Launch A Chinese startup has built a pocket-sized humanoid robot that runs on Android smartphones and retails for $400, making physical AI accessible at the impulse-buy price point. A tiny humanoid robot uses an Android phone as its brain, and it costs just $400 · Digital Trends
Launch University of Colorado Colorado Springs University of Colorado Colorado Springs deployed humanoid robots called Ami to campus as teaching aids, marking an institutional embrace of embodied AI in education. UCCS adds humanoid AI, 'Ami', robots to campus as learning tools · KOAA News 5
Launch UBTECH · Volkswagen UBTECH's humanoid robots will be deployed on Volkswagen assembly lines to test real-world manufacturing tasks. UBTECH and Volkswagen team up to test humanoid robots in car factories · Interesting Engineering
Launch China deployed humanoid robots to direct traffic during heavy rain in a real-world test of autonomous physical systems operating in challenging weather. China Tests Humanoid Robots to Direct Traffic in Heavy Rain · TechRepublic
Launch REK California's athletic regulator ordered REK, a robotics company, to cease unsanctioned human-versus-robot fighting competitions. California athletic regulator orders REK to stop unsanctioned human-robot fights · Digital Watch Observatory
Launch Boston Dynamics Boston Dynamics unveiled design details of a new humanoid hand for its Atlas robot, engineered for dexterous manipulation in industrial settings. Boston Dynamics gives more insight into its redesigned humanoid hand · The Robot Report
Launch Seedtag Seedtag deployed autonomous robots as mobile billboards through Manhattan streets, expanding programmatic advertising into physical space. Mobile OoH: Seedtag Sends Robots Through Manhattan In Ad Campaign · Sixteen:Nine
Launch Tesla Tesla relabels its Full Self-Driving software as Tesla Assisted Driving in Europe, a regulatory concession that drops the word 'autonomous' from a product that can't drive itself. Tesla renames ‘Full Self-Driving’ to ‘Tesla Assisted Driving’ in Europe · TechCrunch
Launch Stellantis · Wayve — Jean-Philippe Imparato Stellantis CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato says the automaker's partnership with Wayve will accelerate self-driving deployment and trim engineering costs. Stellantis CEO says Wayve tie-up can cut self-driving costs, development time · Reuters
Launch Skyeton Skyeton has unveiled Stormbird, a fixed-wing drone engineered for autonomous and guided precision strikes. Skyeton introduces Stormbird fixed-wing drone for autonomous and guided precision strikes · Defence Industry Europe
Launch An autonomous drone delivery service has begun operations in Round Rock, Texas, marking another expansion of commercial airborne logistics. Autonomous drone delivery touches down in Round Rock · Yahoo
Launch Butterfly Network · Bridge Neurotech Butterfly Network is pairing with newcomer Bridge Neurotech to develop ultrasound-based brain-computer interfaces, a shift from traditional electrode invasiveness. Butterfly Network to chase ultrasound brain-computer interfaces with newcomer Bridge Neurotech · MassDevice
Funding U.S. Navy The U.S. Navy commits $150 million more to develop a carrier-capable fighter drone that can take off and land vertically, eliminating the need for a runway. US Navy bets another $150M on fighter drone that skips the runway · The Register
Funding MintNeuro MintNeuro raised $5 million to develop brain implant chips for clinical use. MintNeuro raises $5M to build brain implant chips and bring these closer to patients · Tech Funding News
Funding Neuracle Neuracle, a Chinese brain-computer interface company with no revenue from its flagship product, is racing toward a 2.5 billion yuan IPO before facing delisting. China's Neuracle: The "World's First" Brain-Computer Interface Approval, Zero Revenue from Flagship Product, Racing a 2.5 Billion Yuan IPO Against the Delisting Clock · BigGo Finance
Research AgiBot · IDC AgiBot shipped more than 8,600 humanoid robots globally in the first half of 2024, according to IDC data, establishing itself as the market leader. IDC: AgiBot Leads Global Humanoid Robot Shipments With Over 8,600 Units in H1 · Gasgoo
Research ROBOTERA ROBOTERA achieved top performance on the RoboDojo embodied AI benchmark without requiring additional training data or specialized hardware. ROBOTERA Tops Embodied AI Benchmark RoboDojo Without Additional Data or Agent RSI · PR Newswire
Research MIT MIT researchers unveiled SANDO, a navigation system that lets autonomous drones fly through obstacles without collision-avoidance slowdowns. MIT Develops SANDO Navigation System For Collision-Free Autonomous Drone Flight · Pulse 2.0
Research A single brain implant has decoded both speech and hand gestures simultaneously from a paralyzed patient, expanding the palette of communication channels a BCI can translate. Single Brain Implant Decodes Speech and Gestures Together in Paralysis · Bioengineer.org
Opinion Jabil Jabil, a contract manufacturer, offers commentary on the timeline for bringing humanoid robots from lab to factory floor. Jabil discusses the pace of humanoid robot development and production · The Robot Report