Hyundai and DEEPX AI Chip, Microsoft-Hexagon Partnership, and Qualcomm-Google Collaboration

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In this edition of the Robotics Brief, we're diving into the latest advancements in AI chips and robotics. At CES Foundry 2026, Hyundai Motor Group and DEEPX introduced the 'Edge Brain', an innovative AI chip designed to enable autonomous robot operations without the need for external connectivity. This development marks a significant step forward in the field of robotics, promising enhanced efficiency and independence for robotic systems.

Additionally, Microsoft and Hexagon Robotics have announced a collaboration to deploy AI-powered humanoid robots in industrial sectors. By combining Microsoft's cloud and AI capabilities with Hexagon's expertise in robotics, this partnership aims to revolutionize industrial automation. These stories highlight the ongoing evolution of AI technology and its growing impact on various sectors, from manufacturing to elder care.

Hyundai and DEEPX Develop AI Chip for Robotics

Hyundai Motor Group and DEEPX have announced the development of an on-device AI chip called 'Edge Brain' for robotics. This chip will allow robots to function autonomously without needing external connectivity. Read more

Microsoft and Hexagon Robotics Partner for Industrial AI Robots

The collaboration between Microsoft and Hexagon Robotics focuses on deploying humanoid robots in industrial sectors, utilizing Microsoft's AI and cloud technology with Hexagon's robotics expertise. Read more

Pudu Robotics Introduces PUDU T150 for Material Distribution

Pudu Robotics has launched the PUDU T150, a lightweight robot designed for internal material distribution in manufacturing and warehouse settings, with a focus on small and medium-sized manufacturers. Read more

Arm Holdings Launches 'Physical AI' Unit for Robotics

Arm Holdings has announced the formation of a 'Physical AI' unit to boost its role in the robotics market, especially in the automotive industry. This move aligns with the growing interest in robotics, as seen at CES. Read more

Rollo Robotics Secures €3.7M for Security Robot

Estonian startup Rollo Robotics has raised €3.7 million in pre-seed funding to develop its autonomous monowheel security robot, focusing on gyroscopic stabilization technology. Read more

Qualcomm and Google Expand AI Collaboration in Automotive

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Google have expanded their collaboration to enhance AI in the automotive sector, focusing on software-defined vehicles and AI-driven experiences. Read more

Japan Develops NVIDIA-Powered Robots for Elderly Care

The Japan Science and Technology Agency is creating AI-powered robots, named AIREC, to assist the elderly with daily tasks using NVIDIA technologies as part of its Moonshot initiative. Read more

Exail Signs Contracts for DriX H-9 Sea Drone

French company Exail has secured two contracts for its DriX H-9 autonomous surface drone, enhancing its use in maritime defense and hydrographic applications. Read more

Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV Enhance Robotaxi Partnership

Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV have announced an upgraded partnership to advance the production and commercialization of Robotaxis. The collaboration will focus on developing specialized Robotaxi models and optimizing systems for autonomous operations. Read more

Bharat Forge Partners with Agile Robots for AI Robotics

India's Bharat Forge has signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany-based Agile Robots to explore strategic collaboration in AI-driven robotics and industrial automation. Read more

Gambit Unveils AI for Military Systems with $500M Contracts

Gambit has introduced an adaptive intelligence layer for autonomous military systems, securing over $500 million in contracts with the U.S. Department of War. Read more

US Marine Corps Awards $231.5M CCA Drone Contract

The US Marine Corps has contracted Northrop Grumman and Kratos for $231.5 million to develop Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones, enhancing military capabilities. Read more

DFKI Develops AI Underwater Welding Robot

The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) has led a project to create an autonomous underwater welding robot for maritime maintenance, aiming to reduce the need for skilled divers. Read more

NVIDIA Launches TensorRT Edge-LLM for Automotive and Robotics

NVIDIA has introduced TensorRT Edge-LLM, a C++ framework to enhance LLM and VLM inference in automotive and robotics, focusing on low latency and resource efficiency. Read more

Motional Plans 2026 Launch for Driverless Robotaxi in Las Vegas

Motional, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, aims to launch a commercial driverless robotaxi service in Las Vegas by 2026, focusing on an AI-first development strategy. Read more

Spirit AI Open-Sources Spirit v1.5 Model

Spirit AI has released its Spirit v1.5 model as open-source, which ranked first on the RoboChallenge benchmark. This move is intended to foster transparency and collaboration in the AI community. Read more

Indian Army Orders Solar-Powered AI Drone from NewSpace

The Indian Army has commissioned a Rs 168 crore order with NewSpace Research & Technologies for the MAPSS, a solar-powered UAV designed for enhanced surveillance capabilities. Read more

8VC Invests $11.8 Million in Nigerian AI Drone Startup Terrahaptix

8VC has led an $11.8 million investment in Nigerian startup Terrahaptix, which focuses on drones and autonomous vehicles for security in Africa. The investment aligns with the projected growth of the global defense drone market. Read more

1X Unveils AI Model for Neo Humanoid Robots

The robotics company 1X has launched the 1X World Model, an AI system to enhance the learning capabilities of its Neo humanoid robots through video and prompts. Read more

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Hyundai and DEEPX AI Chip, Microsoft-Hexagon Partnership, and Qualcomm-Google Collaboration - Robotics Brief #51

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