Kroger is scaling back its Ocado partnership, closing three robotic fulfillment centers and paying the U.K. automation firm $350 million as it shifts online order fulfillment back to stores. The move follows financial underperformance of the automated hubs and reflects Kroger’s push for a more flexible, cost-effective digital strategy amid tightening margins.

Europol has released The Unmanned Future(s), a major report examining how drones and unmanned systems are transforming crime and law enforcement. The study warns of rising criminal misuse, regulatory gaps, and shifting public trust while outlining opportunities, risks, and recommendations as policing moves into a multi-domain, unmanned future.

Sweden has become the first European customer for Textron’s Ripsaw M3 unmanned ground vehicle, a heavy tracked UGV capable of carrying over 2,200 kg. While suited for harsh terrain, its size and cost raise questions as militaries increasingly favor smaller, cheaper, expendable platforms in drone-intensive battlefields.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is using robots and AI to accelerate the discovery of stronger, lighter, and more resilient materials. Scientists say the technology could transform everything from military armor to shatter-resistant phone screens, cutting development times and helping innovations reach the real world before they become obsolete.

USPS’s Boise processing center is leaning on four new robotic arms to handle a holiday surge of more than 220,000 packages a day. The robots boost sorting speed and free staff for human-focused tasks, part of a year-round effort that includes hiring 14,000 seasonal workers to keep holiday deliveries on track.

RobotLAB has opened a new franchise in Miami, expanding its national footprint as demand for practical robotics surges across South Florida. The branch will help businesses adopt cleaning, delivery, customer-service, and educational robots, offering demonstrations, integration, and full support. Local leaders say the expansion strengthens Miami’s growing technology and automation ecosystem.

LuxAI, LIH, and the University of Birmingham have launched the first large-scale, long-term study of a social robot–led early development program for young autistic children. Using QTrobot in 69 families’ homes, the research will assess how robot-assisted learning can improve communication, social skills, and parental confidence over a 10-month period.

Whisker’s Litter-Robot has become the first automatic litter box eligible for HSA/FSA spending, marking a major shift in how pet-care tech supports people with mobility or health challenges. The approval, paired with a streamlined LMN process through Sika Health, makes automated cat care more accessible and affordable than ever.

Zipline secured up to $150 million from the U.S. Department of State to expand its autonomous medical delivery network across Africa. The partnership could triple its reach to 15,000 health facilities, providing rapid access to lifesaving supplies for up to 130 million people while creating local jobs and strengthening national healthcare systems.

EY has launched a new NVIDIA-powered physical AI platform, opened its first dedicated EY.ai Lab in Georgia, and appointed Dr. Youngjun Choi as Global Physical AI Leader. The initiative aims to accelerate safe, scalable deployment of robots, digital twins, and autonomous systems across industries, marking EY’s major push into embodied AI.

Hyundai Motor Group unveiled MobED, its first mass-produced mobility robot platform, at iREX 2025. Featuring adaptive mobility, AI-powered autonomy, and a modular design, MobED is built for diverse industrial and everyday applications. Two models, Pro and Basic, launch in 2026, signaling Hyundai’s major push into commercial robotics.

Mujin has raised $233 million in Series D funding to accelerate the global rollout of MujinOS, its unified automation platform. The investment, led by NTT Group, will expand digital twin capabilities, scale deployments across Europe and North America, and position MujinOS as a global standard for intelligent industrial automation.

DHL Supply Chain has launched a five-year strategic alliance with Robust.AI, bringing Carter™ collaborative robots to Mexico after strong results in North America. The rollout marks DHL’s push toward scalable, human-centered automation, boosting productivity and safety while preparing warehouses for deeper AI-driven integration across the Americas and beyond.

Brussels-based AILOS Robotics raised €3.5M to industrialise its R2poweR gearbox, a new high-torque, low-backdrive actuation technology for humanoids, cobots, exoskeletons, and prosthetics. Spun out of VUB’s BruBotics, AILOS now moves from lab to factory, strengthening Europe’s strategic robotics supply chain as demand for advanced robot components accelerates.

Humanoid’s new HMND 01 Alpha Bipedal resets the pace of humanoid robotics, going from concept to stable walking in just five months. Powered by massive simulation training, modular design, and advanced sensing, Alpha targets industrial and domestic tasks—offering strength, precision, and rapid adaptability for real-world deployment.

Japan’s Yaskawa Electric and SoftBank are partnering to bring “physical AI” robots into everyday workplaces. Their new concept robot can adapt to dynamic office tasks—from organizing desks to preparing meeting rooms—using Yaskawa’s robotics and SoftBank’s AI-RAN platform. The collaboration targets future deployment in offices, hospitals, schools, and retail spaces.

Tutor Intelligence raised a $34M Series A to scale its AI-powered warehouse robot fleet, bringing total funding to $42M. Founded at MIT CSAIL, the company trains robots using real-world data for human-like adaptability. Its rapidly deployable RaaS systems already support major Fortune 50 and 500 supply chains across CPG sectors.

The University of Florida told lawmakers that AI and robotics could boost agricultural output by 35% by 2030. With a new AI-in-agriculture center now underway, UF says automation will be essential as labor shortages worsen, enabling smarter spraying, harvesting, and crop monitoring to keep Florida’s farming sector productive and competitive.

The ARM Institute has secured a five-year, $87.6 million agreement with the Air Force Research Lab to advance dual-use robotics for defense. The partnership will support R&D in mobility, human–robot teaming, advanced visualization, and manufacturing informatics, strengthening both the defense industrial base and U.S. robotics innovation.

Singapore is accelerating efforts to build a strong robotics and AI talent pipeline as global automation surges. With demand outpacing supply, the National Robotics Programme is expanding training, strengthening networks, and emphasizing human-complementary robotics to keep industries competitive and address aging-population challenges while dispelling fears of robots replacing workers.