Global Scans · Robots · Weekly Summary

• [New] Announced was a major expansion of robot-assisted surgery, increasing procedures from 70,000 to half a million by 2035. UKAuthority
• [New] Tesla has signaled that it plans to spend on the order of $20 billion in 2026 on autonomous driving and humanoid robots, while also preparing for Semi production, robotaxi programs, and a deeper push into services and energy. TESMAG
• [New] Autonomous shuttles and buses could significantly improve public transport performance in Germany if deployed as feeders to rail and integrated into an expanded network. RAILMARKET.com
• [New] 2026 will mark a turning point in the transition of autonomous taxis from experiments to scalable commercial services. ENGtechnica
• [New] Autonomous vehicle developer Waymo has indicated that fully driverless rides could be available in London by the end of 2026. Insurance Business
• [New] The S. Korean government will launch a ~ $688M K-on-device AI semiconductor development project, starting next month, to create roughly 10 AI chips for applications from autonomous vehicles to robots. Semiconductor Engineering
• [New] The Marine Corps will likely pursue enhanced autonomous capabilities, extended endurance variants, and potentially weaponized configurations to transition from pure ISR to strike-reconnaissance roles in distributed maritime operations. Drone Warfare
• [New] Chidambaranar Port Authority has become India's first port to deploy an advanced Anti-Drone System, strengthening port and coastal security against emerging aerial threats. Adda247
• [New] Project NYX represents the UK's strategic pivot toward AI-enabled autonomous warfare, with loyal wingman drones designed to amplify Apache helicopter lethality through independent decision-making in contested environments by 2030. Drone Warfare
• [New] Grid Aero's $20 million Series A funding to advance the Lifter Lite long-range autonomous cargo UAS suggests accelerating U.S. military interest in unmanned logistics platforms that could reduce vulnerable manned resupply missions in contested environments. Drone Warfare
• [New] Initial operational variants will prioritize ISTAR and EW over kinetic strike, with weaponized variants following as autonomous engagement protocols mature and legal frameworks solidify. / Ukraine Drone Warfare
• [New] By 2026, drone-based 3D mapping is projected to shorten survey times by up to 60% in mining projects. Farmonaut
• [New] Over 70% of new enterprise applications will include autonomous AI agents by 2026, automating repetitive processes, optimizing workflows, and providing real-time insights. Nectarbits Solution
• [New] By 2028, one-third of enterprise software will include autonomous agents, automating 20% of digital interactions and 15% of decisions. Articsledge
• [New] Even if Tesla succeeds in gradually introducing more advanced driver-assist capabilities, fully autonomous robotaxi services will likely face country-by-country approval, with some markets moving faster than others. / Netherlands TESMAG
• [New] Waymo, Alphabet Inc.'s autonomous driving unit, will hit more than 1 million paid weekly robotaxi rides in the US by the end of 2026. Claims Journal
• Tesla's Optimus Robot Could Reach Human-Level Proficiency in 2026. Nasdaq
• Instead of selling cars, Tesla will sell miles, or even autonomous hours, effectively operating a vast, AI-driven transportation as a service (TaaS) platform. TESMAG
• Physical AI, in Tesla's lexicon, refers to autonomous, intelligent agents designed to operate and interact within the real, unpredictable world, learning and adapting through continuous data ingestion and neural network training. TESMAG
• The primary strategic pivot for the remainder of 2026 will be the Agentic Revolution, where companies move from simple chatbots to autonomous AI systems. Valley City Times-Record
• The demand for autonomous AI agents is expected to reach $93.20 billion by 2032. SoftTeco

Last updated: 16 February 2026