Agility Robotics’ humanoid Digit has passed an OSHA-recognized NRTL field evaluation, marking a major step toward real industrial deployment. The certification confirms Digit meets strict safety and compliance standards inside active facilities, expanding its approved workflows and positioning it as one of the first commercially scalable humanoids ready for real-world warehouse operations.

A military base in South Korea served a post-Thanksgiving feast with help from robotic kitchen assistants. Troops ordered meals through digital kiosks as robots plated turkey, ham, and vegetarian dishes. Army officials say the system frees human cooks for field duties while ensuring soldiers still receive hot, comforting holiday meals.

A new EU-backed robotic system is being tested at Pompeii to help archaeologists piece together frescoes shattered and buried for centuries. Using advanced imaging, AI puzzle-solving and ultra-precise robotic hands, the technology gently identifies, lifts and matches fragments—offering a breakthrough in restoring ancient artworks once thought impossible to reassemble.

Ukraine’s TerMIT unmanned ground vehicle impressed at Spain’s Fuerza Futura 2035 exercises, becoming the only UGV to complete the full route. It executed mobility and engineering tasks with NATO units and even reached an objective independently when an armored carrier was delayed—earning praise for reliability, autonomy and operational readiness.

Gravis Robotics has raised $23M to scale its retrofit autonomy platform for earthmoving equipment. Born from ETH Zurich, Gravis “feels the soil” using AI and sensors to boost productivity by 30%, reduce rework, and enhance safety. Already active in seven countries, it’s rapidly expanding global deployments and OEM partnerships.

Target Arm’s new RALAR system lets military and emergency crews launch and recover drones while on the move, without exposing personnel to danger. Powered by Trimble’s precision tech, the platform-agnostic robotic arm works on vehicles, robots, and aircraft, offering safer, faster, real-time drone deployment in complex environments.

AMP Robotics won a 20-year contract with Virginia’s SPSA to modernize waste sorting for 1.2 million residents. Expanding a successful pilot, AMP will process 540,000 tonnes annually using AI-driven lines targeting recyclables and organics. The goal: divert 50% of incoming waste and significantly boost regional recycling and emissions reductions.

NTU and Schaeffler have launched a new AI-humanoid robotics lab in Singapore, backed by S$70M (US$52M). The 900-sq-m hub will focus on next-generation actuators—smaller, lighter, and more efficient—to advance humanoid robots for manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare while strengthening Singapore’s robotics talent and innovation ecosystem.

Children increasingly treat classroom robots with surprising warmth. A new SWPS University study shows kids—especially younger children and girls—respond politely to humanoid robots and often attribute human-like qualities to them. Polite robots earn the most trust, highlighting how communication style shapes engagement and future educational design.

Chicago’s sidewalk delivery robots are sparking a growing backlash. Nearly 700 residents have signed a petition after collisions and accessibility concerns, urging the city to pause the pilot program and release safety data. Supporters call it innovation; critics say sidewalks are for people—not machines—as the debate continues into 2026.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, KLM, and NEURA Robotics have developed ARC, an autonomous robot that connects aircraft to ground power—reducing delays, emissions, and physical strain on workers. Demonstrated through the FTE Smart Ramp program, ARC showcases how automated turnaround tasks can make airport operations more efficient, sustainable, and future-ready.

Hyundai and Kia have partnered with Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance to develop the first insurance and financial services tailored for robotics. The collaboration will launch robot-specific policies, including “Deep Tech Comprehensive Insurance,” using real operational data to manage risks, reduce ownership costs, and support safer, scalable robot deployment across industries.

Buildroid AI has launched in the U.S. with a simulation-first construction robotics platform backed by $2 million from Tim Draper. Using NVIDIA Omniverse digital twins and BIM data, Buildroid validates full robotic workflows before deployment, enabling safer, scalable automation. Commercial rollouts begin in 2026, starting with blockwork and partition-wall installation.

Agility Robotics’ humanoid Digit has surpassed 100,000 totes moved in live operation at GXO’s Georgia facility, demonstrating real industrial reliability—not lab testing. Digit performs multiple warehouse tasks, validating Agility’s general-purpose humanoid approach and proving practical AI, safety, and scalability in demanding logistics environments amid rising volumes and labor shortages.

Warren Community College has launched a new Applied Robotics & AI associate degree blending robotics, mechatronics, automation, manufacturing, and AI into one 60-credit program. Designed with industry input and built for working students, it offers hands-on labs, evening classes, and training for high-demand roles like robotics programmers and control systems technicians.

RAI Institute’s latest demo shows two robot arms playing catch at 70 mph with human-level speed and precision. Using low-impedance joints, vision prediction, and rapid-fire control loops, the robots cleanly catch, throw, and even bat baseballs—showcasing a new frontier of athletic, reactive, real-time robotics beyond scripted lab motions.

Ukraine’s Droid TW 12.7 combat robot, costing about USD $25,000, successfully held a strategic crossroads for six weeks—fully replacing an infantry unit. Armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun and guided via Starlink/LTE, the tracked UGV engaged Russian forces at up to 1,000 meters, showcasing a new era of robotic frontline defense.

Metafarmers has completed South Korea’s groundbreaking robotic cucumber harvesting trial, achieving near-perfect picking accuracy using AI vision and advanced gripper technology. The company now moves toward commercializing its modular Omni Farmer platform—capable of harvesting, pollination, sorting, and monitoring—positioning robotic agriculture for broader use across greenhouses, vertical farms, and field crops.

Agibot’s A2 humanoid set a Guinness World Record by walking 106.286 km from Suzhou to Shanghai without shutting down. Powered by hot-swap batteries and guided by GPS, LiDAR, and depth sensors, the robot navigated real-world terrain and traffic, showcasing China’s rapid progress in humanoid endurance and reliability.

Mississippi State University is helping farmers adopt spray-drone technology through a new 13-part video series from the Agricultural Autonomy Institute. Covering everything from basics to troubleshooting, the series guides safe, efficient UAS use while supporting research that advances precision agriculture and strengthens Mississippi’s farming economy.