Circus SE Unveils CA-1 Series 4 AI Robot, Wayve's Nissan Deal, and NOVI's Satellite Autonomy

Hi there, In this edition of the Robotics Brief, we're diving into some exciting developments in the world of AI and robotics. Circus SE has announced the launch of its CA-1 Series 4 AI robot, which is now entering volume production. This marks a significant step forward in the company's robotics capabilities. Meanwhile, Nissan is set to integrate self-driving technology from Wayve into its ProPilot system by 2027, showcasing a major milestone for the UK-based startup. Additionally, startups NOVI and Sedaro have successfully demonstrated autonomous decision-making capabilities in a small spacecraft, enhancing its ability to manage tasks independently in low Earth orbit. In the defense sector, Gitai has launched a U.S. subsidiary to focus on national security missions, aiming to secure contracts with the U.S. Defense Department and NASA. These stories highlight the rapid advancements and collaborations shaping the future of AI and robotics.

Circus SE Launches CA-1 Series 4 AI Robot

The company Circus SE has announced the launch of its CA-1 Series 4, a new generation AI robot now entering volume production. Read more

Anduril and Ultra Maritime Partner for Autonomous Ocean Sensing

On April 7, 2025, Anduril Industries and Ultra Maritime announced a partnership to develop unmanned subsea sensing technology for enhanced submarine detection. Read more

Shield AI Upgrades V-BAT Drone with New Features

Shield AI has announced an upgrade to its V-BAT drone, incorporating Hivemind autonomy, SATCOM for global control, and a heavy-fuel engine for longer missions. Read more

Taylor Farms Acquires FarmWise

American food producer Taylor Farms has acquired FarmWise, a company known for its agricultural robotics. The acquisition is set to boost sustainable farming and productivity. Read more

Telefónica Tech and Dexory Unveil AI Warehouse Service

At the Industry 4.0 Congress in Barcelona, Telefónica Tech and Dexory introduced a new AI-powered service aimed at improving warehouse management using autonomous robots and real-time data analytics. Read more

Great Wall Motor and Unitree Robotics Collaborate on Robot Development

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor has teamed up with Unitree Robotics to work on humanoid and quadruped robots, marking a strategic move beyond traditional vehicle manufacturing. Read more

Horizon Robotics Partners with Volkswagen for Smart Driving Tech

Horizon Robotics has partnered with Volkswagen to integrate advanced driver assistance solutions into Volkswagen vehicles using Horizon's Superdrive technology. Read more

Brinc Secures $75 Million and Partners with Motorola Solutions

Drone manufacturer Brinc has raised $75 million and partnered with Motorola Solutions to enhance the production of drones for U.S. public safety agencies. Read more

Samsung Integrates Google's Gemini AI into Ballie Robot

Samsung has partnered with Google Cloud to integrate Google's Gemini AI into its home robot Ballie. This collaboration aims to enhance Ballie's capabilities with features like outfit suggestions and health recommendations, with availability expected in South Korea and the U.S. by 2025. Read more

DeepRoute.ai Introduces Vision-Language-Action Model at Seoul Mobility Show

At the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show, DeepRoute.ai unveiled its Vision-Language-Action model, set to be integrated into multiple vehicle models this year, enhancing AI-driven mobility for global automakers. Read more

Nuro Secures $106 Million to Expand AI Delivery Robots

Autonomous delivery startup Nuro has raised $106 million in a Series E funding round, boosting its valuation to $6 billion. The funds will help Nuro enhance its AI-driven delivery systems and expand technology partnerships. Read more

Pony.ai Europe Gets Luxembourg Permit for Level 4 Robotaxi Testing

Pony.ai Europe has been granted a scientific testing permit by Luxembourg's Ministry of Mobility and Public Works for Level 4 autonomous driving. This enables on-road testing in partnership with Emile Weber, boosting their European autonomous mobility efforts. Read more

Nokia Launches New Edge Applications for Industry 4.0

Nokia has introduced six new applications on its MX Industrial Edge platform to boost automation and efficiency in asset-intensive industries. These applications, developed with partners, leverage AI and video analytics for operational optimization and safety improvements. Read more

Cyngn Receives 22nd U.S. Patent for Autonomous Vehicle Tech

Cyngn has been awarded its 22nd U.S. patent for a cloud-based system that enhances autonomous vehicle operations by offloading computing tasks to the cloud, improving safety and efficiency. Read more

Honor Launches Embodied AI and Robotics Labs

Honor has initiated a new department dedicated to embodied AI and robotics, expanding its focus beyond smartphones. The company is establishing five labs and recruiting for key positions to support this venture. Read more

Terra Drone and Aramco Partner on AI Drone Tech

Terra Drone Corporation and Aramco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance AI-powered drone technologies for the oil and gas industry, focusing on safety and efficiency improvements. Read more

Waymo Considers Using Robotaxi Camera Data for AI and Ads

Waymo is exploring the use of interior camera data from its robotaxis to train AI models and personalize ads, raising privacy concerns. Read more

Noematrix Secures Up to $70 Million in Pre-A++ Funding

Chinese startup Noematrix has raised between $30 million and $70 million in a pre-A++ funding round with participation from multiple investors, including Shengyu Investment and Sequoia China. Read more

Wayve to Provide Self-Driving Tech for Nissan Vehicles in 2027

Nissan will integrate self-driving software from Wayve into its ProPilot system starting in 2027, marking a significant milestone for the UK startup. Read more

NOVI and Sedaro Demonstrate Satellite Autonomy

Startups NOVI and Sedaro have successfully demonstrated autonomous decision-making capabilities in a small spacecraft, funded by a SpaceWERX grant, with potential military applications. Read more

Gitai Establishes U.S. Defense Subsidiary

Space robotics startup Gitai has created a new subsidiary, Gitai Defense and Space, to secure contracts with the U.S. Defense Department and NASA. Read more

Centre for Assuring Autonomy Receives ARIA Funding

The Centre for Assuring Autonomy at the University of York has been granted £460k by ARIA to research safe autonomous driving systems. Read more

Nunu.ai Secures $6 Million for AI Game Testing and Robotics

Swiss startup Nunu.ai has raised $6 million in a seed funding round to enhance their AI agents for video game testing and robotics, with investment led by FOV Ventures and participation from a16z speedrun, Y Combinator, and TIRTA Ventures. Read more

Circus SE Unveils CA-1 Series 4 AI Robot, Wayve's Nissan Deal, and NOVI's Satellite Autonomy - Robotics Brief #12

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