Apple Explores Robotics, Boston Dynamics Partners with AI Institute, and WeRide Launches Robovan W5
February 13, 2025 -
Robotics Brief
Hi there,
Welcome to this edition of the Robotics Brief, where we delve into the latest advancements and investments in the world of robotics and AI. This week, Apple is making headlines with its exploration into both humanoid and non-humanoid robots, aiming for potential mass production by 2028. Meanwhile, Boston Dynamics has partnered with the Robotics & AI Institute to enhance the capabilities of its Atlas robot, focusing on dynamic running and heavy object manipulation.
In other news, WeRide Inc. has launched the Robovan W5 in Guangzhou, China, a Level 4 autonomous delivery vehicle designed for urban logistics. Additionally, Persona AI has raised $10 million to develop humanoid robots for industrial use, with plans to deliver its first robot within the next two years. Stay tuned as we continue to bring you the latest updates from the forefront of robotics innovation.
Apple Investigates Humanoid and Non-Humanoid Robots
Apple is reportedly exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid robotic designs, as per analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The company is in early research stages, aiming for potential mass production by 2028. Read more
Boston Dynamics Partners with Robotics & AI Institute
Boston Dynamics has teamed up with the Robotics & AI Institute to improve reinforcement learning for its Atlas humanoid robot, focusing on dynamic running and heavy object manipulation. Read more
WeRide Inc. Launches Robovan W5 in Guangzhou
WeRide Inc. has launched the Robovan W5, a Level 4 autonomous delivery vehicle, in Guangzhou, China. The vehicle is designed for urban logistics with a significant cargo capacity and advanced sensor technology for safe navigation. Read more
Persona AI Raises $10 Million for Humanoid Robots
Houston-based startup Persona AI has secured over $10 million in pre-seed funding to develop AI-powered humanoid robots for industrial use. The company plans to deliver its first robot within 18 to 24 months. Read more
HC Robotics to Invest Rs 500 Crore in Telangana
HC Robotics, a subsidiary of Centillion Networks, plans to invest Rs 500 crore in Telangana, aiming to create 2,000 jobs over the next three years. The initiative seeks to expand the IT sector beyond Hyderabad into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Read more
IDB Lab and 19Labs Launch Drone Medical Aid in Guyana
19Labs, supported by IDB Lab, has introduced GALE | Force, a long-range drone delivery system aimed at providing medical supplies to remote communities in Guyana. This initiative enhances telemedicine services and aims to improve healthcare access for over 20,000 residents by optimizing supply chain efficiency and reducing transportation times. Read more
UVIONIX Raises €3.4M for AI Warehouse Robots
Bulgarian startup UVIONIX has secured €3.4 million in seed funding to advance its AI-powered autonomous flying robots for warehouse inventory management. The investment will aid in product launch, market expansion, and team development. Read more
Geely and Voyah Integrate DeepSeek AI in EVs
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers Geely and Voyah are set to incorporate DeepSeek AI technology into their vehicles, enhancing driving features with the R1 model and offering updates starting February 14, 2025. Read more
Maryland Teamsters Advocate for Human Operators in Driverless Vehicles
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is urging the Maryland House of Delegates to approve House Bill 439, which requires a human operator in vehicles exceeding 10,000 pounds to safeguard jobs and highway safety. Read more
Inceptio Technology Recognized in ARK Invest Report
Inceptio Technology, a Shanghai-based company, is acknowledged in ARK Invest's Big Ideas 2025 report for its leadership in autonomous trucking, having operated over 200 million kilometers with its autonomous trucks. Read more
Applied Intuition Acquires EpiSci for AI Autonomy Software
Applied Intuition, Inc. has acquired EpiSys Science, Inc. to enhance its AI-powered autonomy software for national security. This move aims to expand Applied Intuition's defense offerings and integrate EpiSci's tactical AI solutions. Read more
Lyft Partners with Anthropic for AI Rideshare Enhancements
Lyft has teamed up with Anthropic to create AI-driven products to enhance the rideshare experience for millions of riders and drivers. The partnership includes early access to Anthropic's technology and training for Lyft's engineering team, resulting in improved customer service response times. Read more
Nexar Releases Dataset and Launches Crash Prediction Challenge
Nexar has introduced an open dataset of 1500 anonymized driving videos and initiated the Nexar Dashcam Crash Prediction Challenge on Kaggle. This effort seeks to improve AI-driven collision prediction and invites global participation. Read more
Meta Launches PARTNR Program for Human-Robot Collaboration
Meta has introduced the PARTNR program to research human-robot collaboration in household tasks. The initiative includes a benchmark of 100,000 tasks and a dataset for AI model training. Read more
ANSCER Robotics Enters U.S. Market, Appoints New CEO
ANSCER Robotics is expanding into the U.S. market with the appointment of Mark Messina as Managing Director & CEO, Americas. The company is also establishing its U.S. headquarters in Austin, Texas. Read more
Christie's to Host AI Art Auction 'Augmented Intelligence'
Christie's auction house is set to hold its first AI art auction, 'Augmented Intelligence', in New York starting February 20. The event will feature works by artists such as Mat Dryhurst and a live painting robot, amidst controversy over AI tools using artists' works without permission. Read more
SWITCH Secures €946,000 for AI Urban Mobility Solutions
The Italian startup SWITCH has raised €946,000 in a pre-seed funding round to advance its AI-driven fleet management solutions. The funding will support the development of Urban CoPilot and Urbiverse, which aim to optimize fleet operations and forecast demand in real-time. Read more
Apple's Research Robot Inspired by Pixar's Lamp
Apple has published a research paper on consumer robotics, highlighting the role of expressive movements in human-robot interaction. The study features a lamp robot inspired by Pixar's Luxo Jr., indicating potential advancements in Apple's smart home systems. Read more
Hugging Face and Physical Intelligence Launch Pi-Zero for AI-Powered Robotics
Hugging Face and Physical Intelligence have introduced Pi-Zero, a model that translates natural language commands into actions for robots. This open-source model aims to simplify robot programming for complex tasks. Read more
Take Me 2 Space to Launch AI-Powered Lab in Space
The Hyderabad-based startup Take Me 2 Space plans to launch India's first AI-driven laboratory in space, aiming to make space research accessible to students and researchers nationwide. Read more
AI Training Paradox Discovered by MIT, Harvard, and Yale
Researchers from MIT, Harvard, and Yale have identified an 'Indoor-Training Effect' where AI systems trained in quiet environments outperform those trained in noisy conditions in real-world scenarios. This finding could simplify robot training processes. Read more
Tata Elxsi and Garuda Aerospace Partner for UAV Development
Tata Elxsi and Garuda Aerospace have signed an MoU at Aero India 2025 to establish a Centre of Excellence for indigenous UAV design and development, focusing on defense, agriculture, and smart city applications. Read more
Self Inspection Secures $3 Million for AI Vehicle Inspections
Self Inspection, a startup from San Diego, has raised $3 million in seed funding to enhance its AI-driven vehicle inspection services. The funding will support the company's expansion efforts. Read more
Astr Defence Develops AI 'Chakra' Net for Drones
Astr Defence, a startup from Hubballi, India, has developed an AI-powered system to capture and disable enemy drones, set for deployment by the Indian Air Force in 2025. Read more
UK Startup Humanoid Unveils HMND 01 Robot
The UK-based startup Humanoid has introduced the HMND 01, a humanoid robot designed to improve workplace efficiency in sectors such as retail and logistics. Read more
SOCAR to Invest $480 Million in AI-Powered Gas Management
SOCAR has announced a $480 million investment in an AI-powered smart gas network management system in Azerbaijan. The project aims to improve gas distribution and reduce emissions using the IntelliGrid AI system. Read more
TECHEAGLE Unveils Emergency Drone, Wins Himachal Pradesh Contract
TECHEAGLE has launched its First Responder Drone, an autonomous UAV for emergency situations, and secured a major contract with the Himachal Pradesh government. The company plans a ₹100 crore investment to boost manufacturing and support state and international emergency teams. Read more
May Mobility Launches Driverless Rides in Georgia
May Mobility has introduced its first commercial driverless transportation service in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, marking its third such operation in the U.S. The service features autonomous vehicles operating along eight designated stops and is available to the public on weekdays. Read more
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