Robotics

Embodied AI moving through factories, roads, homes, and the physical world.

Coverage

Humanoids
Industrial robotics
Autonomous vehicles
Embodied AI

Launch / Yesterday / 3 min read

Figure Tests Helix 2.5 in 30 Unseen Homes, Reports 56% Zero-Shot Success

The humanoid test is a notable attempt to measure whether robot skills transfer between real homes. But its reported 56% end-to-end success rate also shows how far dependable household automation remains from settled.

Launch / Sep 16, 2026 / 3 min read

Dyson Launches Three Nurovi Robot Vacuums From $550 to $1,200

The new lineup replaces camera-based navigation with lidar across all models, but Dyson reserves its midrange vacuum-mop for Costco and its stain-detection pitch for a $1,200 flagship.

Funding / Sep 16, 2026 / 3 min read

Exein Raises $270 Million to Build Security for AI-Enabled Machines

The Rome startup says attacks on intelligent devices are increasing as it funds a kernel-level security strategy for robots, vehicles and industrial systems.

Desk statusActive

Published coverage57 stories

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Humanoids / Industrial robots / Autonomous vehicles / Drones / Embodied AI / Robot learning

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Why it matters

Why robotics matters.

Robots, humanoids, autonomous vehicles, drones, embodied AI, and real-world machine intelligence.

Robotics turns model progress into physical capability and measurable productivity.

Hardware cost, reliability, and safety determine whether demonstrations become deployments.

Autonomous machines will reshape labor, logistics, manufacturing, and transportation.

Latest coverage

Recent robotics coverage

All Robotics

Sep 15, 2026Products

Launch Products

Agility Robotics Debuts Digit 5 for Warehouse Work Beside People

The company says its new humanoid can detect nearby workers and change its behavior instead of relying on physical separation. The commercial test will begin with customer access in 2027.

3 min

Sep 14, 2026Startups

Pricing change Startups

Ars Technica Publishes Unitree Profile Citing Reliability and Retention Concerns

The new profile connects founder Wang Xingxing’s hands-on cost discipline to low robot prices, while employee accounts raise questions about product quality and whether the company can scale.

2 min

Sep 13, 2026Products

Launch Products

Tuya’s Doova Debut Leaves Price and Privacy Controls Undisclosed

The senior-focused robot is designed to roll toward a spoken call for help and alert relatives by video. Tuya has not disclosed when it will be sold, what it will cost, or how its in-home data controls work.

2 min

Sep 11, 2026Business

Funding Business

Arm CEO Says AI Could Help Cure Cancer Within His Lifetime

Rene Haas contrasts a long-range medical prediction with narrower AI tools already used in diagnosis—and says constrained chip supply could slow another promised AI frontier: humanoid robots.

3 min

Sep 11, 2026Startups

Funding Startups

Mecka AI Nears Sequoia-Led Funding at a Reported $500 Million Valuation

The robotics-data startup is reportedly back in fundraising talks shortly after its last round. But the size and final terms of the proposed Sequoia-led deal remain unsettled.

2 min

Sep 11, 2026Policy

Policy

Centre for British Progress Urges UK to Tax Self-Driving Cars Early

The proposal adds economic questions to the UK’s self-driving policy debate: who pays for congestion, declining fuel-duty revenue and potential labor disruption.

3 min

Sep 11, 2026Models

Launch Models

JoyIn Introduces Aether With a Partial Open-Source Plan

JoyIn says its new humanoid-robotics model uses perception instead of text-based control. It plans to share touch-related parts while retaining energy-use portions, limiting what outside developers will receive.

2 min

Sep 10, 2026Policy

Government action Policy

Israel Defense Forces Creates AI Branch to Coordinate Drones, Robotics and Autonomous Systems

The organization is intended to unite unmanned capabilities across the services, while its public launch leaves the operating model for that coordination largely unspecified.

2 min

Follow the adjacent shifts.

Models

Model releases, capabilities, benchmarks, pricing, and open or closed model strategy.

Products

AI product launches, feature releases, and consumer or enterprise product changes.

Agents

AI agents, agentic systems, computer use, autonomous workflows, and multi-agent software.

Work & Labor

AI's effects on jobs, workers, hiring, workplace practices, productivity, and labor rights.

Superpower Daily

Your reading space

Robotics

Figure Tests Helix 2.5 in 30 Unseen Homes, Reports 56% Zero-Shot Success

Dyson Launches Three Nurovi Robot Vacuums From $550 to $1,200

Exein Raises $270 Million to Build Security for AI-Enabled Machines

Why robotics matters.

Recent robotics coverage

Agility Robotics Debuts Digit 5 for Warehouse Work Beside People

Ars Technica Publishes Unitree Profile Citing Reliability and Retention Concerns

Tuya’s Doova Debut Leaves Price and Privacy Controls Undisclosed

Arm CEO Says AI Could Help Cure Cancer Within His Lifetime

Mecka AI Nears Sequoia-Led Funding at a Reported $500 Million Valuation

Centre for British Progress Urges UK to Tax Self-Driving Cars Early

JoyIn Introduces Aether With a Partial Open-Source Plan

Israel Defense Forces Creates AI Branch to Coordinate Drones, Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Follow the adjacent shifts.

Notifications

Robotics

Figure Tests Helix 2.5 in 30 Unseen Homes, Reports 56% Zero-Shot Success

Dyson Launches Three Nurovi Robot Vacuums From $550 to $1,200

Exein Raises $270 Million to Build Security for AI-Enabled Machines

Why robotics matters.

Recent robotics coverage

Agility Robotics Debuts Digit 5 for Warehouse Work Beside People

Ars Technica Publishes Unitree Profile Citing Reliability and Retention Concerns

Tuya’s Doova Debut Leaves Price and Privacy Controls Undisclosed

Arm CEO Says AI Could Help Cure Cancer Within His Lifetime

Mecka AI Nears Sequoia-Led Funding at a Reported $500 Million Valuation

Centre for British Progress Urges UK to Tax Self-Driving Cars Early

JoyIn Introduces Aether With a Partial Open-Source Plan

Israel Defense Forces Creates AI Branch to Coordinate Drones, Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Follow the adjacent shifts.

Robotics moves fast.Read the shift, not the noise.