Robots

Chinese robots have beaten Usain Bolt’s 100 m record. Should we be impressed?

2026-08-28T23:00:00.000Z
The iDepot tool uses an autonomous surveillance robot equipped with infrared sensors to patrol Gali Batu Bus Depot.

New AI-powered SMRT command centre aims to make bus services safer, more reliable and faster

2026-08-28T13:46:41.000Z
While its robots have drawn attention for running and performing martial arts, Unitree has had little success in broader commercial applications.

China robot maker Unitree’s shares slump 45% after fivefold IPO surge, sparking bubble fears in sector

2026-08-25T05:01:52.000Z
Unitree’s humanoid robots at the 2026 World Robot Conference, in Beijing, China. Is humanoid the best form factor across different use cases, or should robots be more optimised for the use case?
DUE DILIGENCE

Beyond the backflipping humanoid: where will the robotics returns actually be earned?

2026-08-24T10:32:43.000Z
Unitree, which competes with Tesla and Hyundai Motor Group-owned Boston Dynamics, has drawn global attention for its robots that run, dance and perform martial arts.

Unitree surges in Shanghai debut, a milestone for China’s humanoid robotics sector

2026-08-19T15:01:59.000Z
More than 300 companies are attending the World Robot Conference which will display over 2,000 exhibits and launching more than 150 products.

China robot makers flock to Beijing show, seek path to mass adoption

2026-08-19T10:07:42.000Z
XPeng intends to launch its humanoid robot, Iron, next year.
THINKING ALOUD

When robots are helping, who is watching?

2026-08-12T23:00:00.000Z
Mitsuya Kaneko, the head of the Nishikawa cherry blossom farmers union, uses Pochi the robot to move cherry blossom branches at a warehouse.

Can robots save an ageing Japan?

2026-08-09T06:53:32.000Z
The move lands just weeks before a planned Trump-Xi summit in the US in September.

The US ban on new Chinese robots could backfire

2026-08-03T23:00:00.000Z
China hawks fear the robots could spy on key US industries, extracting data and sending it to Beijing or disrupting critical functions.

US bans new Chinese humanoid robots to shield AI buildout from national security risks

2026-07-29T06:50:08.000Z