Robotics news
What's new in service, industrial, and humanoid robotics.
- GENERAL2026-05-19
Elon Musk Reveals Launch Timeline for Tesla's Optimus Robot
Source: www.inc.com · Elon Musk announced Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot is moving toward production with plans for broader deployment next year, starting with factory tasks before consumer use.
- GENERAL2026-05-19
Seegrid surpasses 20 million autonomous miles milestone
Source: roboticsandautomationnews.com · Autonomous mobile robot developer Seegrid announced its fleet has surpassed 20 million autonomous miles driven across customer production environments.
- GENERAL2026-05-19
Rivian spin-out Mind Robotics raises $500M for industrial AI-powered robots
Source: techcrunch.com · Mind Robotics, spun out of Rivian, raised $500M Series A in March 2026 at $2B valuation. Total funding reached $615M since late 2025 with focus on dexterous industrial robots.
- GENERAL2026-05-19
Serve Robotics Completes Acquisition of Diligent Robotics Subsidiary
Source: www.tipranks.com · Serve Robotics acquired Diligent Robotics, expanding its autonomous robotics platform from delivery service to hospital settings.
- GENERAL2026-05-17
Medtronic's Hugo surgical robot earns FDA clearance
Source: www.medtechdive.com · Medtronic received FDA clearance for its Hugo robotic system in urologic procedures. Johnson & Johnson plans FDA submission for its Ottava robot in early 2026.
- GENERAL2026-05-17
CMR Surgical - Transforming Surgery. For Good.
Source: us.cmrsurgical.com · CMR Surgical's Versius Plus received FDA 510(k) clearance for cholecystectomy procedures. The company announced that over 45,000 patients worldwide have been treated using the Versius Surgical Robotic System.
- GENERAL2026-05-17
Medtronic wins FDA nod for surgical robot for spine procedures
Source: www.massdevice.com · Medtronic received FDA clearance for its Stealth AXiS robotic system for spine surgery in February 2026, designed for hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.
- GENERAL2026-05-17
Stereotaxis's MAGiC Catheter Wins FDA Approval
Source: www.mddionline.com · Stereotaxis won FDA approval for the MAGiC Magnetic Interventional Ablation Catheter, a robotically navigated magnetic ablation catheter for cardiac ablation procedures treating heart arrhythmia.
- GENERAL2026-05-17
CMR Surgical receives FDA clearance for Versius Plus surgical robot
Source: www.therobotreport.com · CMR Surgical's Versius Plus received FDA 510(k) clearance for cholecystectomy procedures and is on track for commercialization in 2026. The company is advancing additional indications in the U.S.
- GENERAL2026-05-17
Restore Robotics Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for Two Additional da Vinci Xi® Robotic Instruments
Source: www.prnewswire.com · Restore Robotics received additional FDA 510(k) clearances for remanufactured da Vinci Xi robotic surgical instruments in March 2026, expanding its portfolio of cleared instruments.
- GENERAL2026-05-17
Robot developers make strides in 2025
Source: www.medtechdive.com · 2025 surgical robotics roundup covering Medtronic's Hugo FDA clearance, CMR Surgical's Versius Plus clearance, and SS Innovations filing for SSi Mantra robot authorization.
- GENERAL2026-05-17
Humanoid and Schaeffler strike deal to deploy thousands of humanoid robots in factories
Source: roboticsandautomationnews.com · UK-based Humanoid company signs landmark deployment agreement with Schaeffler to integrate thousands of wheeled humanoid robots across global manufacturing facilities with first systems going live in Germany by end of 2026.
- EVENT2026-05-17
Global Robotics and AI Meet 2026 Scheduled for Osaka, Japan
Source: Science Wide Meetings / RoboticsAI2026 · The RoboticsAI2026 Conference is set to take place November 19–21, 2026, in Osaka, Japan, bringing together researchers, engineers, and industry leaders from around the world. The event will cover the latest advances in autonomous systems, physical AI, and commercial robot deployment. Osaka's selection continues Japan's tradition of hosting premier robotics gatherings given the country's deep manufacturing and automation heritage.
- GENERAL2026-05-16
Robot dogs priced at $300,000 a piece are now guarding some of the country's biggest data centers
Source: fortune.com · AI companies are deploying Boston Dynamics' Spot quadruped robots at data centers for security. Priced from $175,000 to $300,000, these robots provide around-the-clock surveillance and threat detection.
- GENERAL2026-05-16
Knightscope exceeds another $1 million sales milestone
Source: www.businesswire.com · Knightscope, a leader in autonomous security robots, has exceeded another $1 million milestone in new sales, client renewals and expansions.
- GENERAL2026-05-16
AmbiStack selected for physical AI industry advancement
Source: www.roboticstomorrow.com · AmbiStack was selected for its industry advancement in physical AI, enabling robots to stack packages without prior knowledge using cameras, machine vision, and AI.
- GENERAL2026-05-06
Service Robotics Market Surge Transforms Business Operations Globally
Source: GlobeNewswire · A May 2026 industry report confirms that global demand for service robotics is accelerating rapidly, with businesses across healthcare, hospitality, retail, and logistics adopting autonomous platforms at record rates. The market is being driven by labor shortages, cost pressures, and maturing robot reliability that now meets commercial deployment standards. Analysts project the service robotics sector to approach $46 billion in value as adoption curves steepen through 2026.
- GENERAL2026-05-05
China Places AI-Powered Robots at the Core of Its 15th Five-Year Plan
Source: Business Wire / IFR · The International Federation of Robotics reported that China's newly launched 15th Five-Year Plan formally enshrines AI-powered robotics as a pillar of its national industrial strategy. The plan calls for a pivot from humanoid-focused research toward AI that enhances traditional industrial robots across manufacturing sectors. Analysts say the move could dramatically accelerate robot adoption rates and reshape global supply chains.
- GENERAL2026-05-01
Humanoid Robotics in 2026: The Race From Pilot to Platform
Source: Seeking Alpha · A detailed industry analysis on Seeking Alpha examines how humanoid robot makers are transitioning from flashy demos to real commercial deployments in 2026. One highlighted example is Japan Airlines partnering with GMO AI & Robotics to trial humanoid robots in operational settings starting in May 2026. The piece argues that the companies that successfully bridge the pilot-to-platform gap this year will define the next decade of the industry.
- FUNDING2026-05-01
Global Robotics Funding Surpasses $48.2B in 2026, Shattering Previous Records
Source: LinkedIn / Benjamin Lawrence · Investment in robotics companies worldwide has already exceeded $48.2 billion in 2026, surpassing the full-year 2025 record before the halfway point of the year. Analysts attribute the surge to the rise of physical AI and the race to commercialize humanoid and autonomous mobile robots. The trend signals a dramatically expanding market for robot buyers and operators looking for well-funded, reliable vendors.