robots

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning to buy robot dogs, according to reports from ABC News affiliates. The quadruped robots would reportedly be used to support the agency's operations, though details on the contract and intended deployments remain limited. The news has drawn attention because it signals expanding use of robotics in federal immigration enforcement.

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 covering applications of artificial intelligence across industries, positioning Changsha as a growing hub for China's AI and robotics sectors.

Hyundai Motor Group has partnered with Bloomberg on 'Inside the Robotics Race', a feature examining the global competition in robotics. The collaboration highlights Hyundai's push in the field through its robotics ventures, including Boston Dynamics, as automation reshapes manufacturing and industry. Attention around the piece reflects growing interest in which companies and countries will lead the next wave of robotics.

Roblox players are watching animatronic characters from Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach appear in an SCP morphs game mode, mixing the horror franchise's robot antagonists with SCP Foundation characters. The crossover content is drawing significant attention from fans of both horror universes, who enjoy seeing the two popular fictional worlds collide in the game platform.

MIT researchers have developed a planning system that guarantees a robot's flight path remains free of collisions as it moves through its environment. The approach computes trajectories that account for obstacles dynamically, offering a mathematical assurance of safety rather than a best-effort estimate. Researchers say such guarantees could matter for drones and autonomous robots operating near people or in cluttered spaces.

A comparison of Star Wars-inspired technology and real-world engineering suggests some fictional ideas are inching toward reality. AI-driven droids, bionic limbs, holograms and directed-energy systems are all areas of active progress. However, staples like hyperspace travel, lightsabers and antigravity remain firmly in science fiction, with no known practical path to building them.

Boston Dynamics has named a former Amazon AI executive as its new leader just as the robotics company pushes forward with a major rollout of its humanoid robots. The appointment places an AI specialist at the helm during a pivotal moment for the company, which is racing to commercialize its Atlas humanoid technology in an increasingly competitive field alongside rivals like Tesla and Figure.

A robot has been shown live drawing and painting, with footage of the demonstration drawing wide attention online. Viewers are reacting to the machine's precision and artistic output, discussing how far robotics has advanced into creative work and what it means for human artists and automated art.

A popular robotics clip shows a powerful robot arm receiving a strength upgrade and being put to the test smashing objects, alongside creator bqThanh and Ốc. The stunt has drawn a large audience, with viewers reacting to the machine's raw power and destructive capability.

Figure, the US robotics company behind the Figure 02 humanoid robot, is drawing attention with news of the machine's decommission. The announcement, labelled as robotics content, has drawn large engagement online. Commenters are speculating about whether the move signals a next-generation replacement for the humanoid or the end of the programme entirely.

Australian robotics company Advanced Navigation is expanding its navigation technology manufacturing operations to Huntsville, Alabama. The move brings production of the company's navigation systems to the Alabama city, a growing hub for aerospace and defense technology. The announcement was reported by the Huntsville Business Journal, though details on investment size, jobs created, and timeline have not yet been made public.

A Minecraft video in which a self-aware robot character is upgraded into an all-powerful, god-like figure has drawn nearly half a million likes. The content blends robotics themes with sandbox gaming, tapping into ongoing fascination with artificial intelligence gaining autonomy inside the game world, where player-built AI experiments have become a popular genre.

Amazon's October Prime Day sale has brought discounts on robot vacuums and mop combos, and The Verge has rounded up the best offers currently available. Shoppers are comparing prices on popular models from brands like Roomba, Roborock and Eufy as the two-day deals event runs, looking for savings on automated floor cleaning ahead of the holiday season.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council has announced that four major technology fairs will run concurrently in October 2026, covering electronics, artificial intelligence, robotics, electronic components and lighting solutions. The council expects the combined exhibitions to attract a large international audience, positioning Hong Kong as a hub for the technology trade in Asia.

A New York Times science report profiles a start-up working to build microrobots with the help of artificial intelligence. The company is applying AI to the design and development of machines at microscopic scale, a frontier area combining robotics, materials science and machine learning that could affect medicine and manufacturing.

Ukraine's former defense minister says AI-powered robots are the next stage of warfare technology, The Washington Post reports. The comment reflects Ukraine's position at the forefront of battlefield innovation, where drones and autonomous systems have already changed how the war against Russia is fought, and signals what militaries worldwide may adopt next.

WIRED has published a shopping guide recommending the best vacuum deals to buy during Amazon's Prime Day sale. The piece draws on the outlet's own hands-on testing of dozens of vacuum models, including robot vacuums, to single out which discounted products are genuinely worth purchasing during the event.

The RobotTalk podcast has announced an upcoming interview with Sebastian Castro of Respite Robotics, focusing on open-source software for robot manipulators, task planning and robot behaviour. Listeners are being invited to submit questions for Castro ahead of the recording, which will air later this season.

Boston Dynamics has named a former Amazon AI executive as its new leader, timed with the company's major push to roll out its humanoid robots commercially. The appointment signals the robotics firm's shift from research showcase toward scaling AI-powered humanoid robots for real-world deployment, and industry watchers are closely reading what the hire means for Boston Dynamics' competitive position.

Retailers are discounting robot vacuum and mop combos for Amazon's October Prime Day sale, with the Roborock Qrevo among the highlighted models. Deal roundups like The Verge's are collecting the best prices, and shoppers are browsing the discounts as the seasonal sale event draws bargain hunters.

Real estate company Bedrock has been testing robot dogs in Downtown Detroit, according to local coverage. The machines are being trialled in the city center, drawing attention from residents curious about what the quadruped robots are doing on downtown streets and what the company plans to use them for.

Fast Company explores the shift from video game technology to physical AI, looking at how embodied AI could move from virtual worlds into robots and real-world applications. The piece examines what the games industry's simulation expertise might contribute to machines that act in physical space, and what this convergence could mean for the future of both sectors.

TwelveLabs has released Pegasus 1.6, an update to its video understanding model aimed at physical AI applications such as robotics. The company says the model lets machines interpret video footage, which could help robots and other physical systems better perceive and act in real-world environments. Details beyond the announcement have not yet been widely reported.

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.