mobility
30 articles about mobility in AI news
Columbia's Truss Links Robots Self-Assemble and Cannibalize for Parts, Achieving 66.5% Mobility Gain
Columbia University researchers demonstrated 'Truss Links' robots that autonomously self-assemble using magnetic connectors, then selectively disassemble other robots to harvest parts for repair or growth. The system achieved a 66.5% mobility improvement through this zero-waste physical adaptation.
Stanford's Mobile ALOHA Robots Now Walk Autonomously, Marking Key Mobility Advance
Stanford's Mobile ALOHA robots, previously requiring human guidance for movement, have gained autonomous walking capabilities. This represents a significant step toward general-purpose mobile manipulation.
Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock Demonstrates Figure 03 Robot in Live Interview, Showcasing Real-World Mobility
Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock brought a Figure 03 humanoid robot to an in-person interview for a live demonstration. The event highlights the company's push for real-world validation and public visibility of its flagship platform.
Beijing Humanoid Robot Half Marathon Tests 40% Autonomous Teams
A night-time half-marathon test for humanoid robots in Beijing revealed approximately 40% of participating teams were running fully autonomous systems, a key benchmark for real-world robotic mobility.
EVNextTrade: Learning-to-Rank Models for EV Charging Node Recommendation in Energy Trading
New research proposes EVNextTrade, a learning-to-rank framework for recommending optimal charging nodes for peer-to-peer EV energy trading. Using gradient-boosted models on urban mobility data, it addresses uncertainty in matching energy providers and consumers. LightGBM achieved near-perfect early-ranking performance (NDCG@1: 0.9795).
Unitree G1 Humanoid Robot Spotted Navigating NYC Streets, Interacting with Public
A Unitree G1 humanoid robot was filmed autonomously navigating sidewalks and interacting with children in New York City, showcasing significant progress in real-world mobility and human-robot interaction.
Andrew Yang Proposes Taxing AI Agents Instead of Human Labor to Fund Universal Basic Income
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang advocates eliminating taxes on human labor and implementing taxes on autonomous AI agents instead. He argues this shift would generate revenue for Universal Basic Income while critics warn of potential capital flight due to software mobility.
Niu Technologies Demos AI-Powered Scooter Using Alibaba's Qwen 3.5 for Self-Balancing and Navigation
Chinese electric scooter maker Niu Technologies demonstrated a prototype that self-balances, moves, turns, and navigates autonomously using Alibaba's Qwen 3.5 model. The system is described as an L2-level intelligent driving assistance system, applying autonomous vehicle tech to micromobility.
NATO Tests SWARM Biotactics' AI-Guided Cyborg Cockroaches for Recon
NATO is evaluating a biohybrid system from German defense startup SWARM Biotactics, which uses AI to guide live cockroaches fitted with sensor backpacks through complex environments for military reconnaissance.
Figure AI's Humanoid Robots Deployed at BMW, Signaling Industry Acceleration
Figure AI has deployed its Figure 01 humanoid robots in a BMW manufacturing plant, moving beyond pilot programs into active production work. This signals a critical acceleration phase for the humanoid robotics industry.
TienKung Ultra Robot Wins Design Award at Beijing Humanoid Half-Marathon
The TienKung Ultra humanoid robot won the 'Best Design' award at the Beijing Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon, recognized for its natural running motion. It completed the full 21.1 km course in 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Toyota CUE7 Robot Makes Free Throws at Tokyo Basketball Game
Toyota's CUE7 robot successfully performed dribbling and free throws during a live halftime show in Tokyo. The demonstration highlights advances in real-world, dynamic bipedal/wheeled robotics.
HONOR's Lightning Robot Runs 21km in 50:26, Beating Human World Record
At Beijing's 2026 humanoid robot half-marathon, HONOR's 'Lightning' robot finished the 21 km course in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. This time surpasses the current human men's world record of 57:20, marking a massive leap from last year's winning robot time of over 2 hours 40 minutes.
Unitree H1 Humanoid Robot Shifts from Jog to Run in Seconds
A new video shows Unitree's H1 humanoid robot accelerating from a jogging pace to a running gait in seconds, showcasing improved dynamic locomotion control.
Project N.O.M.A.D. Emerges as Offline AI 'Doomsday Computer'
A prototype device named Project N.O.M.A.D. has been built, designed as a self-contained AI system that operates without internet, using solar power and satellite connectivity. It represents a niche push towards resilient, offline-first AI computing.
Binghamton University Tests Robotic Guide Dog with Natural Language Interface
Researchers at Binghamton University have developed a robotic guide dog prototype that communicates with users using natural language. The system, built on a Unitree Go2 platform, was demonstrated navigating a user through a test environment.
Chinese Firm Unveils Dexterous Robotic Hand for Fine Motor Tasks
A Chinese tech company has unveiled a robotic hand designed for complex fine-motor tasks, including playing finger games and solving Rubik's cubes. This represents a step forward in robotic manipulation, a key challenge for real-world AI integration.
Unitree H1 Humanoid Hits 10 m/s, Nearing Elite Human Sprint Speed
Unitree's H1 humanoid robot has reportedly reached a running speed of 10 meters per second. This performance brings it close to the peak speed of elite sprinters like Usain Bolt.
KIMM's AI-Powered Wheels Adjust Stiffness in Real-Time for Terrain
Researchers at KIMM created wheels that autonomously adjust their stiffness based on terrain. On smooth ground, they stay rigid for efficiency; on rough terrain, they soften and deform to conform to obstacles.
Embodyd's Xiaomei Bionic Robot Rented for Events on Unitree Body
The Xiaomei bionic robot, developed by Embodyd on a Unitree H1 body, is now available for rental in China for retail and event applications. This marks a shift towards commercial deployment of humanoid robots in public-facing service roles.
China Demonstrates AI-Coordinated Infantry with Robot Dogs, Drones
China has demonstrated a live military exercise featuring infantry soldiers, robot dogs, and drones moving in a tightly coordinated unit. The display highlights rapid progress in battlefield AI integration and human-machine teaming.
Former Li Auto Execs Launch Embodied AI Startup, Home Robot Due H1 2027
A new startup founded by former Li Auto executives is entering the embodied AI space, focusing on the home environment. Their first physical robot product is scheduled for release in the first half of 2027.
Neo 1X Humanoid Robot Shown at Abundance Summit, Weighs Under 70 lbs
Neo 1X, a sub-70-pound humanoid robot designed for homes, was shown moving and interacting with people at the Abundance Summit. This demo highlights a growing industry focus on creating robots for safe cohabitation with families.
26 Humanoid Robot Brands to Field 300+ Units in Beijing's E-Town Half Marathon on April 19
On April 19, Beijing's E-Town will host a half marathon where 300+ humanoid robots from 26 brands will run 21km. This is the largest public endurance and locomotion stress test for commercial humanoid platforms.
CARLA-Air Unifies CARLA and AirSim Simulators in Single Unreal Engine Process for Embodied AI
CARLA-Air merges the CARLA autonomous driving and AirSim drone simulators into one Unreal Engine process, enabling zero-latency air-ground sensor synchronization with 18 sensor types for embodied AI training.
LimX's Oli Robot Demonstrates Autonomous Unboxing and Boot-Up via 31-DoF System
LimX's Oli robot autonomously exited its shipping container, powered up its 31-degree-of-freedom system, and began moving. The demo highlights progress in self-contained robotic deployment without human setup.
Atlanta Startup Deploys AI-Powered Robot Dogs for Nighttime Neighborhood Security
A U.S. startup based in Atlanta is deploying quadrupedal robots for autonomous nighttime neighborhood patrols. The units are designed to detect intruders and alert residents, representing a commercial pivot for legged robotics.
Uber Acquires Luxury Chauffeur Service Blacklane to Expand Executive Travel Business
Uber has acquired the luxury chauffeur booking platform Blacklane, which operates in over 500 cities across 60+ countries. This strategic move directly expands Uber's footprint in the high-end, executive travel segment.
Unipath Launches Household Robot, Joining China's Push into Consumer Robotics
Chinese company Unipath has launched a household robot. This marks another entry into the competitive consumer robotics market, where Chinese firms are increasingly active.
China's First Fully Automated Humanoid Robot Factory Goes Live in Foshan, Targets 10,000+ Units Annually
China's first fully automated humanoid robot production line has launched in Foshan, capable of building one complete robot every ~30 minutes. The facility aims for over 10,000 units per year, with five more sites planned.