Posts

Iván Hernández Dalas: Agile Robots to deploy Google DeepMind foundation models on its humanoid

Image
Agile Robots and Google DeepMind say their partnership is built on the belief that applying AI in the physical world will be transformative. | Source: Agile Robots Agile Robots SE this week said it is working with Google DeepMind, Alphabet’s AI research lab. The companies plan to combine DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics foundation models with Agile Robots’ scalable industrial robotics platform. “Agile Robots has already installed over 20,000 robotics solutions worldwide, proving intelligent automation at scale,” stated Zhaopeng Chen, founder and CEO of Agile Robots. “The huge opportunity ahead lies in autonomous, intelligent production systems that can transform entire industries. Integrating Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics models into our robotic solutions positions us at the cutting edge of this rapidly growing market.” Founded in 2018, Agile Robots said its Agile ONE humanoid builds on its existing portfolio, which includes the Agile Hand , the FR3 force-sensitive robotic arm, the...
Read more

Iván Hernández Dalas: Why connectivity is the bottleneck for BVLOS autonomous systems

Image
The availability of connectivity is often a constraint on autonomous systems. Source: Ground Control Autonomous systems are increasingly being deployed beyond visual line of sight, where they can deliver the most operational value. Drones are now used to inspect offshore wind farms, monitor pipelines, survey remote infrastructure, and support maritime operations. Flight control platforms such as ArduPilot have matured considerably and now underpin a wide range of commercial and industrial systems. Yet a persistent constraint remains. In many real deployments, the limiting factor is no longer the aircraft or the autonomy software, but the availability of reliable connectivity , particularly in isolated regions. Reliable communications are fundamental to the safe operation of unmanned systems, particularly for beyond visual line-of-sight ( BVLOS ) missions. Operators require consistent command and control links alongside telemetry that provides visibility of aircraft health, positio...
Read more

Iván Hernández Dalas: Unitree IPO shows a real hardware business, but the humanoid case is still early

Image
The G1 humanoid robot from Unitree. | Source: Unitree Unitree Robotics has filed for a STAR Market IPO in Shanghai, seeking to raise about $610 million. The filing matters because it points to something more concrete than a typical humanoid story. It shows a robotics company that appears to have built real manufacturing leverage. The headline numbers are unusually strong for hardware. Bloomberg reported that Unitree generated about $248 million in revenue in 2025. The harder question is what kind of business investors are actually being asked to value. Reuters previously wrote that Unitree was targeting a valuation of up to $7 billion, though that should be treated as a reported valuation, not a settled fact. My read is simpler than that. The filing supports the case for Unitree as a serious hardware company. However, it does not yet fully support the broader industrial humanoid case. The most important signal is not revenue The most important signal in the company’s fili...
Read more

Iván Hernández Dalas: Basler and Orbbec partner for 3D vision systems for mobile robots

Image
Mike McSweeney, VP of sales at Orbbec, with Sebastian von Holdt, head of 3D product systems and software at Basler, at LogiMAT 2026. Source: Orbbec Today at the LogiMAT trade show, Orbbec Inc. said it is collaborating with Basler AG, a leading manufacturer of industrial cameras and a long-standing reference in machine vision. The partners said they aim to provide customers worldwide with integrated and scalable industrial 3D vision systems for demanding tasks in robotics and logistics. “Basler’s industrial expertise and global reach make them the right partner for scaling 3D vision in demanding automation markets,” stated Mike McSweeney, vice president of sales at Orbbec. “Our vertically integrated manufacturing and on-chip depth sensing enable us to deliver industrial-grade stereo solutions with the price-performance and long-term availability that Basler’s customers require.” Shenzhen, China-based Orbbec said it is a leading provider of robotics and AI vision. The publicly list...
Read more

Iván Hernández Dalas: NORD Drivesystems to show modular systems for intelligent automation at MODEX

Image
NORD will show its latest advances in drives and controls in Atlanta. Source: NORD Drivesystems Among the exhibitors at MODEX next month in Atlanta will be leading robotics and component suppliers. NORD Drivesystems plans to show its latest advancements in high-efficiency gear motors, intelligent electronic control products, and modular automation. The Bargteheide, Germany-based  company  said it designed them to optimize throughput and reduce total cost of ownership, or TCO. NORD said  MODEX  2026 attendees can visit Booth 14136 at the Georgia World Congress Center to speak with experts and learn how its decentralized technology is “redefining reliability” in modern warehousing and distribution centers. The company will showcase these specialized systems: IE5+ synchronous motors NORD Drivesystems claimed that its  IE5+ permanent magnet synchronous motors  deliver an extremely high efficiency of up to 95%, high power density, and significant en...
Read more

Iván Hernández Dalas: Russ Tedrake to unveil stealth AI startup at Robotics Summit

Image
Artificial intelligence has been dominating conversations at every technology event for the past few years, and the robotics industry continues to look for ways to apply the technology to robots. At the Robotics Summit & Expo , Russ Tedrake, a professor at MIT and former senior vice president of large behavior models (LBMs) at the Toyota Research Institute , will unveil his new stealth AI startup focused on deploying LBMs for robotics. Drawing on his deep experience in robotics and AI , Tedrake will share his vision for how physical AI can unlock more capable, adaptable robots across industries. The keynote, “Building Large Behavior Models for Industry,” will examine the motivations behind the technology, early breakthroughs, and the potential impact of LBMs on next‑generation robots. More about Russ Tedrake Tedrake is the Toyota Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Mechanical Engineering at MIT , the director of the Cen...
Read more

Iván Hernández Dalas: TI partners with NVIDIA to accelerate robot deployments

Image
TI says its technologies, combined with NVIDIA AI infrastructure, enable humanoids to operate safely and efficiently in complex environments. | Source: Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Inc., or TI, recently announced a partnership with NVIDIA Corp. around last week’s GTC event. The company said that by combining its real-time motor control, sensing, radar, and power technologies with NVIDIA’s advanced robotics compute, Ethernet-based sensing, and simulation technologies, robotics developers can validate perception, actuation, and safety earlier and more accurately. “We can address literally every subsystem in the robots,” Giovanni Campanella, the general manager of industrial automation and robotics at TI, told The Robot Report at GTC . “ Our technologies today power already a lot of OEM systems in the humanoid, mobile robot, and industrial robot spaces.” TI connects NVIDIA physical AI compute to real-world applications with deterministic control, sensing, power, and safety ...
Read more