On December 25, 2025, UBTech Robotics Corp. Ltd. announced a bold move to cement its place in China's booming robotics market. The Shenzhen-based company, already a leader in humanoid robots since its founding in 2012, agreed to buy a 43% stake in Zhejiang Fenglong Electric Co. Ltd., a
Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan have unveiled the world's smallest autonomous robots. Each one measures just 200 micrometers wide—about twice the width of a human hair. These tiny machines can sense their surroundings, process information, and move on their own without
The humanoid robot frontier pushed forward this week at a Silicon Valley summit, where small machines roamed freely and even poured lattes for attendees. Evangelists gathered to hail new AI techniques as the next transformative wave in robotics. Yet full-size prototypes remained scarce, a reminder that the path to everyday
Figure AI has deployed its humanoid robots in a BMW factory. On December 18, 2025, the company announced that its Figure 02 models are now assisting in automotive production lines, marking a key step toward widespread industrial use of humanoids. Figure AI, founded in 2022 by former Tesla and OpenAI
China's robotics scene is heating up, but is it all hype? On December 17, the New York Times dove into the frenzy around companies like Unitree Robotics and UBTech, questioning if the country is riding a robot bubble. Unitree, a Hangzhou-based startup founded in 2016 by Wang Xingxing,
iRobot, the pioneering company behind the Roomba vacuum cleaner, filed for bankruptcy this week. The move caps a turbulent year for the robotics firm, which invented the first mass-market home robot back in 2002. Founded in 1990 by MIT roboticists Colin Angle, Helen Greiner, and Rodney Brooks, iRobot started with
iRobot, the company that brought the Roomba vacuum into millions of homes, filed for bankruptcy on December 15, 2025. The move came after years of financial strain, including a failed acquisition by Amazon and mounting debt from tariffs on imports. Founded in 1990 by MIT roboticists, iRobot started with military
On December 14, Rodney Brooks, the pioneering mind behind modern robotics, shared his sharp critique of the industry's current path. Known as the "godfather of robotics," Brooks co-founded iRobot in 1990 and invented the Roomba, the first commercially successful home robot vacuum that revolutionized everyday automation.
A team of engineers has created a robot no bigger than a grain of salt. This tiny machine runs on solar power and could change medicine forever. The device, developed at the University of Pennsylvania, measures just 250 microns across. That's smaller than the period at the end
A team of researchers has unveiled a tiny robot no bigger than a grain of salt, poised to revolutionize medicine. This miniature marvel, developed by scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), measures just 0.1 millimeters across and packs solar cells for power along with
Google DeepMind just unveiled plans for its first dedicated robotics lab in the UK. The lab will focus on using AI to discover new materials, like those powering batteries and semiconductors. This move marks a bold step in blending robotics with scientific discovery. DeepMind, the AI powerhouse bought by Google
Nauticus Robotics, the Houston-based pioneer in autonomous underwater vehicles, made waves in the industry with a bold financial maneuver. The company, founded in 2017 by a team of ex-NASA engineers, specializes in software-defined robots that tackle deep-sea tasks like inspection and intervention without human divers. Their flagship Aquanaut robot can
The Italian Institute of Technology has unveiled plans for its latest humanoid robot, set to make its global debut at CES in Las Vegas this January. This marks a milestone for the Genoa-based research powerhouse, which has pioneered over 60 humanoid prototypes since its founding in 2005. IIT's
iRobot's stock surged 74% in a single day, fueled by reports of an upcoming executive order from the Trump administration to bolster the domestic robotics industry. The Roomba maker, long a pioneer in consumer robotics since its founding in 1990, saw shares climb to around $3.69, pushing
Serve Robotics hit a milestone on December 7, 2025, when its stock surged to $13.42 per share, pushing the company's market cap just shy of $1 billion. This rally came amid growing buzz around autonomous delivery tech, spotlighting Serve's fleet of wheeled robots designed for
Young minds across Michigan gathered for the 2025 FIRST LEGO League robotics competition on December 6. Teams of students from elementary through high school built and programmed LEGO robots to tackle real-world challenges. The event, held at multiple locations, emphasized creativity and problem-solving in STEM fields. FIRST LEGO League, or
Tesla's Optimus robot just took a big leap forward. The humanoid machine now runs with smooth, human-like strides. Elon Musk shared the update, showing Optimus sprinting at speeds up to 5 mph on flat ground. This comes after years of development, turning the bot from a clunky walker
FANUC Corporation unveiled its latest AI-powered robots at the 2025 International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo. The Japanese giant, a pioneer in industrial automation since 1956, demonstrated models like the CRX series collaborative robots enhanced with real-time AI vision systems. These robots adapt on the fly to changing environments, picking and
Chengdu-based Meskernel, a global leader in laser ranging technologies, unveiled its latest innovation yesterday: the PTFH-150, a high-frequency outdoor laser distance module designed to push the boundaries of industrial automation and robotics. This compact powerhouse measures just 150mm in length but packs a punch with its ability to deliver precise
NVIDIA and Fanuc unveiled a partnership to bring voice-controlled capabilities to factory robots. The collaboration integrates NVIDIA's AI technologies with Fanuc's industrial arms, allowing workers to command robots using natural language. No more fiddling with joysticks or code—operators can simply say what they need done.
Agility Robotics hit a major milestone with its Digit humanoid robot. On December 1, 2025, the company announced that Digit passed a key safety certification, paving the way for wider deployment in real-world settings. Founded in 2015 as a spinout from Oregon State University, Agility Robotics has been at the
Intuitive Surgical delivered a strong earnings report that sent its stock soaring. The company, a leader in robotic-assisted surgery, beat analyst expectations with robust growth in procedure volumes and system placements. Founded in 1995, Intuitive Surgical pioneered the da Vinci Surgical System, a robotic platform that gives surgeons enhanced precision
China's push into humanoid robotics has surged ahead, leaving American efforts in the dust. On November 29, reports from the Los Angeles Times highlighted how the country's robot army is expanding faster than ever. Factories in Shenzhen and Hangzhou churn out models like Unitree's
China's top economic planners issued a stark warning on November 27 about the booming humanoid robotics sector. The National Development and Reform Commission, the country's powerful agency for guiding economic growth, flagged risks of a speculative bubble forming in this hot field. The alert comes as