Skyryse Secures $300M, Waymo Seeks $16B, Physical Intelligence Raises $1B

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In this edition of the Robotics Brief, we delve into a series of groundbreaking advancements and strategic partnerships in the world of robotics and AI. POSCO Group has teamed up with Persona AI to introduce humanoid robots in steel mills, aiming to enhance logistics management and safety. Meanwhile, Apeiron Labs has raised $9.5 million to develop autonomous underwater vehicles for ocean data collection, offering cost-effective solutions for monitoring ocean conditions.

Additionally, Overland AI has secured $100 million to advance autonomous ground vehicles for the U.S. military, and Faraday Future has unveiled new robotic products at the NADA Show, marking a significant milestone in their robotics initiative. These stories, among others, highlight the rapid evolution and diverse applications of AI and robotics across various industries.

POSCO Group Partners with Persona AI for Humanoids in Steel Mills

On February 4, 2026, POSCO Group announced a partnership with U.S. startup Persona AI to introduce humanoid robots in steel manufacturing, focusing on logistics management and enhancing safety and efficiency. Read more

Apeiron Labs Raises $9.5 Million for Underwater Robots

Apeiron Labs has secured $9.5 million in funding to advance the development of autonomous underwater vehicles for ocean data collection, aiming to offer cost-effective solutions for monitoring ocean conditions. Read more

Overland AI Secures $100M for Military Vehicles

Overland AI has raised $100 million to advance its autonomous ground vehicles for the U.S. military, following a previous $42 million funding round. Read more

Faraday Future Unveils New Robot Series at NADA Show

At the NADA Show in Las Vegas, Faraday Future introduced three new robotic products, marking a significant milestone in their robotics initiative with sales and pre-orders starting immediately. Read more

EyeROV Raises ₹13 Crore in Pre-Series A Funding

Marine robotics startup EyeROV has secured ₹13 crore in a pre-Series A funding round led by AWE Funds and Unicorn India Ventures. The investment will support research, product innovation, and market expansion. Read more

AIxCrypto and FF AI-Robotics Partner for Web3 AI Development

AIxCrypto Inc. and FF AI-Robotics Inc. have announced a strategic partnership to explore Web3 infrastructure for embodied AI, focusing on decentralized identity and blockchain mechanisms. Read more

R3 Robotics Secures €20M for EV Dismantling Automation

R3 Robotics has raised €20 million to advance the automated disassembly of electric vehicle systems, aiming to improve efficiency and comply with European recycling regulations. Read more

Bedrock Robotics Raises $270 Million for Autonomous Construction

Bedrock Robotics has secured $270 million in Series B funding to advance its autonomous construction technology, aiming to improve productivity and safety. Read more

Machina Labs Raises $124M for Missile Manufacturing Facility

Robotics startup Machina Labs has secured $124 million to build a robotic manufacturing facility for missile structures and airframes, with potential locations in several U.S. states. Read more

Beijing Humanoid Robot Center Raises $100 Million

The Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center has secured $100 million to boost the commercialization of its bipedal robots, including the TienKung 3.0, with investments from major companies like Baidu. Read more

Skyryse Secures $300M to Boost Autonomous Flight

Skyryse, a U.S. aviation startup, has raised $300 million in a Series C funding round, reaching a valuation of $1.15 billion. The investment will be used to advance their autonomous flight systems. Read more

Perseverance Rover Completes AI-Planned Mars Drive

NASA's Perseverance Rover has completed its first AI-planned drives on Mars using Anthropic's Claude AI, covering approximately 400 meters. This marks a significant step in autonomous navigation for space exploration. Read more

Palladyne AI Secures U.S. Air Force Contract for SwarmOS™ Development

Palladyne AI has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to advance its SwarmOS™ platform. The initiative, named HANGTIME, aims to improve coordination among autonomous systems across various domains. Read more

Waymo Seeks $16 Billion Funding for Expansion

Waymo, the autonomous driving unit of Alphabet Inc., is aiming to raise $16 billion to expand its robotaxi services, valuing the company at nearly $110 billion. Read more

Physical Intelligence Raises $1 Billion for AI in Robotics

Physical Intelligence has secured over $1 billion in funding, reaching a valuation of $5.6 billion. The company aims to develop general-purpose robotic intelligence with a focus on research rather than immediate commercialization. Read more

Mercedes-Benz Unveils S-Class with NVIDIA DRIVE AV

Mercedes-Benz has launched a new S-Class model equipped with NVIDIA's DRIVE AV platform, targeting level 4 autonomous driving capabilities. This initiative is part of a collaboration to improve safety and reliability in autonomous vehicles, with plans to support future robotaxi services through a partnership with Uber. Read more

London Defence R&D Unveils AI-Controlled Interceptor Drones

London Defence R&D has introduced two new interceptor drone prototypes, Baby Raptor and Raptor XL, which are designed for autonomous aerial threat engagement using the Raptor Pilot AI Pro system. Read more

Cortisonic Unveils Sound-Based AI Processor

Brisbane-based startup Cortisonic has launched a Sonic Processing Unit that uses sound waves for computations, aiming to enhance energy efficiency in AI applications. Supported by Lockheed Martin and a contract from the Australian Department of Defence, this innovation targets energy-efficient edge devices. Read more

Teledyne FLIR Defense Secures $17.5M Swiss Contract

Teledyne FLIR Defense has been awarded a $17.5 million contract by armasuisse to provide Black Hornet 4 nano-drones to the Swiss Armed Forces. These drones will enhance reconnaissance by integrating with armored vehicles. Read more

Carbon Robotics Unveils AI for Plant Detection

Seattle-based Carbon Robotics has launched the Large Plant Model (LPM), an AI system that enhances its robots' ability to identify plant species, improving weed management efficiency. Read more

LimX Dynamics Secures $200 Million for AI Robotics

LimX Dynamics, a Chinese robotics startup, has raised $200 million in Series B funding to enhance its humanoid AI technology and market presence by 2026. Read more

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Skyryse Secures $300M, Waymo Seeks $16B, Physical Intelligence Raises $1B - Robotics Brief #54

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