Robotics

Chinese startup UBTECH Robotics just snagged a $37M contract to deploy its Walker S2 humanoid robots at the China-Vietnam border in Fangchenggang, where they'll guide passenger queues, direct vehicles, patrol corridors, and inspect cargo containers. The deployment follows China's 2023 directive to build a national humanoid robotics innovation system by 2025.

The company just rolled out Qingtian Rent, a rental platform that lets you hire robots for weddings, concerts, trade shows, and business meetings. AgiBot’s advanced Yuanzheng A2 model rents for $1,380 per day, while budget options like the Unitree Go2 robot dog start at $138 daily. The move could potentially reshape the global robotics market: China's rental sector hit $140M in 2025 and is projected to explode to $1.4B next year.

Google DeepMind is rolling out an on-device version of its Gemini Robotics AI model that allows it to operate without an internet connection.

cross-posted from: https://futurology.today/post/3281905

The previous two seasons were so far beyond any of the older seasons that I’m demanding you to watch seasons 6 and 7, before the world championship starts up again.

In the past, Battlebots was full of disappointing matches. The robots broke so quickly it was never really worth your time. Whenever they died, it was never obvious or interesting. Just one anti-climatic fight after another. That age ended with season 6, with 7 being even more impressive.

I think everyone needs to give combat robotics a second look.