Chinese EV maker XPeng plans to use solid-state batteries in its humanoid robots, aiming for deployment by 2026. The company says robots may help accelerate solid-state adoption due to their safety and energy needs. XPeng is positioning humanoids as factory helpers, sales staff, and AI-enabled service robots.

Adaptronics, a University of Bologna spin-off, has raised €3.15M to scale its electro-adhesive gripper technology for industrial and space robotics. Its EAAL system enables fast, energy-efficient gripping across diverse materials without pneumatic or magnetic parts. The funding will expand production and support European market growth.

ASTM International has launched a free online course, Introduction to Robot Standards, designed for students and early-career roboticists. The course covers industrial, collaborative, mobile, and emerging humanoid robot standards, along with safety and compliance basics. Learners earn a shareable digital badge upon completion. Access at: https://robotstandards.training.astm.org/#/

Rolo Robotics has raised $3.45M to scale its fully autonomous hot food kiosks across Asia-Pacific. The compact, 24/7 micro-kitchens serve customizable meals without on-site staff, targeting campuses, hospitals, offices, and transit hubs. The funding supports deployments in Singapore and Australia, driven by rising labor costs and demand for efficient food automation.

Shenzhen-based Dobot has launched the Rover X1, a versatile consumer robot dog priced at 7,499 yuan (~$1,030). Designed for home use, it can carry items, patrol, assist with filming, support education, and offer companionship. With over 5,000 reservations on launch day, it highlights growing demand for affordable, multifunctional home robots.

German supplier Schaeffler is partnering with Neura Robotics to co-develop components for humanoid robots and plans to deploy thousands of humanoids in its factories by 2035. The move reflects a shift toward new growth sectors as Europe’s auto industry faces pressure and companies invest more heavily in AI-driven automation.

Ocean robotics startup Hullbot has raised $16M to scale its autonomous hull-cleaning robots, which prevent biofouling and cut fuel use by up to 26%. With shipping responsible for ~1B tonnes of CO₂ annually, Hullbot aims to help fleets reduce emissions, lower costs, and improve ocean health across global ports.

AgiBot has deployed Real-World Reinforcement Learning on a live production line with Longcheer Technology—the first industrial application of RW-RL in robotics. The system allows robots to learn new tasks in minutes, adapt to part variations, and reconfigure quickly, enabling flexible, cost-efficient automation in precision manufacturing environments.

Saga Robotics’ Thorvald platform now operates across 20% of the UK’s tabletop strawberry production and nearly 1,300 acres of California vineyards. With 97% uptime and over 200,000 autonomous kilometers logged, Thorvald delivers precise UV-C disease control and real-time crop data, reducing chemical use and boosting yield while scaling responsibly.

Zurich-based startup mimic has raised $16M to scale AI-driven dexterous robotic hands that can perform complex factory tasks traditional automation can’t handle. Rather than build full humanoids, mimic pairs human-level manipulation with standard robot arms, using real worker demonstration data to deliver practical, deployable industrial automation today.

Ma Robot AI develops Embodied AI software that enables robots to navigate safely and naturally in human environments—without pre-mapped data. Founded by CEO Winnie Liang and CIFAR AI Chair Dr. Mo Chen, the company is piloting hospital deployments and moving toward a global software licensing model to bring robots into everyday life.

China’s factories are accelerating automation, producing 595,000 industrial robots in just three quarters. As robot density rises and deployment broadens across sectors, a new “robot dividend” is emerging—boosting precision, productivity, and industrial resilience while reshaping how manufacturing value is created.

Swarm robotics takes its cues from ants and bees, relying on simple robots that coordinate through local signals rather than central control. These swarms could patrol forests for wildfires, reroute deliveries, or even navigate the human bloodstream. Their power lies in collective intelligence—sophisticated behavior emerging from simple parts working together.

Humanoid robots aren’t just for tech expos anymore. At Shangri-La Traders Hotel in Shanghai, Keenon’s XMAN-R1 now greets guests while a coordinated fleet of task-specific robots handles cleaning, luggage, and delivery. It’s the first hotel running a true multi-robot service model — and a preview of hospitality’s future.

Abu Dhabi is becoming a proving ground for physical intelligence. Boston Dynamics’ Spot robots, integrated with Analog’s real-time world model, will perform park inspections, environmental monitoring, and facility maintenance—showing how cities can use robotics to improve service delivery, safety, and efficiency at scale.

Wyoming is drafting the nation’s first regulations for robot combat in sports, addressing safety, licensing, and rules for both robot-versus-robot and potential human-versus-robot matches. The move follows rapid advances in robotics and rising public interest in “synthetic combatants,” with officials aiming to proactively ensure fair competition and fighter protection.