WeRide's Level-4 Permit in France, Pony.ai's Shenzhen Milestone, & Baidu's Dubai Launch - Robotics Brief #11

April 03, 2025 - Robotics Brief
Hi there, In this edition of the Robotics Brief, we're diving into some exciting developments in the world of AI and robotics. WeRide has made headlines by securing a Level-4 driverless permit in France, making it the first tech company to achieve such a milestone across five countries. Meanwhile, Pony.ai has been granted a permit to operate fully-driverless robotaxis in Shenzhen, marking a significant step forward for autonomous ride-hailing in the region. Additionally, Baidu's Apollo Go is set to launch its first international deployment of robotaxis in Dubai, in collaboration with the Dubai RTA. On the investment front, SoftBank Group is planning a massive $1 trillion investment in AI-equipped factories across the US, aiming to address labor shortages in manufacturing. Stay tuned as we explore these stories and more in this edition.
WeRide Secures Level-4 Driverless Permit in France
WeRide has obtained a Level-4 driverless permit in France, becoming the first tech company with such permits in five countries, including China, the UAE, Singapore, and the U.S. Read more
RoboSense and LionsBot Partner to Enhance Cleaning Robots
On March 27, 2025, RoboSense and LionsBot announced a strategic partnership to integrate high-performance LiDAR technology into cleaning robots, aiming to improve navigation and obstacle avoidance. Read more
Pony.ai Receives Permit for Driverless Robotaxi in Shenzhen
Pony.ai has been granted the first permit to operate paid fully-driverless robotaxis in Shenzhen's Nanshan District. This development marks a significant step for autonomous ride-hailing services in the area. Read more
Baidu's Apollo Go Partners with Dubai RTA for Robotaxis
Baidu's Apollo Go has partnered with the Dubai RTA to deploy 100 autonomous vehicles in Dubai by 2025, with plans to expand to 1,000 by 2028. This is Apollo Go's first international fleet outside China and Hong Kong. Read more
SoftBank to Invest $1 Trillion in US AI Factories
Japanese tech investment firm SoftBank Group plans to invest $1 trillion in AI-powered factories across the United States to tackle labor shortages in manufacturing. Read more
Aramco's Prosperity7 Leads $73M Funding in Spirit AI
Prosperity7 Ventures, the venture capital arm of Aramco, has led a $73 million Series Pre-A funding round in China's Spirit AI to support its AI and robotics development. Read more
Pudu Robotics Launches FlashBot Arm for Commercial Use
Pudu Robotics has introduced the FlashBot Arm, a semi-humanoid AI service robot aimed at commercial settings. It offers advanced manipulation, autonomous navigation, and natural interaction capabilities. Read more
GITAI Secures JAXA Contract for Lunar Rover Arm Study
GITAI has been awarded a contract by JAXA to study a robotic arm for a lunar rover, part of Japan's role in the Artemis program. Read more
RobotLAB Launches BroBot™ Humanoid Robot
On March 31, 2025, RobotLAB announced the launch of BroBot™, a humanoid robot designed for use in education, logistics, and hospitality. The robot features autonomous task handling and an ergonomic interface. Read more
Goat Robotics Secures ₹2.66 Crore Funding
Goat Robotics, a startup in Coimbatore, India, has raised ₹2.66 crore in funding led by Campus Angels Network to develop AI-driven automation solutions. Read more
dSPACE and Johannes Kepler University Collaborate on AI for Autonomous Vehicles
dSPACE has teamed up with the Institute for Machine Learning at Johannes Kepler University to integrate generative AI into its autonomous vehicle software. The collaboration aims to enhance sensor data analysis and improve simulation and validation processes, with the first implementation expected in mid-2025. Read more
Chef Robotics Secures $20.6M for AI Food Assembly Robots
Chef Robotics, a startup from San Francisco, has raised $20.6 million in a Series A funding round led by Avataar Ventures. The funds will support the development of AI-driven robotic arms for food assembly, addressing labor shortages in the industry. Read more
Delta Electronics Unveils AI Solutions at Hannover Messe 2025
At Hannover Messe 2025, Delta Electronics introduced AI-driven solutions for smart manufacturing and energy management, highlighting their D-Bot series cobots and DeltaGrid® platform. Read more
CMR Surgical Raises €185 Million for US Expansion
CMR Surgical has raised over €185 million to expand its Versius Surgical Robotic System, focusing on the US market and further innovation in surgical robotics. Read more
AgiBot Appoints Ex-Google Engineer as Chief Scientist
Luo Jianlan, formerly of Google, has been appointed as chief scientist at the Shanghai-based robotics start-up AgiBot. He will lead the Zhiyuan Embodied Intelligence Research Centre, focusing on advanced AI research. Read more
Divergent Technologies and webAI Announce Partnership
On April 2, 2025, Divergent Technologies, Inc. and webAI Inc. announced a partnership to integrate generative AI into hardware systems, targeting advancements in aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. Read more
Tective Robotics Secures Funding from Tenzing Alpha and SecFund
Delft-based drone startup Tective Robotics has received investment from Tenzing Alpha and SecFund to advance its autonomous drone systems for defense and other sectors. Read more
Agility Robotics Secures $400 Million for Robot Digit
Agility Robotics has raised $400 million to advance its bipedal robot, Digit, amid rising interest in humanoid robotics. The funding will help the company expand operations and research in a competitive market. Read more
ARX Robotics and Daimler Truck Collaborate on Military Vehicles
Unmanned autonomous land systems company ARX Robotics has partnered with Daimler Truck to develop advanced military vehicles. The partnership focuses on integrating robotics and AI into Daimler's vehicle platforms to boost innovation in the European defense industry. Read more
Mobileye Chooses Valens Semiconductor for Driving Projects
Mobileye has selected Valens Semiconductor's VA7000 MIPI A-PHY chipsets for its EyeQ™6 High automated and autonomous driving programs, aiming to improve vehicle connectivity. Read more

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