First NLOS Imaging for Autonomous Navigation via Single-Photon LiDAR
This paper presents the first experimental demonstration of non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging applied to autonomous navigation, using single-photon LiDAR to detect hidden objects. It enables robots to perceive and avoid obstacles around corners, significantly expanding perception capabilities beyond line-of-sight.
NVIDIA's Three Neural Breakthroughs Transform Robot Learning at CoRL 2025
NVIDIA Research introduced NeRD, Dexplore, and VT-Refine at CoRL 2025, enhancing simulation with learned dynamics, enabling efficient exploration, and combining vision-tactile sensing for bimanual assembly. These innovations represent a first-of-its-kind capability in integrating multiple neural approaches for practical robot learning.
Figure's Humanoid Robot Sorts 250,000 Packages in Real-World Test
Figure AI's F.03 humanoid robot autonomously sorted nearly 250,000 packages over 200 hours in a warehouse stress test, achieving near-human speed. This marks a significant milestone in deploying general-purpose humanoid robots for real-world logistics automation, demonstrating reliability and scalability.
Origami-like graphene oxide enables scalable soft robots with sensing
McGill engineers created ultra-thin graphene oxide sheets that fold like origami, enabling soft robots to walk, twist, and sense motion. This addresses the key scalability challenge in soft robotics by combining actuation and sensing in a single material.
interestingengineering.com NVIDIA Eureka: AI autonomously writes reward algorithms for robot training
NVIDIA Research's Eureka AI agent autonomously generates reward algorithms for robot training, outperforming human-written algorithms on over 80% of complex tasks. This represents a significant advancement in autonomous skill acquisition for robotics, potentially accelerating the development of general-purpose robots.
Laser power beaming wirelessly electrifies robot for 24 hours, setting world records
Aquila Earth achieved a world-first by wirelessly powering a moving warehouse robot for 24 hours using infrared laser beams, setting records for highest total laser power transferred and longest continuous duration. This demonstration validates power-beaming as a viable solution for continuous autonomous operations, potentially eliminating battery downtime in logistics and other industries.
AI-driven robotic surgery shows major clinical improvements in meta-analysis
A meta-analysis of 25 peer-reviewed studies from 2024-2025 demonstrates that AI-assisted robotic surgery reduces operative time by 25%, complications by 30%, and improves precision by 40%. This comprehensive evidence marks a significant step toward widespread adoption in modern healthcare.
Humanoid robot beats human half-marathon record by 7 minutes
Honor's D1 humanoid robot completed a half-marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, outperforming the human world record by about seven minutes. This marks the first time a bipedal robot has surpassed elite human endurance runners in a long-distance event, demonstrating significant advances in locomotion efficiency, battery life, and real-world navigation.
Figure AI humanoids achieve 24/7 autonomous package sorting milestone
Figure AI's humanoid robots operated continuously for 24 hours, sorting over 28,000 packages autonomously using the Helix-02 AI system without failures. This marks a first-of-its-kind capability for humanoid robots in logistics, demonstrating sustained reliability and efficiency.
interestingengineering.com AgiBot A2 humanoid robot walks 66 miles into Guinness World Records
The AgiBot A2 humanoid robot completed a 66-mile walk from Suzhou to Shanghai over three days, navigating varied surfaces and obeying traffic rules. This is the first Guinness World Record for a humanoid robot walking such a distance, demonstrating real-world endurance and autonomy. The feat marks a significant milestone in humanoid robot mobility and practical deployment.
Stanford's spring-assisted actuator slashes energy use for dynamic robot tasks
Stanford researchers have developed a spring-assisted actuator that performs dynamic tasks like jumping and running using a fraction of the energy of standard electric motors. This innovation could significantly improve the efficiency and range of next-generation robots, particularly in applications requiring rapid, high-force movements.
Google's 2025 Robotics Breakthroughs: Gemini Models and Genie 3 World Models
Google's 2025 research breakthroughs include the foundational Gemini Robotics models and Gemini Robotics 1.5, which bring advanced AI agents into physical and virtual worlds. The Genie 3 world models further enhance this capability, marking a significant step in embodied AI and robotics.
Humanoid robot beats human half-marathon world record in Beijing
A humanoid robot completed a half-marathon faster than any human, demonstrating unprecedented endurance and locomotion control. This milestone suggests rapid progress in bipedal robotics and could accelerate adoption in logistics and emergency response.
Bolt humanoid robot sets 22 mph speed record
MirrorMe Technology's Bolt humanoid robot achieved a real-world top speed of 22 mph, making it the fastest running humanoid robot outside simulations. This demonstrates significant progress in bipedal locomotion and control systems for humanoid robotics.