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.

The Week is examining the rise of lethal autonomous weapons, framing recent developments in military robotics as a potential revolution in warfare. The piece reflects a wider debate over weapons systems that can select and engage targets without human intervention, and over the lack of binding international rules governing their use. Critics warn of accountability gaps and escalation risks, while proponents point to precision and reduced risk to soldiers.

A robot designed to draw blood from patients is drawing attention as automation spreads into healthcare. The development raises questions about accuracy, patient comfort and the future role of medical technicians if machines can perform routine procedures like venipuncture.

A Caltech roboticist argues that safety should be the top priority in the development and deployment of humanoid robots. The remarks come as companies race to put human-shaped machines into factories, homes and public spaces, raising questions about how quickly the technology is advancing relative to safeguards. The statement is drawing attention amid growing investment and public debate over humanoid robotics.

South Korean robotics company Angel Robotics has launched PHAI-X1, a wearable robot platform aimed at physical AI research. The system is intended to give researchers a hardware base for developing and testing AI that interacts with the physical world, such as exoskeleton control and human-assistance applications. Details on pricing and availability were not included in the initial announcement.

Reports indicate that robots are being used in a widening range of tasks on construction sites, with new opportunities emerging for automation in the building industry. Observers point to robots taking on repetitive, heavy or hazardous work as the technology matures. The development reflects a broader push across construction toward automation amid labour shortages and efficiency demands.

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.

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.

AI company Hugging Face has launched Microduck, a small open-source robot, as reported by technology outlet Open Source For You. The move extends Hugging Face's robotics efforts alongside its machine learning platform, keeping hardware designs accessible to developers and hobbyists. Coverage so far is limited to the announcement, with little detail yet available on pricing, availability, or the robot's full capabilities.

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.

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.

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.

Startup Feather is launching a customizable robotics platform priced at $30,000, aimed at software developers. The company is positioning itself as the 'Android of robotics' — an open, flexible base that developers can build on rather than a closed, single-purpose robot. The pitch is drawing attention in robotics circles, where developers have long lacked a common, affordable hardware-plus-software foundation comparable to what Android did for smartphones.

A new R15.08 Part 3 safety standard for industrial mobile robot users has been published. The standard, developed under the R15.08 series covering autonomous mobile robots, provides safety guidance specifically aimed at end users of industrial mobile robots, complementing earlier parts that addressed manufacturers and integration requirements.

Chinese developers have presented what is described as the world's first robot engineered to remain safe when system faults occur. The design focuses on fail-safe behaviour, allowing the machine to avoid dangerous movements or failures during malfunctions. The announcement is drawing attention in robotics circles as a possible step forward for deploying robots safely around people.