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TL;DR

This week, FORT Robotics raised $18.9 million to scale safety for autonomous systems, the FAA unveiled its long-awaited Part 108 BVLOS proposed rule, and Belgium launched a medical drone delivery trial to improve healthcare response.

FORT Robotics adds $18.9M in Series B funding for robotic safety

FORT Robotics has secured $18.9 million in Series B funding to expand its platform for securing and controlling autonomous machines across industries like construction, manufacturing, and logistics. The company specializes in safety-critical communication—ensuring that robots, vehicles, and other autonomous systems can be reliably stopped or reprogrammed in real time to prevent accidents. Their wireless safety controllers and “machine trust” platform are designed to work with a wide range of equipment, protecting both operators and infrastructure. With the new funding, FORT plans to scale its engineering teams, enhance its cloud capabilities, and expand global deployments.

Major Takeaway: As robots move into more dangerous and dynamic environments, trust and safety become non-negotiable. FORT’s tech tackles one of the biggest barriers to autonomy: ensuring machines can be instantly controlled when it matters most. Read More

FAA Publishes Part 108 Proposal for BVLOS Drone Operations

The FAA has released its long-awaited Part 108 proposal, creating a clear framework for routine beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights without case-by-case waivers. The rule shifts accountability from individual pilots to companies, introduces two authorization paths—permits for lower-risk missions and certificates for complex or high-density operations—and requires roles like Operations Supervisor and Flight Coordinator. It also mandates manufacturer-defined performance limits, detect-and-avoid tech in controlled airspace, and strict security and rest standards.

Major Takeaway: Part 108 moves BVLOS from experimental to scalable, enabling broader commercial drone use while setting high bars for safety, autonomy, and corporate responsibility. Read More

Medical drone delivery trials launched in Kempen, Belgium

Belgium has launched a pilot program in the Kempen region to test medical drone deliveries between hospitals, pharmacies, and laboratories. The initiative, backed by the European Union and several healthcare and aviation partners, aims to speed up the transport of critical supplies like blood samples, medication, and medical equipment. The drones will follow designated flight corridors and are equipped with safety features to operate in populated areas while meeting strict European airspace regulations. If successful, the program could be expanded nationwide to improve healthcare logistics and emergency response times.

Major Takeaway: By cutting transport times for vital medical supplies, Belgium’s drone delivery trials could make healthcare faster, more efficient, and better prepared for emergencies. Read More

About Lucid Bots

Founded in 2018, Lucid Bots is an AI robotics company that is committed to uplifting humanity by building the world's most productive and responsible robots that can do dangerous and demanding tasks. Headquartered in Charlotte, the company engineers, manufactures, and supports its products domestically, which include the Sherpa, a cleaning drone, and the Lavo Bot, a pressure-washing robot. Lucid Bots' products are elevating safety and efficiency for a growing number of customers around the world. Lucid is a Y Combinator-backed company, with investments from Cubit Capital, Idea Fund Partners, Danu Ventures, and others. Lucid Bots was recently recognized as the fastest growing robotics manufacturer in the United States.

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Robotics funding is rebounding in 2025 as investors double down on AI-powered platforms like Raise Robotics and swarm-based aerospace systems that prove real-world utility beyond the lab.

Startup Funding For Robotics Rises In 2025

After a slower period in 2023, global investment in robotics startups is picking up momentum, reaching $4.2 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a 10% year-over-year increase. This resurgence is largely fueled by a growing demand for AI-enabled robots capable of learning from data and adapting to complex tasks. Key sectors attracting this investment include logistics, manufacturing, and construction. Prominent companies like Apptronik (known for general-purpose humanoids), Figure (specializing in warehouse automation), and Covariant (focusing on AI for robot arms) are securing substantial funding rounds. This trend is supported by advancements in foundation models and increasing commercial interest in these technologies. However, analysts caution that the sector remains susceptible to economic challenges, and sustained growth will depend on successful real-world deployments and demonstrated customer return on investment (ROI).

Major Takeaway: Robotics funding is on an upward trend in 2025, particularly for ventures that combine AI and automation, with success largely determined by their proven practical utility rather than just impressive demonstrations. Read More

Raise Robotics Nets $7.75M in Seed Funding to Build Out Multipurpose Robot Platform

Raise Robotics has successfully secured $7.75 million in seed funding. This capital will accelerate the development of its multipurpose robot platform, which is designed to automate high-risk tasks on construction sites. Their initial focus is on steel connection fastening, one of construction's riskiest jobs. The system features a robotic arm mounted on a mobile base, equipped with sensors and computer vision capabilities, enabling it to adapt to the inherent variability of real-world job sites. This allows the robot to perform tasks such as bolting or inspecting structural connections. The platform also streamlines documentation processes in real-time by integrating with tools like Procore. With initial deployments already underway, Raise Robotics plans to scale its operations through a robot-as-a-service model, which permits contractors to lease units without incurring significant upfront costs.

Major Takeaway: Raise Robotics is directly addressing labor safety and efficiency challenges in the construction industry with versatile robots built to navigate the complexities of real-world construction environments. Their subscription-based model has the potential to facilitate the adoption of automation in an industry that has historically been resistant to such changes. Read More

Swarm Robotics Could Spell the End of the Aerospace Assembly Line

A novel approach to aerospace manufacturing is emerging, moving away from traditional conveyor belts towards swarms of small, collaborative robots. Researchers at institutions like the University of Groningen and other European entities are actively developing these collaborative robot swarms. These swarms are designed to work in unison to construct large aircraft structures, entirely without the need for traditional fixed tooling or conventional assembly lines. The robots are engineered to communicate, self-organize, and intelligently divide tasks such as drilling and fastening across an aircraft fuselage. The ultimate objective is to establish a more flexible and scalable production system that can readily adapt to new designs or part configurations without requiring costly retooling.

Major Takeaway: Swarm robotics has the potential to replace rigid aerospace assembly lines with decentralized, dynamic manufacturing teams, representing a significant stride towards more adaptive, software-defined factories. Read More

About Lucid Bots

Founded in 2018, Lucid Bots is an AI robotics company that is committed to uplifting humanity by building the world's most productive and responsible robots that can do dangerous and demanding tasks. Headquartered in Charlotte, the company engineers, manufactures, and supports its products domestically, which include the Sherpa, a cleaning drone, and the Lavo Bot, a pressure-washing robot. Lucid Bots' products are elevating safety and efficiency for a growing number of customers around the world. Lucid is a Y Combinator-backed company, with investments from Cubit Capital, Idea Fund Partners, Danu Ventures, and others. Lucid Bots was recently recognized as the fastest growing robotics manufacturer in the United States.

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AI researchers say today’s models are early signs of general intelligence, students in DC are learning robotics through hands-on summer camps, and Elon Musk is focusing Tesla’s future on robotaxis and humanoid robots.

AI Researcher Says We’re Already Using “Sporks” of AGI

In his recent essay, Sergey Levine likens today’s AI models to sporks—blending narrow and general intelligence. They're flexible, adaptable, and kind of general. But they still need structure. Still need supervision. Still need humans.

That’s the gap between AGI theory and real-world robotics: abstraction vs. application.

If you want systems that can actually do work—on a roof, on a bridge, on a building—you need data from those real-world environments. Not lab environments. Not synthetic ones. The real thing.

Major Takeaway: Real-world robotics advances by doing, not theorizing—data from real jobs is the compounding edge that turns flexible tools into truly capable systems. Read More

At this summer camp, kids build soccer-playing, relay-racing robots

DC Public Schools hosted a free robotics summer camp where middle schoolers spent three weeks building and programming robots for a “Robot Olympics,” featuring events like robot soccer and cube sorting. The camp emphasizes hands-on learning, creativity, and fun—without grades or pressure—making it an inviting entry point into STEM. Students get meals, mentorship, and field trips, and even city leaders like Mayor Muriel Bowser stopped by to show support. The program is part of a broader effort to expand access to CTE and STEAM education citywide.

Major Takeaway: DC’s free robotics camps are giving students early access to engineering and coding skills in a supportive, low-stress environment—setting the stage for a more inclusive future in tech. Read More

Elon Musk Tells Tesla Investors to Focus on a Future Filled With Robots

Tesla’s Q2 numbers showed a sharp drop in EV sales and profits, prompting Elon Musk to shift investor attention toward the company’s future in robotics and autonomous vehicles. Musk unveiled a pilot robotaxi program in Austin using human-supervised Model Ys, with plans to scale rapidly across U.S. cities pending regulatory approval. He also claimed Tesla will be building 100,000 Optimus humanoid robots per month within five years. Still, analysts remain skeptical, citing competition from Waymo, technical hurdles, and Tesla’s reliance on vision-only autonomy.

Major Takeaway: Tesla is betting its future on robotaxis and humanoid robots, but delivering on that promise will require overcoming major technical, regulatory, and competitive challenges. Read More

About Lucid Bots:

Founded in 2018, Lucid Bots is an AI robotics company that is committed to uplifting humanity by building the world's most productive and responsible robots that can do dangerous and demanding tasks. Headquartered in Charlotte, the company engineers, manufactures, and supports its products domestically, which include the Sherpa, a cleaning drone, and the Lavo Bot, a pressure-washing robot. Lucid Bots' products are elevating safety and efficiency for a growing number of customers around the world. Lucid is a Y Combinator-backed company, with investments from Cubit Capital, Idea Fund Partners, Danu Ventures, and others. Lucid Bots was recently recognized as the fastest growing robotics manufacturer in the United States.

TL;DR

Robots are moving from R&D labs to the real world. Dongfeng is using humanoids on its car assembly line. Nvidia is all-in on humanoids and AVs as the next big wave. And Google just gave developers a powerful AI sidekick with Gemini CLI. The future of automation is unfolding right now — and it's getting more capable by the day.

Humanoid robots handle quality checks, assembly at auto plant in China

Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor has deployed humanoid robots developed by UBTech on its assembly lines to handle tasks such as checking seatbelts, inspecting doors, filling oil, and applying labels. These robots, called Walker S, are equipped with high-resolution sensors and dexterous hands, enabling them to perform precision quality assurance. This move reflects a growing trend in China to use robotics to address labor shortages and improve manufacturing efficiency.

Major takeaway: Humanoid robots are no longer experimental—they’re now performing real work on factory floors, signaling a significant shift in how industries address labor challenges and scale production. Read more

Nvidia CEO says robotics is chipmaker’s biggest opportunity after AI

At Nvidia’s 2025 shareholder meeting, CEO Jensen Huang spotlighted robotics—particularly humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles—as the company’s next major frontier after AI. He introduced Isaac GR00T N1, a new open-source foundation model built to accelerate humanoid robot development. Companies like Neura Robotics and 1X Technologies are already leveraging this tool, pointing to its real-world potential in speeding up innovation.

Major takeaway: Nvidia is staking its future beyond AI on robotics, with humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles at the heart of its vision for what’s next. Read more

Introducing Gemini CLI: Your open-source AI agent

Google has introduced Gemini CLI, an open-source AI tool that brings advanced Gemini capabilities directly to the developer terminal. Built on the Gemini 2.5 Pro model, it supports a massive 1 million token context window for tasks like writing code, debugging, generating content, and conducting deep research. It also integrates with services like Gemini Code Assist, Google Search, and image/video generation tools (Veo and Imagen). Available in preview, developers can access it for free with generous usage limits.

Major takeaway: Gemini CLI delivers powerful AI tools straight to the command line, transforming how developers build, research, and create at scale. Read more

About Lucid Bots:

Founded in 2018, Lucid Bots is an AI robotics company that is committed to uplifting humanity by building the world's most productive and responsible robots that can do dangerous and demanding tasks. Headquartered in Charlotte, the company engineers, manufactures, and supports its products domestically, which include the Sherpa, a cleaning drone, and the Lavo Bot, a pressure-washing robot. Lucid Bots' products are elevating safety and efficiency for a growing number of customers around the world. Lucid is a Y Combinator-backed company, with investments from Cubit Capital, Idea Fund Partners, Danu Ventures, and others. Lucid Bots was recently recognized as the fastest growing robotics manufacturer in the United States.

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Chaebol-backed Korea is racing to perfect humanoids, Toyota is turning Mt. Fuji into a living smart-city lab, and new U.S. rules are clearing the skies for home-grown drones—all signs that the robotics revolution is sprinting ahead on land, in cities, and in the air.

How South Korea’s Chaebols Are Pushing The Robotics Revolution

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Major Takeaway: South Korea is positioning itself as a global leader in robotics through a powerful alliance between government, academia, and industrial giants.

Summary: South Korea is launching an ambitious national campaign to become a global leader in robotics, fueled by its most powerful conglomerates—Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and more. These companies are making strategic investments in humanoid robotics startups like Rainbow Robotics and collaborating through the newly formed K-Humanoid Alliance. This coalition aims to develop advanced humanoid robots by 2028 that can walk, lift, and operate autonomously across a range of environments. The effort reflects a highly coordinated industrial strategy backed by public-private synergy to dominate the robotics future.

Why It Matters: This is a rare example of a country aligning its corporate and public sectors to win a technological arms race. The level of coordination and capital behind it could set a blueprint for robotics leadership.

Toyota set to launch world’s first robot city at Japan’s Mount Fuji base in 2025

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Major Takeaway: Toyota is transforming into a tech-first mobility company by building a smart city to test and scale future technologies in real-world conditions.

Short Summary: Toyota is building Woven City, a 175-acre experimental smart city at the base of Mount Fuji, set to launch in 2025. This “living laboratory” will house real residents—including Toyota engineers—who will live among autonomous vehicles, AI-powered homes, and sustainable energy systems like hydrogen fuel cells. By embedding cutting-edge technologies into everyday life, Woven City offers a bold reimagining of urban living and innovation at scale. It’s not just a testbed for products—it’s a fully functioning urban prototype for the mobility-centric future Toyota envisions.

Why It Matters: Rather than simulate the future, Toyota is building it. Woven City represents a radical approach to innovation where the testing ground is life itself.

Drones will soon be everywhere, as U.S. seeks to lead future of aviation

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Major Takeaway: The U.S. is removing major regulatory roadblocks to fast-track drone innovation and reduce reliance on Chinese drone tech.

Short Summary: In a significant policy shift, the United States is removing key regulatory barriers to expand the use of drones and advanced aerial vehicles across industries. President Trump’s executive orders aim to legalize long-distance drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), accelerate delivery services, and enable the commercial rollout of eVTOL aircraft. These moves are also designed to reduce U.S. reliance on dominant Chinese manufacturers like DJI. With new FAA rules expected soon, the initiative is poised to unlock innovation in logistics, aviation, public safety, and more.

Why It Matters: This shift will supercharge American drone startups and logistics companies, while reshaping urban air mobility and national security frameworks.

About Lucid Bots:

Founded in 2018, Lucid Bots is an AI robotics company that is committed to uplifting humanity by building the world's most productive and responsible robots that can do dangerous and demanding tasks. Headquartered in Charlotte, the company engineers, manufactures, and supports its products domestically, which include the Sherpa, a cleaning drone, and the Lavo Bot, a pressure-washing robot. Lucid Bots' products are elevating safety and efficiency for a growing number of customers around the world. Lucid is a Y Combinator-backed company, with investments from Cubit Capital, Idea Fund Partners, Danu Ventures, and others. Lucid Bots was recently recognized as the fastest growing robotics manufacturer in the United States.

TL;DR

This week in robotics: AEON, a full-stack AI humanoid trained in simulation, is stepping into the real world; DoorDash's drones are now dropping off lunch in Charlotte; Gap is arming its largest distribution center with Boston Dynamics bots to unload trucks; and Yokogawa and Shell are teaming up to make plant inspections fully autonomous with robots and computer vision.

Hexagon Robotics Unveils AEON, AI-Powered Humanoid Robot at Scale

Hexagon Robotics has unveiled AEON, a humanoid robot designed for industrial use, powered by NVIDIA’s full-stack AI and robotics platform. AEON performs tasks like asset inspection, part manipulation, and 3D reality capture across sectors including manufacturing and logistics. It’s trained using NVIDIA’s foundation models (like Isaac GR00T) and simulations in Omniverse, allowing it to learn complex skills in weeks instead of months. With advanced sensors and onboard AI, AEON captures spatial data in real time and feeds it back to Hexagon’s HxDR platform for collaborative analysis. Currently in pilot programs with Schaeffler and Pilatus, AEON is targeting deployment within six months.

Major Takeaway: AEON shows how combining simulation training and edge AI can make humanoid robots deployable in real-world industries faster than ever. Read more

DoorDash and Wing Expand Drone Delivery to Charlotte, North Carolina

DoorDash has launched drone delivery in Charlotte through its partnership with Wing, offering residents within a four‑mile radius of The Arboretum Shopping Center access to orders from local favorites like Curry Junction, Matcha Café Maiko, Joa Korean Food—and national partner Panera Bread—delivered within approximately 15–30 minutes by autonomous drones that hover and lower packages via tether. DashMart essentials and special bundles are also available. This expansion builds on pilots in Australia, Virginia, and Dallas–Fort Worth, and leverages North Carolina’s drone-friendly policies ahead of a broader U.S. rollout.

Major Takeaway: Food and retail delivery are going airborne, and DoorDash is one of the first to scale real, working drone logistics in American neighborhoods. Read more

Gap Pours $58 Million into Robotics Automation at Tennessee Distribution Hub

Gap Inc. is investing $58 million to bring robotics and automation to its 1.4 million sq ft distribution center in Gallatin, Tennessee, deploying multiple Boston Dynamics Stretch mobile robots to unload trailers. These bots use advanced vision and vacuum grippers, moving autonomously and syncing wirelessly with conveyor belts. The upgrade has already reduced injuries, boosted morale, and sped up operations—transitioning staff from hard manual labor to managing robot fleets with minimal setup time.

Major Takeaway: Boston Dynamics' warehouse bots are becoming everyday coworkers—offloading boxes and injuries alike. Read more

Yokogawa Collaborates with Shell on Robotics and AI Technology for Plant Maintenance

Yokogawa Electric has partnered with Shell Global Solutions to integrate Shell’s AI-powered “Operator Round by Exception” (ORE) into Yokogawa’s OpreX Robot Management Core. This means robots and drones can autonomously inspect industrial plants—reading gauges, detecting gas leaks, and identifying issues while integrating with existing safety systems. Initial trials at two Shell facilities aim to prove that plants can one day be inspected—and maybe maintained—entirely by autonomous machines.

Major Takeaway: Shell and Yokogawa are betting on a future where robots do the dirty (and dangerous) work of industrial inspections. Read more

About Lucid Bots:

Founded in 2018, Lucid Bots is an AI robotics company that is committed to uplifting humanity by building the world's most productive and responsible robots that can do dangerous and demanding tasks. Headquartered in Charlotte, the company engineers, manufactures, and supports its products domestically, which include the Sherpa, a cleaning drone, and the Lavo Bot, a pressure-washing robot. Lucid Bots' products are elevating safety and efficiency for a growing number of customers around the world. Lucid is a Y Combinator-backed company, with investments from Cubit Capital, Idea Fund Partners, Danu Ventures, and others. Lucid Bots was recently recognized as the fastest growing robotics manufacturer in the United States.