Pony AI Plans 10,000 Robotaxis, ABB's AI for Fashion, Sastra's UK Investment - Robotics Brief #9
March 20, 2025 -
Robotics Brief
Hi there,
Welcome to this edition of the Robotics Brief, where we delve into the latest advancements and collaborations in the world of AI and robotics. This week, we highlight a significant partnership between Saildrone and Palantir, who are joining forces to enhance unmanned surface vehicle operations using AI, aiming to bolster global security measures. Meanwhile, Pony AI is making strides in the autonomous vehicle sector with plans to expand its robotaxi fleet to over 10,000 by 2028, setting its sights on profitability by 2029.
In other news, ABB has introduced innovative AI modules designed to revolutionize logistics and fashion industries, while Sastra Global is investing £8 million in UK robotics, marking a significant move for South Indian robotics firms. Additionally, Applied Intuition is seeking a $15 billion valuation in its latest funding round, reflecting the growing interest and investment in AI-driven technologies. Stay tuned as we explore these stories and more, showcasing the dynamic landscape of AI and robotics.
Saildrone and Palantir Collaborate on AI for USV Operations
Saildrone and Palantir have teamed up to use AI to improve the manufacturing and operations of unmanned surface vehicles, enhancing capabilities for global security threats. Read more
Pony AI to Expand Robotaxi Fleet to 10,000 by 2028
Pony AI, a Chinese self-driving company, plans to expand its robotaxi fleet to over 10,000 by 2028 and aims for profitability by 2029. Read more
ABB Introduces New AI Modules for Logistics and Fashion
ABB has launched two new AI-powered modules, the Robotic Fashion Inductor and Robotic Parcel Inductor, aimed at improving item picking and sorter induction in the logistics and fashion industries. These modules leverage ABB's AI vision technology to enhance accuracy and efficiency. Read more
Sastra Global to Invest £8 Million in UK Robotics
Sastra Global Business Innovation, a robotics company from Kochi, plans to invest £8 million in the UK, creating 75 jobs. This is the first investment from a South Indian robotics firm in the UK. Read more
Applied Intuition Seeks $15 Billion Valuation in New Funding Round
Applied Intuition, a startup known for its simulation software for autonomous vehicles, is in discussions to raise funds at a $15 billion valuation, doubling its previous valuation. The funding round is expected to be led by existing investor Kleiner Perkins. Read more
INFRA Launches Autonomous Vehicle Hub in Los Angeles
INFRA, a tech company from San Francisco, has opened its first Giga Hub in Los Angeles to support autonomous vehicles with features like ultra-fast charging and AI-driven fleet coordination. This is part of INFRA's plan to expand smart city infrastructure globally. Read more
Micropolis Raises $15.5M in NYSE IPO
Micropolis Holding Company, a Dubai-based robotics manufacturer, raised $15.5 million through its IPO on the NYSE American to support various business expansions. Read more
Stäubli Robotics to Unveil Sterimove at INTERPHEX 2025
Stäubli Robotics will introduce Sterimove, the first cleanroom mobile robot for the pharmaceutical industry, at INTERPHEX 2025 in New York City. Read more
Figure AI Relocates Headquarters to San Jose
Figure AI, an AI robotics company, has moved its headquarters from Sunnyvale to a larger office in San Jose, enhancing its capacity for manufacturing and engineering. Read more
Thales Group Delivers Autonomous Mine Hunting System to Royal Navy
Thales Group has delivered the first autonomous maritime mine hunting system to the Royal Navy as part of the Franco-British MMCM project. This system uses AI-equipped drones to improve mine countermeasures and maritime safety. Read more
AlphaDroid Unveils AI Robotics for Indian Healthcare
The Noida-based startup AlphaDroid has launched AI-driven robotics to improve patient care and hospital operations in India, revealed at the International Patient Safety Conference 2025. Read more
Former Adidas CEO Joins Circus SE Board
Kasper Rørsted, ex-CEO of Adidas, has joined the Board of Advisors at Circus SE, an AI-robotics company in the food service sector. His role will focus on scaling up the company's CA-1 robot, an AI-driven innovation in food production. Read more
Nissan Demonstrates AI-Driven Autonomous Vehicles in Yokohama
Automaker Nissan has showcased its latest AI-powered autonomous technology on public roads in Yokohama, Japan, using the Serena minivan. This marks a significant step towards commercial driverless services, with plans for further testing and a target launch by fiscal year 2027. Read more
Hexagon Appoints New President for Autonomous Solutions
On March 17, 2025, Hexagon announced the appointment of Gordon Dale as President of its Autonomous Solutions division, highlighting his 16-year tenure and leadership roles within the company. Read more
Terabase Energy Secures $200 Million for Solar Robotics
Terabase Energy has raised over $200 million in Series C funding to expand its robotics-assisted solar installation technology, Terafab. The investment, led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, aims to enhance technologies supporting solar projects. Read more
Applied Intuition and TRATON GROUP Form Partnership
Applied Intuition and the TRATON GROUP have announced a strategic partnership to develop advanced vehicle software platforms for TRATON's brands, aiming to enhance software-defined vehicle capabilities globally. Read more
Motive to Hire 300 in India for AI Development
Motive plans to hire over 300 engineers, product managers, and designers in India to enhance AI solutions and support global operations. Read more
Breaker Secures $2 Million Pre-Seed Funding
Australian AI company Breaker has raised $2 million in pre-seed funding from Main Sequence to expand its AI-powered robotics software and operations in the US. Read more
ZE Government Solutions and HavocAI Partner for Defense Tech
ZE Government Solutions has teamed up with HavocAI to integrate advanced computer vision into unmanned maritime vessels, enhancing efficiency and reliability for US defense applications. Read more
Baird Medical's AI Surgical Robot Wins Investment Award
Baird Medical received the 'Most Valuable Investment Award' for its AI Tumor Ablation Surgical Robot at the China Medical Industry Innovation Competition. The robot aims to enhance surgical precision and efficiency. Read more
Moya Aero Receives $2 Million for AI Drone Control
Moya Aero has been awarded a $2 million grant by the Brazilian government to develop an AI-powered ground control system for drones, enhancing BVLOS operations and airspace coordination. Read more
Attabotics Launches FulfillAI for Retail Efficiency
Attabotics has introduced FulfillAI, an AI-powered system designed to enhance warehouse operations by boosting efficiency and productivity. The system reportedly achieves a 99.9% accuracy rate and significantly reduces labor dependency. Read more
DeepRoute.ai Expands AI Spark Platform
DeepRoute.ai has launched the AI Spark platform to create an AI-driven 'road brain' system, expanding its focus beyond smart driving cars to enhance mobility across various industries. Read more
Momenta Invests in AICA for AI-Driven Automation
On March 18, 2025, Momenta announced its investment in AICA, a Swiss company focused on AI-driven robotic automation, to support its global expansion and enhance automation capabilities. Read more
AICA Secures Seed Investment for Growth
AICA, a robotics SaaS company, has completed a seed investment round to support its expansion and product development. Read more
Nvidia Introduces Groot N1 for Humanoid Robotics
Nvidia has launched Groot N1, an AI model for humanoid robotics, at GTC 2025. The model includes a dual system architecture for cognitive processing and is open source. Read more
Nvidia, Google DeepMind, and Disney Develop Newton Physics Engine
Nvidia and Google DeepMind are collaborating with Disney to create Newton, a physics engine aimed at improving robotic movements for entertainment robots in theme parks. An open-source version is expected in 2025. Read more
Foresight Autonomous Integrates Nvidia Jetson Orin
Vision software company Foresight Autonomous Holdings has integrated Nvidia’s Jetson Orin AI modules into its 3D-perception system to enhance autonomous drone capabilities. Read more
GM and Nvidia Collaborate on AI for Factories and Vehicles
General Motors has announced an expanded collaboration with Nvidia to integrate AI into its manufacturing processes, robotics, and self-driving cars. Nvidia will provide AI infrastructure and assist GM in developing custom AI systems. Read more
iHub Robotics Raises ₹4.3 Crore for Humanoid Robotics
iHub Robotics, a startup focused on humanoid robotics, has secured ₹4.3 crore in pre-seed funding from US investors to boost its manufacturing in Kerala. The funds will support the production of the Tara Gen-1 semi-humanoid robot and the launch of an AI and robotics learning platform. Read more
Khasm Labs Launches Telco AI Cloud and Welcomes Startups
Khasm Labs has introduced its Telco AI Cloud pilot at MWC 2025, focusing on improving urban safety with real-time AI solutions. The initiative also includes eight new AI startups tackling challenges in AI security, edge computing, and robotics. Read more
Foxconn Showcases AI Innovations at NVIDIA GTC 2025
Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) presented its advancements in AI and robotics at the NVIDIA GTC 2025, including humanoid robotics and digital twins for smart manufacturing. Read more
Moon Surgical's ScoPilot Gets FDA Clearance
Moon Surgical has received FDA clearance for ScoPilot™, an AI-powered feature on its Maestro System, marking the first AI application to operate intraoperatively on a commercially available surgical robotic platform using NVIDIA Holoscan technology. Read more
Leopard Imaging to Launch AI Solution at NVIDIA GTC 2025
Leopard Imaging Inc. is set to introduce its new Multi-Gigabit Ethernet AI Perception Solution at NVIDIA GTC 2025. This solution is designed for NVIDIA platforms and targets applications in robotics and automation. Read more
Plus and NVIDIA Partner for AI in Autonomous Trucks
Plus is collaborating with NVIDIA to integrate NVIDIA Cosmos models into Plus's SuperDrive technology, aiming to advance Level 4 autonomous trucks with a launch by 2027. Read more
Rune Aero Reduces Development Costs with AI
The autonomous cargo aircraft startup Rune Aero has reduced early development costs by 80% using Physics AI from Luminary Cloud. Read more
Vention Launches AI Bin Picking Tech at NVIDIA GTC 2025
At the NVIDIA GTC 2025, Vention revealed its AI-driven bin picking technology designed to help robots autonomously manage parts from unstructured bins, leveraging NVIDIA's AI models and hardware. Read more
LimitlessCNC Secures $4.1M to Innovate AI in Manufacturing
LimitlessCNC, an AI-driven manufacturing startup, has raised $4.1 million in seed funding led by Grove Ventures and Meron Capital. The company aims to automate CNC machining to address labor shortages and enhance local production in Western countries. Read more
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