Live Briefs 2026-08-18 · Full coverage of embodied AI
Market Brief: CPI in Line, AI Stocks Rally, Robotics IPO Overwhelmed
US July CPI matched expectations, keeping Fed rate-cut bets steady. AI and robotics companies posted strong earnings, while the S&P 500 neared record highs.
95 Mutual Funds Secure Unitree IPO Allocations Totaling 1.82 Billion Yuan
Unitree Technology's IPO saw 95 mutual funds receive allocations totaling 1.82 billion yuan, with 5,117 fund products participating in the offline placement.
Tencent Boosts AI Compute Investment; Westlake Robotics Secures Series A Funding
Tencent announced significant increases in AI compute procurement, while Westlake Robotics, a general-purpose embodied intelligence company, completed Series A funding.
Agility Co-Founder: Physical AI Depends on Getting Physics Right
In a new @ScienceMagazine paper, Agility co-founder and Chief Robot Officer Jonathan Hurst argues that AI alone cannot repeal physics; physical AI requires correct physical foundations. The article highlights the importance of embodiment in making robots truly useful.
US sector ETFs mostly rise; semiconductor ETF up 2.32%, solar ETF down
On Wednesday, most US sector ETFs rose, with semiconductor ETF gaining 2.32% and solar ETF falling 0.70%.
Butterfly-Inspired Ceramic Microscrolls Unroll with Magnets to Power Tiny Robots
Researchers have developed ceramic microscrolls inspired by butterfly proboscis that can be unrolled and rolled up using magnetic fields. These smart materials could enable more efficient actuators for micro and soft robotics, with potential for significant economic impact.
Unitree: ~18,000 humanoid robots produced cumulatively
Unitree says total bionic bipedal humanoid robots produced and shipped has reached approximately 18,000 units (humanoid-only count, excluding wheeled platforms).
A3 reports robot orders up 4.3% in Q2 2026 across industries
A3 reported that North American robot orders grew 4.3% in units and 21.3% in revenue in Q2 2026. The first half of the year saw growth in various industries, offsetting a decline in automotive OEM orders.
Tianma Microelectronics Exclusively Supplies Screens for Honor Robot Phone
Tianma Microelectronics has been named the exclusive screen supplier for Honor's new Robot Phone, marking the debut of its Tianma TianGong OLED display on an embodied AI terminal.
Honor CEO Li Jian: Robot Phone Pre-orders Exceed 400,000 Units
Honor's CEO Li Jian announced that pre-orders for the Robot Phone have surpassed 400,000 units. The phone, starting at 9,999 yuan, will go on sale on August 18.
Honor Unveils World's First Robot Phone, Priced from 9,999 Yuan
Honor has launched the world's first Robot Phone, with prices ranging from 9,999 to 12,999 yuan. The device integrates robotics and AI technologies to redefine user interaction.
Scientists develop RoboDojo, a unified platform to evaluate embodied AI
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have developed RoboDojo, a unified benchmarking platform for evaluating robotic manipulation across simulated and physical environments. The platform, created with collaborators from nearly 20 universities, including UC Berkeley and Tsinghua, aims to standardize assessment in embodied AI research.
UBTECH's Ultra-Bionic Robot Una Debuts in First Fashion Shoot
UBTECH shares a behind-the-scenes look at its ultra-bionic robot Una's first fashion shoot, calling Una 'not just a robot, but a muse.' The post asks fans to choose the next photo to share.
The $8.5B Anchor: How Unitree's IPO Priced China's Embodied AI
Unitree's RMB 60.99B IPO at 219x P/E gives China's embodied AI its first public valuation benchmark. What the price demands, and who it measures.
Juron Tech's RV Reducer Sales Minimal as Robot Concept Drives Stock Surge
Juron Smart announced that stock price surged over 20% in two days amid robot concept hype, but its RV reducer sales contributed only 1% of revenue, with minimal profit impact.
Oriental Precision's Robot Story Still OEM Despite 867% Profit Surge
Oriental Precision reported a 867.75% net profit surge, but the gain came from selling its cash-cow business, while its robot segment remains in OEM stage.
DEEP Robotics DR02 Humanoid Robot Ascends Stairs Steadily
DEEP Robotics shows its DR02 humanoid robot climbing stairs with stable, controlled movement, emphasizing steady steps and consistent forward progress.
Unitree Humanoid Robots Cumulative Production Surpasses 18,000 Units
Unitree Robotics reported on August 12 that its humanoid robots have reached a cumulative production milestone of approximately 18,000 units, reflecting strong market demand.
Westlake Robotics Secures Series A, Raises Four Rounds in Half a Year
Westlake Robotics has closed its Series A round, completing four funding rounds within six months. Investors are betting on its advanced technology and commercialization potential in the competitive robotics sector.
Mech-Mind Shows Mech-Eye ULTRA M-GL Camera Solving Vision Challenges
Mech-Mind's video highlights how the Mech-Eye ULTRA M-GL handles thin parts under 1 mm, transparent objects, and high-throughput applications with high-resolution, high-speed 3D imaging.
Robotics Roadmaps from Around the World: An Introduction to a New Series
This article introduces a new series on robotics roadmaps from leading countries. It explains why roadmaps are important for the robotics community and outlines key examples from the US, EU, and China.
Westlake Robotics Secures Major Series A Funding for Embodied AI
Westlake Robotics, an embodied intelligence startup, has closed a Series A round exceeding 100 million yuan, led by Haiyuan Capital. The funding will support quadruped robot iteration, AGI behavior model development, and team expansion.
Galbot Co-Hosts Global Robotics Challenge with 471 Students
At an unnamed event, 471 students from 108 countries and regions participated in the Team Challenge. As co-organizer and exclusive embodied robotics platform provider, Galbot supported teams in deploying solutions on the Galbot G1.
Das Intellitech Denies Stake in Unitree, No Robot Business
Das Intellitech denied market rumors of holding shares in Unitree Robotics, clarifying no equity or robot business. The stock hit daily limit, prompting the company to issue a statement.
Chinese Firms Dominate Humanoid Robot Shipments with Over 97% Global Share
Global humanoid robot shipments tripled year-over-year in the first half of 2024, with Chinese manufacturers capturing over 97% of the market, led by AgiBot and Unitree.
West Lake Robotics Secures Nearly 100M RMB in Series A Led by Haiyuan Capital
West Lake Robotics has completed a Series A funding round of nearly 100 million RMB, led by Haiyuan Capital. The funds will be directed towards research on a unified large model for humanoid robots and the establishment of an embodied intelligence talent cultivation base.
West Lake Robotics Secures Over 100 Million Yuan in Series A Funding
West Lake Robotics has completed its Series A funding round, led by Haiyuan Fund, raising over 100 million yuan to advance humanoid robot AI models and systems.
Westlake Robotics Secures 500M Yuan in Series A Funding
Westlake Robotics, an embodied intelligence startup from Westlake University, has raised 500 million yuan (about 70 million USD) in Series A funding within six months. The funds will be used to develop a unified large model for humanoid robots and build a talent hub.
Noetix Robotics to Showcase Humanoid Robots at WRC 2026
Noetix Robotics invites attendees to WRC 2026, where it will demonstrate humanoid robots performing powerful punches, cultural heritage moves, and dancing. Booth B-B108, Aug 19-23, at Beijing Beiren Yichuang International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Westlake Robotics Secures Series A Funding for Embodied Intelligence
Westlake Robotics, a developer of universal brains for embodied intelligence, has closed a new funding round led by Haiyuan Fund, bringing its total raised in the past six months to 500 million RMB across four rounds.
DEEP Robotics: Steady Steps, Steady Progress
DEEP Robotics shares a video of a robot demonstrating steady steps and consistent progress.
Ant Group Leads Funding in Daimeng Robotics Amid Strategic Shift to Tactile World Models
Daimeng Robotics has secured hundreds of millions of yuan in a new funding round led by Ant Group, with existing shareholders increasing their stakes. The company, known for its tactile dexterous hands, is now pivoting to a broader vision-tactile sensor platform and focusing on tactile world models.
Y Combinator Startup Nori Robotics Launches $1,688 Home Robot Butler
Nori Robotics has opened pre-orders for its Nori L3, a $1,688 wheeled dual-arm home robot designed for chores like folding laundry and pouring wine. The company aims to democratize physical AI with an aggressive price point and open-source developer platform.