Ivan Hernandez Dalas - Mechatronics

Humanoids and other robots can benefit from training in ‘virtual gyms.’ Source: SoftServe The challenge for today’s robots is no longer limited to automating a task. It is adapting to ever-changing environments — and that variability remains one of the hardest problems. This distinction matters more and more as the industry moves from programmed automation toward physical AI — systems that perceive, reason, and act in the physical world. The global robotics market is developing rapidly, with an anticipated 19.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2026 to 2036, according to Future Market Insights . Autonomy needs experience, but real-world experience is expensive, slow, and sometimes unsafe to collect. That is why “virtual gyms” are becoming an essential part of robotics development. A virtual gym is a high-fidelity simulation environment where robots can train, fail, recover, and be validated before they enter live operations to make physical testing more focused a...

The Robot Report Podcast · How Path Robotics uses AI to optimize robotic welding In Episode 252  of The Robot Report Podcast, we connect with Andy Lonsberry, co-founder and CEO of Path Robotics. He discusses the difficulties in setting up and using robots for welding applications. Path Robotics has applied AI to identify the path of a torch and then move the robot through the welding operation, using real-time vision guidance to maintain an optimal path. Andy Lonsberry, CEO of Path Robotics. As CEO of Path Robotics, Lonsberry  leads the company’s strategy and operations with a focus on applying physical AI to longstanding challenges in manufacturing . His work centers on building adaptive, AI-driven robotic systems designed for real-world production environments. The Columbus, Ohio-based company is also deploying Boston Dynamics’ Spot quadruped robots into mobile welding applications in shipbuilding . Michael Yip, professor at UC San Diego. Our other interviewee th...

XTEND has developed systems to improve drone autonomy in challenging environments. Source: XTEND XTEND Reality Inc. provides software and AI-powered robots for situations that are hazardous for humans. The company, which plans to merge with JFB Construction Holdings, last week secured a U.S. patent for technology that enables drones to autonomously navigate toward mission objectives. U.S. Patent No. 12,222,735 , with corresponding patent protection also granted in Israel, covers technology that enables continuous direction of an uncrewed aerial vehicle ( UAV ) toward an operator-designated destination, independent of the surrounding environment. The invention enables autonomous systems to adapt their navigation while maintaining progress toward mission objectives, reducing operator workload and supporting reliable mission execution in complex operational environments. “Autonomy is not simply about moving a robot from Point A to Point B. It is about translating human intent int...

AI2 manufactures wheeled humanoid robots rather than bipedal systems, trading mobility range for mechanical simplicity and durability. | Credit: Ai2 Robotics AI² Robotics has raised about $735 million in a fresh financing round that pushed its valuation past 50 billion RMB, or about $2.8 billion U.S. The funding positions the Shenzhen-based company among the leaders of China’s fast-moving physical AI sector. The diverse investor base in AI² Robotics’ latest funding round reflects the strategic importance now placed on the technology, drawing capital from state-backed entities, industrial corporations, and financial institutions. The company has secured commitments from government funds like the National Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund, corporate players ranging from Sino Biopharmaceutical to the Moutai Group, and financial firms like CICC Capital and GSR Ventures. AI² Robotics develops a wheeled mobile manipulator equipped with a humanoid torso and nimble...

Dr. Robert Ang, the study’s principal investigator, performing a post-op patient exam. | Source: ForSight Robotics Cataracts are currently the world’s leading cause of blindness, and the only way to treat them is with surgery. However, there is a shortage of trained surgeons who can tackle these difficult procedures.  ForSight Robotics said robotics and artificial intelligence can ease this burden and make cataract surgeries more accessible. “When I was starting to do ophthalmic surgery, eye surgery, I noticed a few things. It’s very hard to do those procedures. The movements are very delicate,” Dr. Joseph Nathan, ForSight Robotics’ co-founder, president, and chief medical officer, told The Robot Report . “We don’t have enough surgeons. We have this huge gap between the number of surgeons and the surge in patients.” ForSight has created the JASPER Platform, formerly known as ORYOM. The company said JASPER assists surgeons with every step of cataract s...

The new H1C-MG and HVC-MG telescopic rails add an axis of motion for robots. | Source: Rollon Rollon Corp, a global leader in linear motion systems, this week launched the HVC-MG and H1C-MG telescopic rails. The new MG version integrates magnets that allow the sequential opening of the rail elements. “After successfully introducing this technology on the HGT range, we are now extending it to additional telescopic rail families,” says Andrea Tosi, vice president of technology at Rollon. “The integrated magnets enable an ideal combination of high load capacity and smooth and controlled motion. This development reflects our ongoing commitment to engineering solutions that go beyond meeting technical specifications, addressing the real operational challenges our customers face across industrial applications.” Founded in 1975,  Rollon designs and manufactures highly specialized linear motion systems. Since 2018, the Norton Shores, Mich.-based company has been part of The Timken Co., co...