autonomous robots

MIT researchers have developed a planning system that ensures a robot's flight path remains free of collisions as it moves through its environment. The system generates trajectories with built-in safety guarantees, allowing flying robots to navigate cluttered spaces without crashing. The work points toward more reliable autonomous drones for inspection, delivery and navigation tasks in dynamic, obstacle-filled settings.

A Russian drone attempted to destroy a Ukrainian unmanned ground robot on the frontline but was disabled when the robot deployed an anti-drone net and caught it. The incident highlights how Ukraine's war is increasingly being fought machine against machine, with both sides deploying robotic systems and countermeasures in combat.

A park in South Korea has begun putting humanoid robots into public service, an early test of the technology in everyday settings. The rollout is a cautious one, with the 'sort of' in coverage suggesting the robots remain limited and experimental rather than the fully autonomous machines long promised. It is still a visible milestone for a country investing heavily in robotics and AI.

Ukraine's former defence minister says he wants to build an army of robots, including a humanoid machine capable of killing a Russian soldier within six months, according to an interview reported by the Spanish newspaper La Razón. The remarks highlight Kyiv's push to deploy autonomous and remote-controlled weapons on the battlefield, and are drawing attention amid ongoing debate over the ethics of lethal robotics in war.

The European Parliament has approved a 115 million euro funding programme called Agile aimed at defence startups, with money going toward AI and drone technologies. Lethal autonomous weapons, often called killer robots, are explicitly excluded from the funding. The move signals Europe's push to strengthen its defence industry while drawing a red line on fully autonomous killing systems.

Ukraine's former defense minister says AI-powered robots are the next stage of military technology, according to The Washington Post. The warning highlights how drone and autonomous systems, already heavily used in Ukraine's war against Russia, are expected to become more capable and widespread.

A commentary in Nature argues that cities should prepare for 'robotic urbanization', the integration of embodied intelligence into urban environments. The piece calls for urban planning, infrastructure and governance to adapt as robots and autonomous systems become part of everyday city life. Discussion is focusing on how streets, buildings and services could be redesigned around human-robot coexistence.

A robotic hand operating without being attached to a body has been shown moving independently, drawing attention in robotics industry coverage. The demonstration highlights advances in dexterous robotic grippers and autonomous control. Industry watchers are discussing what self-moving robotic hands could mean for manufacturing, prosthetics and automation work.

Ukraine's former defense minister says AI-powered robots are set to become the next major technology in warfare. The comments come as Ukraine's war with Russia has accelerated the development and deployment of autonomous and remotely operated systems on the battlefield. Observers are weighing what the shift toward machine-driven combat could mean for the future of military conflict.

Ocean Power Technologies has demonstrated the offshore deployment of an amphibious vehicle, according to a company announcement. The demonstration highlights the company's push beyond wave-energy hardware into marine robotics and autonomous systems for offshore operations. The technology is aimed at missions such as ocean monitoring, surveillance and offshore infrastructure support, areas where interest from defence and commercial customers has been growing.

Armed forces and defense companies are racing to develop robots for battlefield use, with advocates arguing that machines could take on dangerous tasks and save soldiers' lives. Coverage explores how robotic systems might be deployed in combat roles and what this shift could mean for the future of warfare.

Alex Harstrick of venture firm J2 Ventures told CNBC that military spending is heading toward 'autonomous everything,' arguing defense investment will increasingly favor autonomous systems. The remarks come as governments and investors weigh how drones, robotics, and AI are reshaping defense budgets and the weapons industry.

Researchers are developing swarms of robots designed to assemble structures on their own, removing the need for human construction crews. The approach would rely on many simple machines coordinating their work rather than a single large builder. It points to a future where construction sites could be run largely by autonomous systems, raising both excitement about faster, safer building and questions about the impact on jobs.

The US Army has selected six robotics companies to develop autonomous systems for battlefield support roles. The programme aims to bring driverless resupply, transport and logistics vehicles closer to frontline troops, reducing the risk to soldiers in contested areas. The selection signals the Army's continued push to accelerate autonomous ground technology and its intent to work closely with private industry on future combat support capabilities.

German injection moulding machine maker ARBURG says it will present standalone robots at FAKUMA 2026, the plastics processing trade fair held in Friedrichshafen. The announcement signals the company's push into autonomous automation for production cells. Further technical details about the robots have not yet been released ahead of the show.

The International Federation of Robotics highlights how autonomous mobile robots integrate with building elevators, allowing delivery and logistics robots to move between floors in offices, hospitals and factories. The technology relies on elevator control interfaces so robots can call and operate lifts without human help, a key step for scaling service robotics in multi-storey buildings.

Talks at the United Nations have exposed sharp disagreements over autonomous weapons, often called killer robots. Diplomats and advocacy groups are divided on how to regulate or ban systems that can select and engage targets without human control. The dispute highlights stalled efforts to agree binding international rules, with states split between pushing for a new treaty and preferring voluntary guidelines.

Hitachi Vantara's autonomous robots are drawing attention, with readers asking how the systems actually operate. The company, a subsidiary of Hitachi specializing in data and IoT solutions, deploys autonomous mobile robots for logistics and warehouse tasks, using sensors and software to navigate and move goods without human control. Interest centers on the underlying technology and what it means for automation in industry.

Belgian GNSS specialist Septentrio has announced an expansion of its mosaic-G5 receiver ecosystem, adding support for drone and autonomous navigation applications. The move broadens the company's offering for precise positioning in robotics and uncrewed systems, though details of new partners or hardware were not immediately available.

A snake-shaped robot is now patrolling 10-kilovolt power lines in Kunming, in southwest China. Developed by the Kunming Power Supply Bureau of China Southern Power Grid, the robot navigates obstacles autonomously and uses infrared, thermal imaging, and laser sensors to detect potential faults on the lines, reducing the need for workers to inspect high-voltage equipment manually.

Deliveroo has signed an exclusive agreement with Coco Robotics to deploy the US company's delivery robots across the UK. The deal makes Deliveroo the exclusive UK partner for Coco's sidewalk robots, expanding the food delivery firm's automated last-mile capabilities. The move follows growing investment by delivery platforms in robotic and autonomous delivery to cut costs.

Ukraine says its automated robotic gun turrets have scored their first confirmed kills against Russia's fastest attack drones, marking a new step in the country's use of autonomous and remotely operated weapons on the battlefield. The development highlights Kyiv's push to counter cheap, fast-moving drones with low-cost automated defenses rather than scarce ammunition and manned systems.

Researchers are developing robot swarms designed to work together to assemble and construct structures autonomously. The approach draws on collective robotics, where many simple machines coordinate to perform construction tasks that would normally require human crews or heavy equipment. The project has drawn attention for its potential applications in automated building and infrastructure work.

A 47-foot unmanned surface vessel launched and recovered a 375-pound underwater robot more than 40 times off the English coast, with no crew on the water. The boat rides on two torpedo-shaped hulls designed to remain stable in waves, and its pilots operated it remotely from two different countries, with Germany reportedly observing the trials.

A new program from Astra Intelligence is designed to match drones with robots, linking aerial and ground systems in combined operations. The announcement, reported by drone industry outlet Dronelife, points to growing interest in integrated autonomy, where drones and robotic ground units coordinate tasks rather than operating separately.

Ukraine is reported to be preparing for a difficult winter period following a surprise offensive carried out largely with robotic, unmanned ground systems. The operation has drawn attention to Kyiv's growing use of autonomous technology on the battlefield, even as cold weather, damaged energy infrastructure and harsh frontline conditions threaten to complicate operations in the months ahead.

A new analysis argues that robotics and physical AI can be used responsibly to address key physical security challenges, from monitoring sites to responding to incidents where human guards face risk. The piece emphasises responsible deployment, weighing the technology's potential benefits against concerns about privacy, accountability and over-reliance on autonomous systems in safety-critical roles.

Autonomous delivery firm Avride and Sodexo Campus have announced an agreement to scale robot-powered food delivery across college campuses in the United States. The partnership will bring Avride's autonomous delivery technology to more Sodexo-served universities, letting students order food that arrives via sidewalk robots. The deal signals growing commercial deployment of last-mile delivery automation in the higher-education market.

Agricultural technology outlet Future Farming is examining whether refurbished second-hand autonomous farm robots could bring automation within reach of smaller growers, who are typically priced out of new equipment. The discussion centres on whether used robots can deliver reliable performance at a fraction of the cost, opening precision farming to smaller operations.

Agricultural machinery company RMH is developing an autonomous, electrically powered feeding robot for livestock farms. The machine is designed to distribute feed without a driver, cutting labour demands and operating emissions. Farming technology outlets reported the project, drawing interest from dairy and beef producers watching the shift toward automated farm equipment.

Ukraine has carried out a surprise offensive using robotic systems, according to CNBC reporting, which says the operation revealed a weakness in Russia's ability to counter unmanned and autonomous weapons on the battlefield. The report frames the development as a sign that drone and ground-robot warfare is increasingly shaping the front lines of the war, prompting debate about how Moscow can adapt.

A new hands-on review of LTX-2.5 examines how the model performs in physical AI work, covering robotics use cases, world model generation, and synthetic data creation. The reviewer walks through practical tests of the system's ability to simulate and understand physical environments, a growing focus for developers training robots and autonomous systems. The review is drawing attention for its look at whether generative video models can serve real robotics pipelines.

Hitachi and Agile Robots have announced a partnership to develop physical AI aimed at autonomous manufacturing. The collaboration will combine Hitachi's industrial technology with Agile Robots' robotics expertise to build systems capable of operating factory equipment with minimal human oversight. The move reflects a broader push by industrial firms to bring AI-driven automation into production lines.