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Iván Hernández Dalas: Top 10 robotics stories of April 2026

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April 2026 was a packed month for the robotics industry. We saw prominent robotics companies hitting technical milestones, large funding rounds, and even patent disputes within the industry. Here are the 10 most popular articles on  The Robot Report  in the past month. Subscribe to  The Robot Report  Newsletter  and listen to  The Robot Report  Podcast  to stay up to date on the latest robotics developments. 10. Transitive Robotics announces Transitive 2.0 open-source robotics framework In April 2026, Transitive Robotics released a new version of Transitive, the open-source framework for full-stack robotics. Version 2.0 adds significant new integrations and features: storage of historic and time-series data in ClickHouse, visualization in Grafana, and custom alerting via Alertmanager. Read more . 9. From EVs to robotics: Tesla targets 10M Optimus units with new Texas plant Bolstered by $3.9 billion in operating cash flow and a 21% GAAP gross margin, Tesla signaled a shift towar...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Robot Talk Episode 154 – Visual navigation in insects and robots, with Andrew Philippides

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Claire chatted to Andrew Philippides from the University of Sussex about what we can learn from ants and bees to improve robot navigation. Andrew Philippides is a Professor of Biorobotics at the University of Sussex, where he co-directs the Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics and the be.AI Leverhulme Doctoral centre for Biomimetic Embodied AI. His research combines biological experiments with robotics, modelling, and machine learning to understand how intelligent behaviour emerges from the interaction of body and brain acting in an environment. Focussing on visual navigation, he aims to understand the navigation and learning abilities of ants and bees to develop novel AI and biorobotic algorithms. View Source
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Why deformable materials are physical AI’s real manufacturing test

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Assembly of deformable materials such as for apparel can be automated in ways other than duplicating manual sewing. Source: Createme For more than 200 years, the sewing machine has defined how clothing is made. It mechanized the artisan’s hand, but it also anchored the industry around a single idea: thread pulled through fabric. Despite advances in robotics and automation, most garments still rely on that same logic, with human labor providing the dexterity, alignment, and exception handling for deformable materials that machines struggle to replicate. The constraint is not a lack of effort. It is that most approaches are trying to automate a process that was never designed for machines. Traditional automation excels at rigid, predictable tasks such as welding, assembly, and other stable material handling tasks. Fabric behaves differently. It stretches, wrinkles, collapses, and changes state throughout a task. When materials deform, robots struggle not because they cannot move ...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: California lawmakers open the gate for autonomous trucks in the state

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Autonomous trucks have gained traction in some parts of the U.S., but until now, they haven’t been able to operate in California. | Source: Plus AI The California Department of Motor Vehicles this week adopted new regulations that pave the way for autonomous trucks to test and deploy statewide, as well as expand safety and oversight requirements for all self-driving vehicles. The California DMV’s new rules allow autonomous trucking companies to apply for a testing permit. They also require companies to demonstrate the safety of their technologies. Prior to the rule change, the state prohibited autonomous vehicles ( AVs ) with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,001 lb. (4,536.3 kg) or more from operating on roads. “California continues to lead the nation in the development and adoption of AV technology, and these updated regulations further demonstrate the state’s commitment to public safety,” stated Steve Gordon, director of the California DMV. “These updates support the...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Teradyne Robotics revenue rises at the start of 2026

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The UR8 Long cobot offers a 1,750 mm reach in a compact, lightweight design. | Source: Universal Robots Teradyne Robotics, which includes collaborative robot arm maker Universal Robots and autonomous mobile robot developer Mobile Industrial Robots, this week said it brought in $91 million in the first quarter of 2026. This is an increase both from its Q1 2025 sales, which reached $69 million, and from Q4 2025, which reached $89 million. It also marks the organization ‘s fourth consecutive quarter of growth. “In robotics, we delivered our fourth consecutive quarter of sequential growth,” Greg Smith, the CEO of Teradyne, said during an earnings call. “This is particularly notable because Q4 is typically our strongest quarter, and Q1 is typically down. We’re seeing strong customer engagement across e-commerce, electronics manufacturing, and semiconductor end markets.” Teradyne Robotics’ quarterly revenue from Q1 2020 to Q1 2026. Source: Teradyne, The Robot Report Robots are part ...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Launchpad Build AI offers MLM to speed industrial automation design

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The Manufacturing Language Model uses data from live production environments to lower the barriers to robot adoption. Source: Launchpad Build AI Launchpad Build AI today announced a series of milestones as it grows and develops artificial intelligence for assembly automation. The company has launched its Manufacturing Language Model, established U.S. headquarters in California, rebranded, and appointed senior technical leaders. “Physical AI isn’t just the future; it exists in the here and now,” stated Jon Quick , CEO of Launchpad Build AI. “What better place to be building it than in El Segundo surrounded by first-class entrepreneurs, top-tier talent, and established deep tech and defense tech companies. This is an important step forward in our journey alongside the launch of our Manufacturing Language Model and rebrand as Launchpad Build AI.” Founded in 2020 as Launchpad, the company has developed AI systems to accelerate the design and delivery of robotics and automation by up ...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Schaeffler plans to deploy 1,000 Hexagon humanoids by 2032

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The AEON humanoid from Hexagon features two legs that end in wheels, providing more flexibility than a typical bipedal robot. | Source: Hexagon Schaeffler AG last week said it is expanding its partnership with Hexagon Robotics Division. The company said it will deploy at least 1,000 of the AEON humanoid robots across its global production system by 2032. Schaeffler will also provide its high-precision actuators for AEON , further strengthening the technological alignment with Hexagon. “We have developed a humanoid specifically for the industrial market, leveraging our core expertise in sensor fusion, spatial intelligence, and physical AI,” stated Arnaud Robert, president of Hexagon Robotics. “We are delighted to see our humanoid AEON move into real-world production. Working with Schaeffler allows us to deliver demonstrable business value across various factory environments and scale our operations.” Last year, Schaeffler completed a pilot program with Hexagon’s robots. During t...
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