I-Bhd Invests RM10M in AI & Robotics, Hugging Face Debuts SmolVLA - Robotics Brief #21

June 12, 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 AI and robotics. This week, we spotlight a range of exciting developments, from I-Bhd's significant RM10 million commitment to enhancing AI and robotics infrastructure, to Hugging Face's launch of the SmolVLA AI model, which aims to revolutionize robotics workflows with its open-source framework. Meanwhile, Pony.ai is making strides in autonomous vehicle technology with the road testing of its Gen-7 Robotaxis in China.

In other news, Nauticus Robotics and Open Ocean Robotics are collaborating to improve subsea management, and Amazon is advancing AI capabilities for better robot understanding and delivery efficiency. The Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence has also unveiled RoboBrain 2.0, an open-source model designed to enhance humanoid robots. These stories, among others, highlight the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of AI and robotics, showcasing the innovative efforts driving the industry forward.
I-Bhd Commits RM10 Million to AI and Robotics
I-Bhd has announced a RM10 million investment to enhance AI and robotics infrastructure, focusing on improving automation in its properties over the next four years. Read more
Hugging Face Launches SmolVLA AI Model for Robotics
Hugging Face has introduced SmolVLA, an open-source AI model with 450 million parameters, aimed at enhancing robotics workflows. The model is designed to operate on consumer hardware and is trained on datasets from the LeRobot community. Read more
Pony.ai Begins Road Testing Gen-7 Robotaxis in China
Pony.ai has started public road testing for its seventh-generation Robotaxis in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China, moving from closed-track to real-world environments. Read more
Nauticus and Open Ocean Collaborate on Subsea Management
Nauticus Robotics and Open Ocean Robotics have announced a strategic collaboration to improve subsea asset management by integrating autonomous subsea vehicles with solar-powered uncrewed surface vehicles. Read more
Amazon Enhances AI for Robots and Delivery
Amazon has announced advancements in AI to improve robot understanding and last-mile delivery. The new AI framework will enable robots to comprehend natural language and act autonomously. Read more
BAAI Launches Open-Source RoboBrain 2.0 for Humanoid Robots
The Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence has introduced RoboBrain 2.0, an open-source AI model aimed at improving humanoid robot capabilities, with enhanced spatial perception and task planning. Read more
Fawn Friends Raises $2.6M for Social Robot Development
Fawn Friends, a San Francisco-based robotics startup, has secured $2.6 million in seed funding to create 'Fawn', an emotionally intelligent social robot designed to aid adolescents in developing emotional intelligence and relationship skills. Read more
Redwing Acquires Swedish Drone Startup Aerit
Redwing, an Indian drone logistics provider, has acquired the assets of Swedish startup Aerit, enhancing its European market entry and machine learning flight routing capabilities. Read more
AUAR Secures £5.1 Million for AI in Housing
UK startup AUAR has secured £5.1 million to advance its AI and robotics platform, aiming to cut homebuilding costs and address the housing crisis. Read more
Tesla Appoints New Head for Optimus Robot Project
Tesla has appointed Ashok Elluswamy as the new head of its Optimus humanoid robot project, following the resignation of Milan Kovac. Read more
Ondas Holdings Receives $14.3M Drone Order from Defense Customer
Ondas Holdings Inc. has secured a $14.3 million order from a major defense customer for its Optimus drone systems. This significant order boosts the company's backlog to $28.7 million, underscoring its growth in the defense sector. Read more
XRobotics Unveils xPizza Cube Robot
San Francisco-based XRobotics has introduced the xPizza Cube, a machine learning-powered robot capable of producing 25,000 pizzas monthly. The company aims to expand into Mexico and Canada following a recent funding round. Read more
AIM Intelligent Machines Secures $50M for Autonomous Construction Equipment
AIM Intelligent Machines, a startup based in the Seattle area, has secured $50 million in funding to retrofit heavy construction equipment such as bulldozers and excavators for autonomous operation. This funding will support the expansion of its workforce and facilities. Read more
APLA Launches AI 3D Motion Solution in South Korea
At the Pan-Pan Day event in South Korea, APLA introduced an AI-based 3D motion generation solution for the robotics and avatar markets, aiming to reduce server costs and expand globally. Read more
Plus Automation to Go Public via $1.2 Billion Merger
Plus Automation is merging with Churchill Capital Corp IX to go public, valuing the company at $1.2 billion. The merger aims to support the launch of Plus's autonomous trucks by 2027. Read more
Leumas Secures Funding for Robot Factories
Leumas has received $2.2 million to create robot factories, focusing on boosting automation in the pharmaceutical sector. Read more
Uber and Wayve to Test Driverless Rides in UK
Uber has partnered with Wayve to trial fully autonomous rides in the UK starting spring 2026, marking its first 'Level 4' autonomous driving venture. Read more
Wandercraft Secures $75M and Partners with Renault
Paris-based robotics company Wandercraft has raised $75 million in a Series D funding round, led by Renault Group, to develop humanoid robots for industrial use and support the launch of its personal exoskeleton, Eve. Read more
Coco Robotics Secures $80 Million in Funding
Coco Robotics, a startup known for its delivery robots, has raised $80 million in funding led by venture capital firm SNR, with contributions from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and others. The company plans to expand its fleet significantly by 2025. Read more
Easyrain Partners with NVIDIA for Aquaplaning Sensor Inspection
Easyrain, an Italian tech company, has joined the NVIDIA Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab to enhance its aquaplaning detection virtual sensor, aiming to improve safety standards for autonomous vehicles. Read more
SYNC ROBOTIC Launches AI Robot Platform in Taiwan
SYNC ROBOTIC, a subsidiary of Foxlink Group, has launched Taiwan's first AI Robot Platform designed to enhance security and inspection services using advanced technologies. Read more
AGCO's PTx Trimble Wins Award for Autonomous Grain Cart
AGCO's PTx Trimble™ brand has received Fast Company's World Changing Ideas Award for its OutRun™ autonomous grain cart solution, which helps tackle labor shortages and rising costs in agriculture. Read more
Nvidia Unveils New AI Robotics Models at GTC Paris
Nvidia has introduced new models and tools to advance its robotics ecosystem at the GTC Paris event, including the Isaac GR00T N1.5 model and updated simulation frameworks. Read more

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