Six Degrees of Robotics

Warsaw-based Nomagic, a leader in AI-powered robotics for warehouse automation, has raised €41.5M in its latest funding round, led by EBRD Venture Capital, with continued support from Khosla Ventures, Almaz Capital, and EIB. The investment will fuel expansion across Europe, scaling deployments and advancing AI and robotics technology. With a 220% ARR growth in 2024 and a targeted 200% increase in 2025, Nomagic is rapidly becoming the partner of choice for major retailers, e-commerce distributors, and 3PLs. By optimizing fulfillment operations for sectors like fashion, pharmaceuticals, and groceries, Nomagic is driving the future of warehouse automation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dmutAvTX 

Millions in government funding is flowing into agricultural tech in B.C.’s Thompson-Okanagan region. A total of $15.5 million is being invested in agritech projects, with $2.5 million directed to two Salmon Arm companies, a Kelowna company, and Thompson Rivers University. Among the recipients, 4AG Robotics in Salmon Arm is receiving $1.47 million for AI-driven mushroom-picking robots. These autonomous harvesters, developed with Champ’s Mushroom Farm, can increase yields by 15% and cut production costs in half. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ezubxxhP

Apptronik and Jabil have launched a pilot collaboration to produce Apollo humanoid robots and integrate them into Jabil’s manufacturing operations. The partnership will leverage Jabil’s global manufacturing expertise and factory environment to test Apollo in tasks such as inspection, sorting, kitting, and assembly. By augmenting the workforce with these robots, employees can shift to more creative roles while real-world data refines Apollo’s AI models. Apptronik’s cost-effective, simplified design aims to deliver scalable humanoids for various markets, including manufacturing, elder care, and retail. Jabil’s role as a worldwide manufacturing partner will enable rapid production, streamlined supply chains, and market expansion for Apollo. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eq-rEgUX

Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Samsung SDI have signed an MoU to develop high-performance, robot-specific batteries that overcome space constraints and boost energy density, output, and usage time. Hyundai and Kia’s Robotics LAB will test battery performance, while Samsung SDI focuses on high-capacity materials and optimized design. The collaboration aims to stabilize supply, lower costs, and drive market expansion. Joint marketing initiatives, including a showcase at ‘InterBattery 2025’ in Seoul, will highlight advanced service robots like Hyundai’s ‘DAL-e’ and Mobile Robot ‘MobED’, underscoring the potential for significant growth in the global robot battery market. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e77pc_Av

Yamaha Motor has acquired New Zealand-based Robotics Plus to establish Yamaha Agriculture, Inc., a new company dedicated to autonomous farming solutions. Robotics Plus, known for innovations like the Prospr hybrid vehicle and the Āporo Fruit Packer, specializes in automation for specialty crops. With Yamaha’s backing, Robotics Plus will scale its robotics and AI-driven technologies globally, addressing labor shortages and boosting farm efficiency. The acquisition also integrates advanced data analytics from The Yield, enhancing precision farming for wine grapes, apples, and more. Co-founders Steve Saunders and Dr. Alistair Scarfe emphasize that this partnership will accelerate innovation, ensuring growers remain sustainable, profitable, and resilient. Yamaha Agriculture aims to combine autonomous machinery with AI-powered insights, optimizing resource use and productivity across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eydVDGJd

Rail Ghost is a robotic sled created in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University's robotics team. It can slide underneath rail cars without taking them off the tracks. Karunaratne said it could allow workers to inspect the underside of rail cars more quickly than manual inspections.

A Pentagon official told Defense One that the department is shifting its focus from ambiguous “artificial intelligence” research to investing in autonomous killer robots. The emphasis is now on proven weapon systems and a business model that shifts most costs onto the private sector—from the government fully funding prototypes to paying a small portion while industry covers the majority. A new office, described as a commercial-engineering version of DARPA, will oversee these efforts by reallocating resources from existing R&D. The Pentagon aims to accelerate the delivery of lethal autonomous weapons to warfighters, marking a significant change in acquisition strategy. This move, while stirring concerns about autonomous weaponry, reflects an evolution shaped by recent administrative policies. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ePcJ888c

Elementary and middle schoolers from the Midwest gathered at SAC Museum in Nebraska for a robotics competition. Teams programmed randomly paired robots to autonomously and strategically score points by moving objects to designated arena zones—earning doubled or negated scores. Organizers noted growing youth interest in robotics since 2020.

Shizuoka City is planning to build a life-sized Gundam statue in collaboration with Bandai Spirits, alongside the opening of a new Gundam plastic model (Gunpla) factory in the city's Naganuma district this summer. The statue is expected to attract visitors to the region, which is not a major tourist destination. This would be Japan's fourth life-sized Gundam installation, joining those in Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Osaka. While the specific details have not been finalized, city council members are excited about the potential to bring in a large number of tourists, especially given the success of a previous temporary Gundam exhibit in Shizuoka, which attracted over 1.6 million visitors in 2010-2011. The exact timing of the new statue's unveiling, however, depends on the Expo 2025 event in Osaka, as that event's Gundam statue is set to relocate after October. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eyZkwPxQ