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Iván Hernández Dalas: CNH acquires intellectual property and assets of Advanced Farm

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The Advanced Farm apple-picking robot relies on six robotic arms and vision guidance, to identify and pick ripe from from the trees. | Credit: The Robot Report CNH Industrial has agreed to acquire the assets and intellectual property of Advanced Farm, an startup developing robotic apple pickers. Several growers in Washington state successfully piloted the apple-picking system during the 2024 harvest season, and it performed as expected. “The value we see in Advanced Farm’s technology lies in its ability to address labor shortages and enhance the efficiency and resilience of the agricultural industry,” said a CNH spokesperson. “By integrating Advanced Farm’s technologies into our broader innovation strategy, we aim to further advance robotic harvesting solutions. Key members of the Advanced Farm team will be immediately joining CNH’s technology and innovation divisions, strengthening our internal development team as we pursue these solutions.” CNH was an early investor in Advanced...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: 50 most innovative robotics companies

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We are passionate about the impact robotics can have on the world. That’s why for 14 years, the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards have honored the most innovative robotics companies, technologies, and applications from around the world. This year we brought back three major awards: Robot of the Year, Application of the Year, and Startup of the Year. We added a fourth major honor: Robots for Good, which recognizes a robot making a meaningful impact on society. The RBR50 Gala returns April 30 from 6-8 PM in Boston at the Robotics Summit & Expo . The Gala offers attendees a chance to network with the world’s leading robotics innovators. The Robotics Summit also has a dedicated section on the expo floor highlighting this year’s RBR50 winners. Tickets to the RBR50 Gala are limited and can be purchased online during Robotics Summit & Expo registration. Profiles of all RBR50 winners can be found at the bottom of this page. Robot of the Year: Waymo robotaxi Waymo is single-ha...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: RDS fleet management system applies across industrial scenarios, says SEER Robotics

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The RDS fleet management system can serve in scenarios such as multilevel movement. Source: SEER Robotics Under the wave of Industry 4.0, robotics technology is increasingly permeating production and logistics processes. However, achieving efficient collaboration and optimal resource allocation in complex multi-machine operations, cross-regional scheduling, and diversified scenarios remains a critical challenge. SEER Robotics said its M4 Smart Logistics Management System, powered by its core module—the RDS Fleet Management System—offers an innovative solution. The Shanghai, China-based company explained how its Resource Dispatch System (RDS) fleet manager can elevate efficiency across four diverse scenarios through intelligent scheduling. RDS enables cross-floor, cross-region collaboration In large factories, tasks spanning multiple floors and regions are becoming commonplace, requiring robots to coordinate with elevators, automated doors, and other smart devices. SEER Robotics ...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Top 10 robotics developments of March 2025

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With big events like ProMat and NVIDIA GTC bringing an avalanche of new releases, March was a non-stop month for the robotics industry. In addition, humanoid robotics news drew our readers’ attention this month. Here are the 10 most popular stories on  The Robot Report  in the past month. Subscribe to  The Robot Report  Newsletter  and listen to  The Robot Report Podcast  to stay updated on the latest robotics developments. 10. Ten surgical robotics companies to watch in 2025 Intuitive Surgical remains the leading surgical robotics provider — but other companies with savvy strategies are generating buzz and raising money. Surgical robotics experts agree that the most promising technologies provide robot-assisted surgery options that don’t directly compete with Intuitive. The decades-long leader in soft-tissue procedures launched its next-gen da Vinci 5 system last year. Read more. 9. China to invest $137B in robotics and high-...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Build or buy: Learn from commercialization experts at the Robotics Summit

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At some point, every startup will have to decide which elements of its system it will make in-house and which elements it will outsource to trusted partners. The build versus buy debate is inevitable, and there’s not one answer that will work for every startup. At the 2025 Robotics Summit & Expo , a panel of seasoned experts will explore the critical role of outsourcing in robotics commercialization. The breakout session “The Robotics Scale-Up: Commercialization Journey” will explore how strategic manufacturing partnerships can accelerate time to market, enhance product quality, and optimize costs. Panelists Jennifer Apicella of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network, Larry Jasinski of Lifeward, and Karl Sanchack of Carnegie Foundry will share real-world strategies, insights, and best practices for turning innovative ideas into successful products. Discover firsthand how to navigate common challenges and scale operations effectively from leaders who have done it all. The Robotics Summi...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Agility Robotics shows off latest advances for Digit humanoid

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Digit humanoid demonstrates its latest functionality at ProMat 2025. Source: Agility Robotics At ProMat last month, Agility Robotics Inc. unveiled new capabilities for Digit that the company said expand the humanoid robot’s utility for its growing user base. “These upgrades allow Agility to expand Digit’s capabilities to meet our expanding commercial and customer needs,” stated Melonee Wise, chief product officer at Agility Robotics. “Together, they reinforce our commitment to cooperative safety, and demonstrate a path for Digit and human colleagues to one day work side by side.” Salem, Ore.-based Agility Robotics said its robot is designed to augment the human workforce. Digit was named the 2024 RBR50 Robot of the Year for being the first humanoid to begin commercial trials and deployments in warehouses and manufacturing facilities. Register now so you don't miss out! Agility Robotics adds features Working closely with customers, Agility Robotics designed features tha...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Chef Robotics brings in $43M to deploy more food assembly robots

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Chef Robotics targets high-volume, high-mix food assembly applications, one of the hardest problems to train AI for. | Source: Chef Robotics Chef Robotics Inc., which has developed robotic systems for meal assembly, today announced that it has raised $43.1 million in Series A funding. The round includes $20.6 million in equity and $22.5 million in equipment financing debt. The San Francisco-based company said the funding round will allow it to accelerate production deployments of its robotic systems, providing momentum for its “real-world AI data engine flywheel.” Chef Robotics credited this flywheel for the rapid growth in its rate of meal production. Since food is highly variable, the company requires high volumes of data over prolonged periods of time for optimal model performance. The more data Chef collects in the field, the more its ChefOS embodied AI model performance improves, it said. This means that as more customers use its robotic systems, the company can more eas...
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