Now Robotics

Le Parisien reports that Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister for digital transformation, is backing plans to deploy an 'army of robots' on the battlefield to reduce the number of soldiers exposed at the front. The initiative points to ground and aerial unmanned systems taking over dangerous combat tasks as Ukraine faces manpower shortages amid the war with Russia.

NASA reports that the Canadarm2, the International Space Station's large robotic arm, has stopped working and cannot be moved for the time being. Engineers are assessing the fault on the critical system used for capturing cargo vehicles and moving equipment around the station. Observers are watching closely for updates on whether operations can be restored and what the malfunction means for station logistics.

The American Enterprise Institute has published an analysis arguing that autonomous robot trucks offer a window into how artificial intelligence will reshape the labor market. The piece examines what automated freight means for drivers and workers more broadly as AI adoption accelerates across industries.

Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi has reportedly reversed recent Russian gains, using robotic systems to carry out combat airdrops and clear minefields. Ars Technica reports that unmanned ground and aerial vehicles played a central role in defeating a Russian pincer manoeuvre, underlining how Kyiv is increasingly deploying robots for dangerous frontline tasks and reducing risks to its soldiers.

The large robotic arm on the International Space Station has stopped working, according to an Ars Technica report. The Canadarm2-style manipulator is a critical tool for capturing cargo spacecraft, moving equipment and supporting spacewalks, so any outage raises questions about station operations and resupply. Details on the cause of the failure and prospects for repair remain limited.

NASA says it is troubleshooting a transporter mechanism that moves the International Space Station's robotic arm along the station's truss. The issue affects the mobile base that allows the Canadarm2 to reposition itself for station maintenance and operations. NASA reports the station and its crew remain safe while engineers work the problem, though the arm's mobility may be limited until a fix is found.

The International Federation of Robotics reports that the number of industrial robots operating in factories worldwide has exceeded 5 million, a new milestone for automation. The figure highlights the accelerating adoption of robotics in manufacturing, driven by labor shortages and demands for productivity across major industrial economies.

The Canadarm2, the large robotic arm on the International Space Station, has reportedly stopped working. The arm is critical for capturing cargo spacecraft, moving equipment and supporting spacewalks, so a failure would be a significant operational problem for the station's crews and their backers at NASA and the Canadian Space Agency. Details on the cause and possible fixes remain limited.

The global stock of industrial robots in operation has reached five million units, according to a report carried by technology trade press. The milestone reflects years of rising automation in manufacturing, driven by labour shortages and falling robot costs, with installations concentrated in Asia's automotive and electronics industries.

The US Food and Drug Administration has released draft guidance covering surgical robotics. The document, reported by MedTech Dive, outlines the agency's current thinking for developers and manufacturers of robotic surgical systems. Stakeholders in the medical device industry typically have the opportunity to comment on such drafts before final guidance is issued, which shapes approval expectations for robot-assisted surgery technologies.

Autonomous weapons systems, often called killer robots, are drawing renewed attention as military AI capabilities advance rapidly. Debate is intensifying over machines that can select and engage targets without human intervention, with critics urging international limits and militaries investing heavily in the technology. The discussion reflects growing concern that warfare is entering a new automated era faster than regulation can keep up.

Amazon, once the largest customer of warehouse robotics vendors, is now designing and building robots in-house. The shift, highlighted in an industry analysis by the Association for Advancing Automation, reflects the company's growing internal robotics engineering capabilities as it automates its fulfilment network. Industry observers see it as a notable turning point for the robotics supply sector.

The Yuelu Conference 2026 opened in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, on September 23–24, drawing artificial intelligence companies, robotics developers, researchers and investors. The event featured an opening ceremony and ten themed "AI+" forums, positioning Changsha as a growing hub for China's AI and robotics sectors and giving firms a venue to showcase technology and strike partnerships.

Automated ball-strike systems being used in baseball are adding a bit of extra time to games, according to a Newser report. The robo-umps, introduced to improve accuracy behind the plate, appear to be slowing the pace slightly, prompting debate among fans and officials over whether the technology's precision is worth the trade-off in game length.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have grown living human skin on a robotic finger, a step toward robots with lifelike appearance and touch. The cultured skin layer wrapped around the mechanical finger and reportedly healed and flexed like real tissue. Commentators say the work could advance humanoid robotics, prosthetics and skin-graft medicine, while raising questions about how lifelike machines should become.

Engineers have developed a stacked AI chip that combines fast and slow processing layers to recognize changes in motion over time. The design pairs layers operating at different speeds, allowing the chip to detect both immediate movement and longer-term patterns. The approach could improve event-based vision systems used in robotics, surveillance and autonomous machines, and is drawing attention among researchers following neuromorphic and edge computing hardware.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has purchased $1.3 million worth of robotic dogs from a Connecticut-based company. The acquisition puts quadruped robots, normally associated with industrial inspection, into the hands of a federal immigration enforcement agency, drawing attention to how such technology may be deployed in raids, surveillance or border operations.

A CNBC report on AI and robotics is drawing attention to worker anxieties about automation reshaping jobs. The piece weighs how robotic systems and AI tools are moving into workplaces, raising questions about job security and the changing role of human resources. Commenters are debating what the shift means for employees.

Industry commentary is highlighting robot field service — the maintenance and support of deployed automation in real-world environments — as a critical test for scaling robotics. As robots move from pilots into logistics, manufacturing and other operations at volume, companies face questions about reliability, servicing capacity and total cost of ownership, making after-deployment support a decisive factor in whether automation can truly scale.

Gecko Robotics is working with NVIDIA to add security and control features for AI agents, according to The Robot Report. Gecko specializes in inspection robots for industrial infrastructure such as power plants and pipelines, and the partnership would pair its robots with NVIDIA's AI and computing technology. Further details on the scope and timeline of the collaboration were not provided in initial coverage.

Robot dogs are being deployed on farms for tasks that go well beyond security and guarding. Quadruped robots are increasingly used to inspect livestock, monitor crops, patrol fields and gather data in places wheeled machines struggle to reach. The trend highlights how agricultural robotics is moving from novelty demonstrations toward practical, everyday farm work.

Forbes reports on the emergence of robotic systems designed to draw blood from patients, a task traditionally performed by human phlebotomists. The piece highlights how automated blood-drawing technology is moving toward real clinical use, raising questions about accuracy, patient comfort, and the future of routine medical procedures performed by machines instead of trained staff.

Major League Baseball's average game times have increased following the introduction of robot umpires and the automated ball-strike challenge system. The technology, trialled to improve strike-calling accuracy, appears to have added time through challenge stoppages. The finding is drawing attention as a possible counterpoint to the league's push for shorter, faster-paced games.

Average Major League Baseball game times have increased since the league introduced its automated ball-strike system, with robo umpires now assisting or replacing home plate umpires in calls. The uptick runs counter to the pace-of-play gains the league pursued with the pitch clock, and analysts are weighing whether longer reviews and more full counts are offsetting those earlier improvements.

China is testing robotic traffic cones capable of driving themselves into position on roads. The devices are designed to reposition automatically for roadworks and lane changes, reducing the need for workers to place cones manually in live traffic. The development has drawn attention as a small but striking example of China's push to automate even mundane street infrastructure.

Israeli chipmaker Arbe Robotics has completed a share sale, with the proceeds earmarked for expanding into defense and counter-drone markets. The move signals a strategic pivot beyond automotive radar as demand grows for drone-detection technology among military and security customers, and investors are watching how the new funding will be deployed.

Siemens has introduced a new machine tool robot to the North American market. The announcement, covered by trade outlet Automation World, signals Siemens' push to expand its industrial automation offerings in the region as manufacturers look to automate machine tending and related tooling tasks. Details on pricing and availability have not been widely reported yet.

RIPCO, a revolving sushi concept that uses robots to serve customers, has taken a 5,000-square-foot space at a lifestyle center in Clifton, New Jersey. The lease marks the brand's expansion into the state, adding an automated dining format that pairs conveyor-belt sushi with robotic delivery. The deal was reported by New Jersey real estate outlets tracking retail activity at the shopping center.

NASA says it is currently unable to move the International Space Station's large robotic arm, the Canadarm2, for the time being. The arm is essential for capturing cargo spacecraft, moving equipment and supporting spacewalks outside the orbiting laboratory. Few further details about the cause of the problem or expected repair timeline have been released, and observers are waiting for updates from the agency.