The 2026 World Robot Conference showcased agricultural robots that can pick crops, patrol fields, and explore underwater, signaling their move from concept to practical deployment. Driven by labor shortages and efficiency demands, these robots are accelerating toward real-world farming applications.
Roborock's 12th anniversary sale runs from now until September 6, offering up to $1,600 off popular models including the Saros 20, Qrevo 2 Pro, and F25 Steam.

Who took gold at Beijing's second World Humanoid Robot Games: a roundup of the winning robots and what the scores reveal.

UBTECH reported H1 revenue of RMB 1.27 billion (+104%), shipping 16,123 humanoid robots. Full-size humanoid robot revenue surged 1,445% to RMB 590 million. R&D exceeded RMB 300 million with 1,103 engineers.

Chinese robot makers' interim results reveal strong revenue growth but persistent losses, with the entire industry betting on embodied AI as the next growth driver.
AGIBOT A3 claimed gold in the 58kg Kickboxing Challenge on the final day of the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games, continuing its winning streak.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed teardrop-shaped soft robots that leap when exposed to infrared light and continue jumping as long as the light is on. The work introduces a new self-resetting mechanism for soft robotics, potentially enabling untethered, light-powered locomotion.
On August 28, several listed companies disclosed their latest developments in robotics and other areas, covering dividend payouts, NEV sales, and component demand.
Locus Robotics is advancing into robotic picking with its Array mobile manipulator and the acquisition of Nexera Robotics for its NeuraGrasp soft gripping technology. The company prioritizes reliability and pick quality over speed, viewing tactile sensing as a key frontier in manipulation.
DQ and AI robotics firm Sharpa will open the world's first Blizzard robot restaurant on August 29, featuring fully autonomous preparation.
A new study suggests that a humanoid robot's social expressiveness can backfire when it makes mistakes. While expressive robots are initially trusted more, they may experience a steeper loss of trust after an error compared to neutral robots.
A dual-arm robot has officially started making DQ Blizzards in stores, completing the process in 55 precise steps without any spill. The collaboration between Sharpa and DQ showcases the growing role of embodied AI in fast-food service.
Dobot welcomed 35+ chief executives and industry leaders from Thailand's CEO 4 Program, organized by FTI, to its Shenzhen headquarters. The group explored collaborative robotics, smart manufacturing, and real-world automation applications.

PaXini partnered with HKU MMLab to mount its high-performance tactile sensors on the fingertips of MM-Hand 1.5. The collaboration demonstrates omni-modal perception while keeping a compact structure, rapid integration, and immediate data usability. The sensors output ready-to-use, high-fidelity tactile datasets to support advanced dexterous manipulation.

AGIBOT G2 took gold in Indoor Emergency, Packing & Warehousing, and Pitch-Pot Challenges at the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games, earning three gold medals.

Chinese general-purpose robot maker Sharpa disclosed total funding exceeding 4.5 billion yuan, with a post-investment valuation of 22 billion yuan. Founder Li Yifan clarified the company is not creating jobs for robots but rather for humans.
RoboSense showcases its MARS Intelligent Manufacturing Base, featuring 100% automation, an annual production capacity of 4 million units, and one digital LiDAR produced every 8 seconds.
Chinese embodied-AI startup PsiBot has secured over $100 million in new funding, with industrial investors including Ningbo Tuopu Group and Lens Technology. The funds will support research on embodied world models, human-operation data collection, and deployments in logistics and advanced manufacturing.
Dongfang Dianre stated on its interactive platform that revenue from robot-related operations currently accounts for a small share of total revenue, with no material impact on performance.
Dongfang Dianre (300217) said on its investor interaction platform on Aug 28 that revenue from its robot-related business currently accounts for a low proportion of total revenue and does not have a significant impact on its performance.
UDI Robot, a commercial delivery service robot maker, has passed the HKEX listing hearing on August 24. With a market penetration of only 2.9%, the company aims to capitalize on scenario coverage to drive growth.
Wuzhou Xinchun reported a decline in revenue and profit for the first half of 2026, while continuing its expansion into humanoid robot and new-energy vehicle components. The company also completed a refinancing round to support new business capacity.
China's data industry reached 6.78 trillion yuan in 2025, up 15.7% year-on-year, according to a report released at the 2026 China International Big Data Industry Expo. The number of data enterprises surpassed 482,000, with active funding in AI-driven data services.
China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced plans to accelerate the deployment of embodied AI in key sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and public safety, using real-world training and pilot bases to drive technology iteration.
China's top economic planner urges local governments to develop the robot industry based on regional strengths, warning against blind imitation and overheated investment.
DEEP Robotics' quadruped robot Lynx M20S is being used in Turpan, China, to transport freshly picked grapes across narrow vineyard rows and uneven terrain in extreme 50°C heat. The deployment tests the robot's reliability and usability in real-world conditions beyond laboratory settings.
