing that safety should be the top priority in the development and deployment of humanoid robots. As companies race to put human-shaped machines into homes, factories and public spaces, the warning adds a cautionary voice to a fast-moving industry. The call reflects growing debate among researchers about how quickly humanoid robots should be rolled out and what protections are needed.

Attention is turning to the current state of robotics in manufacturing, with coverage examining how widely robots are deployed on factory floors and where adoption is heading. The discussion comes amid ongoing industry interest in automation, labor shortages, and the push to modernize production lines, though specific findings or new developments have not been detailed.

Ukraine has mounted an offensive using unmanned ground robots that has reportedly reversed a year of Russian battlefield advances, according to the Atlantic Council. The operation marks a notable use of robotic systems in combat, allowing Ukrainian forces to press attacks while reducing risks to soldiers. The development is drawing attention as an example of how drone and robot technology is reshaping the war's front lines.

ForceN will present a crash course on force and torque sensing for humanoid robots at the RoboBusiness conference. The session is expected to cover how these sensors let humanoids measure contact forces, a key capability for delicate manipulation and safe interaction. Force sensing is considered a bottleneck for deploying humanoids outside controlled environments, which is likely to draw strong interest from robot developers attending the event.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is purchasing modified Boston Dynamics robot dogs under a $1.3 million contract, the Boston Globe reports. The deal puts quadruped robots, better known from industrial and disaster-response settings, into the hands of the agency responsible for immigration enforcement, drawing attention to how such machines will be deployed and raising questions among critics about surveillance and the militarisation of immigration operations.

Winners of a robotics competition are advancing military exploration of humanoid capabilities, according to the U.S. Department of War. The competition appears to serve as a sourcing mechanism for the armed forces' work on bipedal and humanoid robotic systems, with winning teams' technologies feeding into further military research and development.

A new American National Standards Institute standard, ANSI/A3 R15.08-2-2023, has been published covering the integration of industrial mobile robots. The standard, part of the R15.08 series developed with A3, addresses safety requirements for integrating autonomous and automated mobile robots into industrial workplaces, giving manufacturers and integrators a reference framework as mobile robot adoption expands across factories and warehouses.

Ukraine has developed amphibious ground robots capable of delivering supplies to frontline troops across water obstacles. The unmanned vehicles can ferry ammunition, food and other cargo to soldiers in contested areas where conventional transport is too dangerous, reducing exposure of human drivers to drone and artillery fire as the war grinds on.

Researchers have developed a Venus flytrap-inspired material that works like a robotic hand: it senses nearby objects and automatically grasps them when stimulated by light. The soft, light-responsive design could open new possibilities in soft robotics and automated handling, and the unusual bio-inspired approach is drawing attention across science and technology news.

A chiropractic trade publication is asking whether robots developed in China could take over work currently done by chiropractors, from spinal adjustments to hands-on therapy. The question touches a wider debate about automation spreading into skilled manual and healthcare professions. Practitioners and patients are weighing whether machines can match the judgment and touch that manual therapy requires.

Engineers have developed a robot that uses an internal pump to shift its weight, allowing it to move across both land and water. The pumping system redistributes mass inside the machine, adjusting its balance and buoyancy as it switches between terrains. The design could inform future amphibious robots for exploration, inspection or rescue work in environments where solid ground and open water meet.

Billionaire investor Mark Cuban has renewed his criticism of humanoid robots, arguing that the future of personal robotics lies in machines that are 'optimized' for specific tasks rather than designed to mimic the human form. His comments add to an ongoing debate in the tech and investment world over whether human-shaped robots are the right approach for consumer and industrial use, as companies continue to pour money into humanoid robotics development.

Mykhailo Fedorov is launching an initiative called Army of Robots, an ecosystem intended to develop and scale robotic systems for military use. According to the announcement, the project will bring together defense tech manufacturers and engineers to advance Ukraine's military robotics sector and coordinate efforts across the industry.