Robotics dispatch — MON · 02 NOV 2026

Launch

Agility Robotics

Agility Robotics is moving its Digit humanoid robot to production in Kansas, signaling commercial momentum in the physical AI space.

Digit Humanoid Robot to Hit the Production Line in Kansas · Tomorrow's World Today

Launch

JR East

JR East deployed a chainsaw-wielding humanoid robot to trim trees along railway lines, addressing labor shortages with a high-risk automation task.

Labor shortages push JR East to put a chainsaw-armed humanoid robot on tree-trimming duty · The Cool Down

Launch

Promise Robotics

Promise Robotics is expanding manufacturing capacity to deploy physical AI systems for residential construction.

Promise Robotics Expands Physical AI Production Infrastructure for U.S. Homebuilding · LBM Journal

Launch

Agility Robotics

Agility Robotics reports that more than 30 companies are evaluating Digit, its bipedal warehouse robot, suggesting early traction for a humanoid designed to move through human-scaled spaces.

Agility Robotics says more than 30 companies considering Digit humanoid robot · Robotics & Automation News

Launch

RoboParty

RoboParty has released RP1, an open-source humanoid robot built from the ground up as a complete software-and-hardware stack.

RoboParty Launches RP1, a Full-Stack Open-Source Humanoid Robot · Auganix.org

Launch

XPeng

XPeng achieved record October deliveries and secured a robotaxi license, positioning itself to compete in China's autonomous-vehicle market by 2027.

XPeng’s 2027 Outlook: Record October Deliveries and a Robotaxi License Change the Story · The Motley Fool

Launch

BMW · Mercedes · Tesla

BMW is launching an urban autonomous driving system to compete with Mercedes and Tesla in city navigation.

BMW takes on Mercedes, Tesla with urban autonomous driving system · Automotive News

Launch

PlusAI

PlusAI filed documents for a SPAC merger and committed to launching autonomous trucking systems by 2027.

PlusAI files registration document for SPAC merger ahead of 2027 driverless launch · Trucking Dive

Launch

autonomous taxi operators operating in Manchester

Three autonomous taxi operators have begun testing in Manchester, but the services have launched with no paying passengers yet.

Self-Driving Taxis Manchester: 3 Firms Test, 0 Riders · shattered.io

Launch

Percepto

Percepto unveiled Axion, a physical AI platform designed to automate drone-based inspections of infrastructure without human intervention.

Percepto Launches Axion Physical AI Platform for Autonomous Drone and Infrastructure Inspections · UASweekly.com

Launch

Oshkosh Defense · Grid Aero

Oshkosh Defense will manufacture Grid Aero's autonomous cargo drone under a new partnership, moving the startup's aircraft from design to production.

Oshkosh Defense To Manufacture Grid Aero’s Autonomous Cargo Drone In New Partnership · Defense Daily

Launch

Agilica

Agilica will demonstrate autonomous maritime drones with ultra-wideband positioning at EURONAVAL 2026, advancing resilient underwater and surface vehicle navigation.

Resilient Maritime Autonomy & UWB Positioning Bring Agilica to EURONAVAL 2026 Finals · Unmanned Systems Technology

Launch

Reach Power

Reach Power demonstrated a wirelessly powered autonomous drone that stayed aloft for ten hours, a milestone for persistent flight without onboard batteries.

Reach Power Achieves First-of-Its-Kind Persistent Autonomous Drone Flight Powered Wirelessly for 10 Hours · Business Wire

Launch

Matternet

Matternet introduced M3, a new autonomous drone platform designed to scale delivery operations beyond current capabilities.

Matternet Unveils M3, Its Next-Generation Autonomous Drone Delivery Platform · Yahoo Finance

Launch

autonomous drone delivery company

An autonomous drone delivery company is expanding operations into Austin as the city navigates regulatory frameworks for commercial drone flights.

Autonomous drone delivery company expanding into Austin: How drone operations are regulated · KXAN Austin

Funding

Formic · Humanoid Global · Mercato Partners

Formic, a physical AI startup backed by Humanoid Global, raised $50 million led by Mercato Partners to deploy autonomous systems in U.S. manufacturing.

Humanoid Global Highlights Portfolio Company Formic’s US$50 Million Raise, Led by Mercato Partners, to Advance Physical AI Across American Manufacturing · Yahoo Finance Australia

Research

Researchers develop a method allowing humanoid robots to combine locomotion and manipulation without requiring full task demonstrations.

Humanoid AI connects walking and object handling without demonstrations of complete task sequences · Tech Xplore

Research

Researchers develop an AI controller that improves real-time decision-making in humanoid robots.

A New AI Controller Helps Humanoid Robots Think on Their Feet · Hackster.io

Research

University of Alabama in Huntsville

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is competing in a final international NATO disaster-response drone competition with autonomous technology.

UAH puts autonomous drone technology to the test in final international NATO competition focused on disaster support · The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Opinion

Reuters surveys China's shift from perfecting robot hardware mechanics to developing the AI systems that would give machines autonomous decision-making capability.

China's robot makers have mastered the moves. Now comes the race for brains · Reuters