A new international standard, ISO 21423:2026, has been published to facilitate communication among industrial mobile robots regardless of vendor. This standard establishes common requirements for automated guided vehicles, autonomous mobile robots, and similar systems operating in the same facility. It specifies how mobile robots, fleet managers, and other equipment can exchange information such as location, speed, and tasking. This interoperability aims to improve system efficiency by reducing robot interference and increasing availability. The standard also covers communication with external systems like ERP tools and building automation systems.
Tokio Marine HCC and Adrian Flux have launched the UK's first household insurance policy for domestic humanoid robots. This coverage is available through Adrian Flux's home insurance offering and is underwritten by Tokio Marine HCC International. The policy provides protection for the robot, damage it causes, and personal liability, including options for emergency recovery or safe disablement. The coverage includes protection against damage, theft, and liability, with a specified limit of £5,000 for sudden damage to the home or belongings. This initiative aims to address the insurance needs arising from the ownership of domestic humanoid robots.
Churchill Capital Corp XI shareholders approved the merger between the SPAC and Agility Robotics ahead of an expected November 4 closing. The combined company's shares are anticipated to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker AGLT on November 5. The transaction involves approximately $465 million in gross capital, which includes existing funding and a private investment. Over 84% of votes cast supported the combination during the November 2 meeting. The approval signifies a step toward a public listing for Agility Robotics.
A startup called Dimensional pays people to walk robot dogs to gather training data for developing more independent AI operating systems. The industry raises concerns, as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) planned to spend significant funds on robot dogs from Boston Dynamics. Another startup, Warhound, is developing genetically modified dogs with cybernetic augmentations and battlefield awareness, suggesting a darker trajectory. The author questions the benevolent goals of the robot dog industry, noting the involvement of figures associated with weapons technology. Ultimately, the piece explores the dystopian potential of advanced robotics and genetic modification in the context of artificial intelligence.
Charging strategy is crucial for optimizing robot fleet performance, affecting uptime, infrastructure, and battery size. Opportunity charging, where robots move to charging stations when batteries are low, is presented as an efficient wireless solution for large fleets. Companies should integrate power infrastructure planning and battery specifications into the initial system design process. Furthermore, charging should be viewed as an integral part of robot design rather than an afterthought. WiBotic is innovating by developing smaller, higher-power, and more robust wireless charging systems for various applications like drones and humanoids.
A study found that people perceive robots approaching from behind as moving faster than from the front, linking the effect to visual turning behaviors. Researchers developed biohybrid robots using muscle tissue to achieve greater range of motion through electrical stimulation. Engineers created an AI system for a racing drone to navigate complex courses using only a single camera. Industrial robot startup RobCo achieved a billion-dollar valuation and plans to launch a self-learning robot. Various collaborations are advancing humanoid automation and AI solutions across logistics, manufacturing, and artistic expression.
RobotWorld 2026 took place from November 4 to 7 at KINTEX in Goyang, South Korea, featuring 402 companies from 17 nations. Central themes included humanoids and AI-driven manufacturing, with demonstrations showcasing dexterous hands and automation. The event allowed attendees to assess how humanoids integrate into production systems alongside established equipment. Exhibitors presented systems covering components, software, and complete machines for humanoid development. The conference also included tracks for manufacturing AI and physical AI.
Liber-0 is a world action model pretrained on over 2.2 million hours of human experience to enable zero-shot robot manipulation. It integrates broad visual learning with glove-recorded motion and kinematic alignment to facilitate human-to-robot transfer. The model's performance benefits from grounding human video in measured actions, which helps it learn behaviors absent from robot demonstrations. Liber-0 demonstrated zero-shot manipulation on tasks generated by GPT-6, achieving 36.0% overall task success. The approach suggests that accumulated human experience can effectively guide robots when paired with reliable action grounding and embodiment alignment.
AiMOGA, Chery's robotics brand, has opened global pre-orders for MOBO, its first home companion robot, on October 21. MOBO features 22 degrees of freedom and is designed for home companionship, claiming family-member recognition and long-term memory. The robot utilizes the MoAgent intelligent agent for spatial awareness, conversation, and motion control. Chery views robotics as complementary to its vehicle intelligence, with future integration being an ambition. Pre-orders signal commercial interest, though pricing and delivery details remain unspecified.
Members of the MIT Combat Robotics Club learn through the cycle of building, battling, destroying, and repeating. The club competes in the National Havoc Robot League, designing and competing with robots like ARES and CHONKIV. The team views losses as opportunities for improvement, fostering a sense of pride regardless of the outcome. New members participate in an onboarding process where they build small combat robots in teams. The club provides hands-on learning in engineering skills through collaborative, self-taught projects.
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are proven for moving inventory and are recommended as the initial investment in warehouses due to faster deployment and clear payback. Humanoid robots offer the potential to automate manipulation tasks in human-designed spaces, focusing on handling objects. AMRs automate movement, while humanoids aim to automate specific handling steps, requiring more complex training data. Successful implementation depends on task fit, operational costs, and gathering high-quality data for robot learning. Most operators should use AMRs for travel optimization while piloting humanoids for specific, difficult manipulation tasks.
Minerva Humanoids has introduced the Roger 1.0 humanoid for explosive ordnance disposal and hazardous materials response. This system is designed as a remotely supervised tool, where an operator uses a VR headset and haptic gloves for control. Roger 1.0 utilizes Minerva Intelligence, an in-house AI that allows the robot to navigate and move with operator input. The design emphasizes intuitive manipulation by matching the operator's body for better control. The robot is intended for handling CBRN threats and emergency response, with industrial trials planned for oil and gas projects this fall.
The RY H2 is a robotic hand from Ruiyan Robotics, introduced in March 2025 as an affordable option for the robotics market. It has a listed price of USD 1,400 and a launch price of ¥9,999 in China. The hand received an overall score of 4 out of 10, placing it in the developing category. Assessment scores for dexterity and strength indicate a developing profile rather than a leading one. The product is listed as in production and represents an accessible entry into the robotic hand market.
A wheeled humanoid robot from Tlibot combines two arms with a torso that can vertically lift and pitch forward for adjustable sorting postures. It has a 700 mm torso lift and a 2.19 m working range, with each arm capable of carrying a 5 kg payload. The platform measures 156.5 cm tall, weighs 95 kg, and has a maximum speed of 4.3 km/h, featuring LiDAR for obstacle avoidance. It is equipped with an NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX and supports software integration via ROS 2 and API. The robot is commercially available at USD 36,000, focusing on providing a platform for research and goods sorting experiments.
Footage was shared showing newly manufactured Figure 03 humanoids exiting the BotQ factory and moving across the company campus. The roughly nineteen-second video, posted by founder Brett Adcock, depicts white and black robots crossing a pedestrian walkway near a parking lot. BotQ has manufactured over 1,000 humanoid robots in total, which is separate from the robots seen in the campus footage. Prior endurance testing showed a Figure 03 completed a nine-day treadmill test covering 348 miles. The robots featured in the video include cameras, fingertip tactile sensors, and wireless charging capabilities.
Dex2/5 is a lightweight robotic hand from Unitree Robotics designed for their G1 and R1 humanoids. It features a five-finger layout driven by two electric actuators, prioritizing mechanical simplicity over independent finger control. The hand weighs 365 grams and is relatively compact for integration into humanoid platforms. Its performance is rated as developing, with low scores for degrees of freedom and strength. The hand is listed as in production with an advertised price of 800 USD.
TLIBOT T1 is a 160 cm tall, 43 kg bipedal humanoid research platform developed in Mianyang, China. It features 41 body degrees of freedom and joint torque ratings of 450 Nm at the hip, 281 Nm at the knee, and 148 Nm at the ankle. The robot has a 1,110 watt-hour battery for a three-hour runtime and a maximum speed of 3 km/h. Current demonstrated capabilities focus on obstacle avoidance and sorting goods, with low scores for navigation and manipulation. The platform is available for $40,000 and is intended for research and general-purpose humanoid applications.
Y1 is a wheeled humanoid robot from Tlibot, featuring a folding and lifting body for adjustable working height and two arms capable of supporting 5 kg each. It stands 195 cm tall, weighs 150 kg, and has a maximum travel speed of 5.4 km/h. The robot is equipped with an NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin and supports obstacle avoidance via LiDAR scanning for navigation. Y1 can perform obstacle avoidance and sort goods using its dual arms, with a combined sorting payload of 10 kg. The system supports ROS 2 and API for workflow development and has a listed price of USD 35,000.
MIDAS Hand is an open-source robotic hand developed by researchers at UCLA's RoMeLa laboratory for robot learning and manipulation research. It is an anthropomorphic sensing hand constructed from printed plastic and a soft TPU palm. The system is assessed with a low overall score of 4 out of 10, indicating it is a developing system, with specific ratings for degrees of freedom and strength. Its open-source nature allows researchers to use a shared design for study without relying on a commercial product. The project aims to make robotic hand research more accessible through published designs and manageable hardware costs.
Fengxing is a 180 cm tall, 80 kg humanoid prototype developed by AVIC for aviation manufacturing and maintenance. It utilizes an electrohydraulic hybrid drive and compact leg motors derived from aero engine technology. Demonstrated capabilities include obstacle avoidance, jumping/landing, and product assembly. Current skill ratings suggest it is still developing, with navigation and manipulation capabilities rated low. The robot remains a prototype with a listed price of USD 150,000, targeting specific aviation industrial applications.
LUMO is a compact, 130 cm humanoid robot from DOBOT Robotics designed for companionship and various settings. It features an aluminum alloy and plastic exterior and can perform basic obstacle avoidance and sorting tasks. Its current Humanoid Guide Skill Score is very low, indicating preliminary functionality in navigation and manipulation. The robot has a maximum speed of 5 km/h and operates using electric bionic joints. Listed at $12,000, LUMO bridges companion design with basic physical task capabilities for educational and research use.