Toyota's Woven City Rises, Skydio Secures €18M Deal, and Nokia Launches MX Context - Robotics Brief #6
February 27, 2025 -
Robotics Brief
Hi there,
Welcome to this edition of the Robotics Brief, where we delve into the latest advancements and partnerships shaping the future of robotics and AI. This week, we highlight a series of strategic collaborations and technological innovations that are set to redefine industries ranging from defense to agriculture. ideaForge and Vantage Robotics have joined forces to enhance ISR solutions for the North American market, while Iktos has secured significant funding to advance AI-driven drug discovery. Meanwhile, Nokia has unveiled MX Context, a new AI-powered platform designed to boost operational excellence in Industry 4.0.
In other news, Volatus Aerospace and Ondas Holdings are partnering to improve border surveillance with autonomous drone technology, and Skydio has been awarded a substantial contract by Spain's Ministry of Defence to enhance military surveillance capabilities. Additionally, Artimus Robotics is set to advance its soft actuation technology with new funding, and Toyota is constructing the Woven City to foster innovation in AI and robotics. Stay tuned as we explore these stories and more, showcasing the dynamic landscape of robotics and AI advancements.
ideaForge Partners with Vantage Robotics for Drone Solutions
Mumbai-based ideaForge Technology Limited has partnered with California-based Vantage Robotics to enhance their ISR solutions, targeting the North American market and a $1 billion addressable market. Read more
Iktos Secures €2.5 Million EIC Grant for AI Drug Discovery
Iktos has received a €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council to enhance its AI and robotics platform for drug discovery. The funding will support the integration of AI-driven molecular generation, automated synthesis, and biological testing. Read more
Nokia Unveils MX Context for Industry 4.0
Nokia has launched MX Context, an AI-powered solution aimed at enhancing Industry 4.0 with contextual awareness. The platform focuses on improving operational excellence through sensor fusion technology, addressing use cases such as tracking, positioning, and worker safety. Read more
Volatus and Ondas Partner for Border Surveillance
Volatus Aerospace Inc. and Ondas Holdings Inc. have formed a strategic partnership to enhance border surveillance using the fully autonomous Optimus System drone platform, aiming to improve security operations along the US-Canada border. Read more
Spain's Ministry of Defence Awards €18 Million Contract for Skydio Drones
The Spanish Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract to Skydio and Paukner Group to supply Skydio X10D drones, enhancing the Spanish Armed Forces' surveillance capabilities. Read more
Artimus Robotics Secures £1.5M from UK ARIA
Artimus Robotics has received £1.5 million from the UK government's Advanced Research + Invention Agency to advance its soft actuation technology. The funding will aid in developing dexterous robotic manipulators with the University of Bristol. Read more
Toyota Constructs Woven City for AI and Robotics Testing
Toyota is developing Woven City near Mount Fuji to test robotics, AI, and zero-emissions transportation. The project aims to encourage collaboration among researchers and startups. Read more
Pronto and Heidelberg Materials Partner for Autonomous Trucks
Pronto has signed a global agreement with Heidelberg Materials to deploy over 100 autonomous haul trucks at multiple sites worldwide, following successful pilot programs in North America. Read more
Shield AI and L3Harris Partner on AI Warfare Solutions
Shield AI and L3Harris Technologies are collaborating to develop AI-enabled unmanned systems for electronic warfare, integrating L3Harris' DiSCO software with Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software. Read more
1X Unveils Neo Gamma Humanoid Robot for Home Use
Norwegian robotics company 1X has introduced the Neo Gamma, a humanoid robot designed for household tasks like making coffee and vacuuming. The prototype focuses on safety and user interaction, with a unique home-first approach. Read more
Promise Robotics Expands Factory Service to North America
Promise Robotics is expanding its Homebuilding Factory-as-a-Service™ to North America with a new facility in Calgary, Alberta. The facility will use AI-driven robots to produce housing and is set to begin operations in Summer 2025. Read more
Stellantis Launches STLA AutoDrive 1.0
Stellantis N.V. has introduced STLA AutoDrive 1.0, an autonomous driving system with Hands-Free and Eyes-Off capabilities for urban driving at speeds up to 60 km/h. The system features advanced sensors for traffic monitoring and is compatible with various Stellantis vehicles. Read more
Dassault Systèmes and KUKA Partner for Robotics Efficiency
Dassault Systèmes has teamed up with KUKA to integrate its 3DEXPERIENCE platform into KUKA's mosaixx digital ecosystem. This partnership aims to enhance robotics and automation efficiency for manufacturers. Read more
Figure's Helix Robot Takes Voice Commands for Home Tasks
Figure has introduced a new machine learning model called Helix, which enables humanoid robots to take voice commands and perform household tasks. This development follows Figure's decision to end its collaboration with OpenAI. Read more
NAVER D2SF Invests in whereable.ai
NAVER D2SF has invested in whereable.ai, an AI-driven autonomous driving startup. The company is developing a solution that operates without high-definition maps and plans to deploy at Incheon International Airport by 2025. Read more
Apptronik and Jabil Collaborate on Humanoid Robot Production
Apptronik, a humanoid robot manufacturer, has partnered with Jabil to pilot the use of its Apollo robot in manufacturing, following a $350 million funding round. The collaboration aims to scale production and target commercial manufacturing by 2026. Read more
WeRide Launches Unmanned Robotaxi in Beijing
WeRide Inc. has received approval to start fully unmanned paid ride-hailing services with its Robotaxi GXR in Beijing, marking it as the second driverless model in the city. Read more
Yamaha Motor Acquires Robotics Plus for Precision Farming
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has acquired Robotics Plus to form Yamaha Agriculture, Inc., focusing on autonomous equipment and AI solutions for specialty crop growers. This move aims to improve sustainability and efficiency in agriculture. Read more
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