service robots

China is advancing rapidly in robotics and automation, while Hong Kong risks falling behind in the race to adopt and develop robot technology. According to DW, Hong Kong is struggling to keep pace with the mainland's push into industrial and service robotics, raising questions about the city's ability to remain competitive as automation reshapes industries across the region.

Chinese state media reports that the country's embodied AI sector is shifting from research settings into practical deployment, with robots taking on actual jobs in industry and services. The report highlights China's push to turn embodied artificial intelligence from a laboratory technology into a working part of the economy, as companies and institutions expand real-world applications.

Estonian authorities say Russian intelligence services were behind an arson attack against Milrem, an Estonian defense contractor, in the capital Tallinn on August 15. The claim has drawn attention amid heightened tensions over Russia's war in Ukraine, with Milrem known for producing military robotics used by Ukraine. Observers see the attack as part of a broader pattern of Russian sabotage and hybrid operations targeting European defense and infrastructure.

New experiments suggest people perceive robots approaching from behind as moving faster than they actually are. The findings could matter for the design of robots that operate around humans, such as delivery or service machines, since designers may need to account for how people judge speed and risk from robots approaching unseen from the rear.

Robot field service is being described as a critical test for whether automation can truly scale. As robots spread across warehouses, factories and public spaces, keeping fleets running in the field — maintenance, repairs, software updates and remote support — is emerging as a decisive challenge for the robotics industry's growth beyond pilot projects.

ATLAS announced that it is extending its PowerOS architecture, previously built for smartphones, toward future humanoid and service-robot applications. The company says the move will let its software platform power a new generation of robots. The announcement is circulating through syndicated news outlets, though no independent reaction or detail has yet emerged.

Figure, the US robotics company, is reported to have retired its humanoid robots by dipping them into molten steel, prompting reactions about the dramatic way the machines ended their service life. Commenters are debating whether the gesture was a symbolic send-off, a security measure to destroy proprietary hardware, or simply standard recycling of decommissioned units.

YYForce has deployed a hospitality service robot at the Aloft by Marriott Langkawi Pantai Tengah hotel in Malaysia. The announcement, carried via major newswires, highlights the growing use of service robotics in Southeast Asia's hospitality sector, with the robot expected to assist hotel staff in guest services at the resort destination.

Singapore-based Primech Holdings has unveiled Primech Vision, a platform for coordinating fleets of robots across facilities, alongside an expansion of its AI-powered robotics fleet. The company, which provides facility services, positions the launch as a step toward automated cleaning and maintenance operations. The announcement is drawing attention from investors and robotics watchers tracking commercial multi-robot deployment.

Food-delivery robots have been introduced at Cal Poly, the California Polytechnic State University campus in San Luis Obispo, bringing automated meal service to students. The rollout means students can now order food and have it delivered by wheeled robots across campus. Details about the robot provider, pricing, and service area have not yet been reported.

Global Market Insights has published a new report on the Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) market, covering market size and forecasts through 2035. The report outlines projected growth for subscription-based robotics services, a model that lets companies access automation without heavy upfront investment in hardware and maintenance.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is reported to have announced a new command dubbed AutoWarCom, the LLM Autonomous Warfare Command, which would hold service-like authorities and scale autonomous and robotic capabilities across the US military. The claim spread alongside calls urging Americans to vote in the midterm elections regardless of opinion polls. The announcement has not been independently verified and reactions are limited so far.

A bar staffed by robot bartenders is set to open in Kyoto, Japan. The operators stress that the robots are not controlled by artificial intelligence, distinguishing the venue from the wave of AI-driven services attracting attention. Japanese news outlets including Japan Today and SoraNews24 have covered the announcement, with readers curious about what exactly powers the machines and what the bar experience will offer.

A newly announced platform links cleaning, delivery and reception robots with human facility staff through a single system, allowing teams to oversee and coordinate automated tasks in buildings from one place. The move points to growing efforts to integrate service robots into everyday facility operations rather than running them as standalone devices.

Purdue University is replacing its Starship sidewalk delivery robots with new 'Grub machines', with an official launch planned for this winter, according to the Purdue Exponent. The campus food delivery fleet is being swapped out, and students are waiting to see how the new robots compare in service and reliability.

A BBC report introduces a care robot assisting Vera, a 74-year-old woman, in her own home. The story highlights how robotic technology is being used to support elderly people living independently, offering help with daily tasks and companionship as populations age and care services come under strain.

Denver residents calling 311 for city services may soon have their calls answered first by an automated, AI-powered system rather than a human operator. The plan, reported by 9News, would have a robot handle initial contact before callers reach city staff, raising questions about how well it can understand requests and whether residents will find the change frustrating or convenient.

Tangent Robotics, a startup spun out of Columbia University, has raised $4.5 million to develop robot dexterity technology. The funding will support the company's work on giving robots finer, more human-like manipulation skills, an area seen as a key next step in industrial and service robotics.

The U.S. Army has selected five winning humanoid robot designs, with one of the chosen models featuring ballistic protection. The announcement highlights the military's growing interest in human-shaped robots for defense applications, and coverage of the selection is spreading across technology and general news outlets, drawing attention to the prospect of armored humanoid machines in military service.

Manufacturing Digital has published a ranked list of the top 10 humanoid robots, highlighting the machines leading the field in robotics development. The roundup comes as companies worldwide race to deploy humanoid robots in manufacturing, logistics and service roles, with advances in AI driving rapid progress.

Denver is considering a change that would route 311 non-emergency calls through an automated assistant before residents reach a human agent. The system is intended to handle initial requests and direct callers to the right city service. The move raises questions about access to help, service quality, and how well automation can handle the range of issues residents report.

New figures show that close to half of all service robots sold in 2025 were deployed for transportation and logistics tasks, making it the leading application area for the category. The data highlights how warehouses, delivery operations and supply-chain automation are driving demand for professional service robots. Industry observers point to labor shortages and e-commerce growth as key factors behind the trend.

DYNA Robotics has launched DYNA 2.1, a semi-humanoid robot described as a physical agent capable of completing entire workflows, including a full commercial laundry shift, rather than isolated tasks. The launch highlights the company's focus on deploying robots in real business environments, and it is drawing attention as part of the wider push toward hands-on automation in service-industry jobs.

Neura Robotics has put its robots to work in hospitals, tasking them with pushing patient beds as part of efforts to automate logistics in healthcare settings. The move highlights the company's push to move humanoid and service robots out of demos and into real working environments, easing staff workloads and addressing labour shortages in hospitals.

Humanoid robots are being developed or deployed with the ability to change their appearance to suit different job roles, according to a report by Chosun Ilbo. The development points to a shift in robotics from single-purpose machines toward adaptable units that can be reconfigured for tasks in service, retail or industrial settings. The report offers few further details, and it is not yet clear which companies or models are involved.

Real estate services firm JLL argues that physical AI — robots and intelligent machines working in buildings — is set to become the sector's next major transformation, following earlier waves of digitalisation and smart-building technology. The claim points to automation reshaping how properties are managed, operated and valued, though the company has released few details beyond the headline assertion.