legged robotics

Robot dogs are being deployed on farms for tasks beyond security, according to a report from Engadget. The four-legged machines, similar to Boston Dynamics' Spot, are increasingly used in agriculture for monitoring livestock, inspecting crops, and surveying land, suggesting the technology is moving from novelty demos toward practical, everyday farm work.

ANYmal, the four-legged industrial inspection robot developed by ANYbotics, can now clear airport-style security screening, according to a report by Interesting Engineering. The development means the quadruped robots, already used for inspecting industrial sites, could be deployed more easily in airports, public buildings and other secured facilities where robots previously faced access restrictions.

A new bipedal delivery robot has been unveiled in Tech Town, marking a step beyond the wheeled robots commonly used for last-mile deliveries. By walking on two legs, the machine could handle stairs, curbs and uneven pavements that block current models. Details on its maker, capabilities and rollout plans have not yet been announced.

Researchers have unveiled a small robot measuring roughly four inches that can hop, perform backflips and swim, with the key to its versatility said to lie in a mechanism hidden inside its legs. The unusual combination of abilities in such a small machine is drawing attention from robotics enthusiasts and engineers interested in compact, agile locomotion.

Footage from IROS 2026 shows a robot kicking a drone and destroying it, an impressive display of robotic leg precision and force control. The stunt is drawing attention to how far legged robotics has come, with commentators noting the timing, balance and power needed to strike a flying target mid-air.

Newly released records show US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has drawn up plans to use Spot, a four-legged robot made by Boston Dynamics, in its operations. The documents have drawn attention to how the agency intends to deploy the robotic dogs, and civil liberties advocates are questioning the use of such technology in immigration enforcement.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has added a fleet of Boston Dynamics robot dogs, according to WCVB reporting. The deployment of the agile four-legged robots by the immigration agency is drawing attention to how law enforcement is expanding its use of advanced robotics in field operations, a move likely to fuel debate over surveillance and the militarization of domestic agencies.

The Association for Advancing Automation reports that artificial intelligence is improving the way robots perform kicking motions, a development relevant to legged robotics and dynamic movement control. The industry group's insight highlights how machine learning helps machines balance and coordinate movements that were previously difficult to program. Discussion is so far limited to the industry publication itself.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has acquired a fleet of Boston Dynamics robot dogs to carry out safety checks. The deployment of the four-legged robots by a federal law enforcement agency is drawing attention to the growing use of robotics in government and policing, with debate expected over the appropriateness of such technology in immigration enforcement work.

Chinese robotics firm DEEP Robotics has put its quadruped robot dog through field trials in tunnels in Japan, testing how the machine can inspect underground infrastructure and improve safety for maintenance crews. The trials explore whether legged robots can navigate environments that are difficult or hazardous for humans.

Researchers have released GrandTour, a multi-modal dataset for legged robotics, described as 'schooltime for robots'. The dataset is intended to help four-legged and other walking machines learn to navigate by combining multiple types of sensor data gathered during real journeys. Details of its contents and the team behind it have not been widely reported yet, but it is being presented as a resource for training more capable walking robots.

Pittsburgh International Airport has introduced four-legged AI-powered robot dogs to patrol its terminal, becoming one of the first US airports to put the technology on the floor. Details on the dogs' exact duties, such as security patrols or inspections, remain limited, but the move fits a broader push by airports to automate operations and test robotics in public spaces.