Launch Gene Gene.01, a humanoid robot with tactile skin sensors, has been unveiled as a step toward more responsive physical AI systems. New Gene.01 humanoid robot with touch-sensitive smart skin unveiled · Interesting Engineering
Launch Tesla Tesla is deploying Optimus humanoid robots to its Grünheide factory to learn manufacturing tasks by working alongside employees. Tesla to train Optimus with employees at Grünheide plant · electrive.com
Launch Hertz Hertz is converting rental car lots into charging and maintenance depots for autonomous vehicle fleets, betting on a new revenue stream as traditional car rentals decline. Hertz's next act: From rental cars to robotaxi depots · Axios
Launch Pony.ai · JD Auto Service Pony.ai enlisted JD Auto Service to establish a nationwide maintenance network for its robotaxi fleet, a critical logistical step toward scaled operations. Pony.ai taps JD Auto Service to build nationwide Robotaxi maintenance network · Gasgoo
Launch Applied Intuition Applied Intuition released autonomy software designed to run on any drone platform, removing the need for custom integrations. Applied Intuition’s New Autonomy Software Aims to Work Across Any Drone Platform · The Defense Post
Launch An autonomous sonar drone located wreckage from a historic plane crash, demonstrating the technology's capability for deep-water search-and-recovery missions. Autonomous Sonar Drone Finds Wreckage of Famous Plane Crash · Manufacturing.net
Launch Seneca · Cal Fire Cal Fire is testing Seneca's self-launching drone packs for wildfire detection and response. Cal Fire Tests Seneca Drone Packs That Launch Themselves · DroneXL
Launch Reconcraft A Ukrainian drone maker has partnered with Reconcraft to develop autonomous surface vessels for the U.S. market, expanding its hardware portfolio beyond aerial platforms. Ukrainian Drone Builder Partners With Reconcraft For U.S. Autonomous Surface Vessels · Defense Daily
Launch BAE Systems BAE Systems introduced Brontanax, an autonomous combat drone designed for military operations. BAE Systems Unveils "Brontanax", Its Autonomous Combat Drone · marketscreener.com
Launch Elistair · Exail Elistair and Exail are integrating tethered drones into autonomous vessels for continuous maritime surveillance without battery constraints. Elistair and Exail Bring Tethered Drone Maritime Surveillance to Autonomous Vessels · Dronelife
Launch Allen Control Systems Allen Control Systems lands a Marine Corps contract to outfit counter-drone platforms with its AI-guided Bullfrog turret, which fires standard military machine guns instead of expensive interceptor missiles. US Marines' latest anti-drone toy is an AI turret that uses regular machine guns · The Register
Launch Wayve · Uber Wayve partners with the UK government to accelerate the rollout of self-driving technology across British roads. Wayve Signs Partnership with UK Government to Accelerate Britain's Self‑Driving Future · Wayve
Launch Joby Aviation · Virgin Atlantic · Delta Air Lines — JoeBen Bevirt, Corneel Koster Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic formalize a deal to operate electric air taxis from London Heathrow and Manchester, building on Joby's existing partnership with Delta Air Lines. Joby and Virgin Atlantic Finalize Deal to Bring Electric Air Taxi Service to the UK · Joby Aviation
Funding Volkswagen · Horizon Robotics Volkswagen deepens its partnership with Horizon Robotics to develop autonomous-driving systems for the Chinese market. Volkswagen Strengthens Horizon Robotics Tie-Up to Advance Self-Driving Technology in China · WSJ
Funding T2 Japanese driverless startup T2 closed a $31 million funding round to accelerate autonomous vehicle development. Japanese self-driving start-up T2 raises US$31m in fresh funds · Yahoo Finance
Research National Robot Standardization Technical Committee (SAC/TC591) · Beijing Machinery Industry Automation Research Institute Co., Ltd. · UBTECH China has approved its first national standard for evaluating humanoid robot dataset quality, with UBTECH and a state research institute leading the effort to shift the industry from quantity to reliability. China's First Humanoid Robot Dataset Quality Evaluation Standard Project Approved · Gasgoo
Research Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Jelena Notaros, Henry Crawford-Eng MIT engineers designed a chip-based lidar sensor with shaped antennas that scan wider fields of view without moving parts, potentially powering sharper autonomous-vehicle perception. MIT’s new lidar chip could give self-driving cars a wider view · ScienceDaily
Opinion Carnegie Mellon — Carnegie Mellon Carnegie Mellon researcher argues robots could eventually compete professionally in sports, challenging assumptions about human athletic exclusivity. Could robots play sports professionally? Carnegie Mellon researcher says yes · TribLIVE.com
Opinion Reuters surveys the defense industry's push toward autonomous combat drones, a shift that remains largely aspirational rather than operationally deployed. Companies race to deliver autonomous uncrewed fighter jets · Reuters
Other RoboSense · Lightwheel AI RoboSense and Lightwheel AI announced a partnership to integrate perception and AI systems in a closed-loop framework for physical AI applications. RoboSense Partners with Lightwheel AI, Defines Physical AI Data Closed Loop · Gasgoo