Global Scans · Robots · Weekly Summary

• [New] Chinese EV maker XPeng has unveiled its Iron humanoid robot and plans to mass-produce it by late 2026, potentially outpacing Tesla's timeline. Ainvest
• [New] As Latin American militaries continue to be interested in drone technology (Ecuador's Air Force recently launched its own drone squadron, while the Colombian Army now has a drone battalion), the Logistics Connector could be considered as a long-term acquisition program for next decade. Zona Militar
• [New] One company says it has developed some long-range drone ships that could serve a role in the U.S. military. SlashGear
• [New] The U.S. Navy is searching for ways to integrate unmanned vessels like the DARPA drone ship, which could forever change naval warfare. / USA SlashGear
• [New] By tackling the complexities of highway driving, Waymo is demonstrating the maturity and capabilities of its self-driving technology, which could pave the way for broader acceptance and adoption of autonomous vehicles. Skill Farm
• [New] In 2026, more autonomous ships are likely to enter service. Forbes
• [New] Tesla's AI roadmap, including Cybercab and Optimus robots, aims to unlock $1 trillion in valuation by 2026 through autonomous mobility and industrial automation. Ainvest
• [New] Autonomous systems are expected to mature, and McKinsey research estimates a long-term AI opportunity of $4.4 trillion in added productivity growth potential. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] Autonomous vehicles could account for 15% of passenger vehicles sold by 2030, fundamentally changing urban mobility patterns. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] Caterpillar announced plans to triple its autonomous truck fleet from 690 vehicles to over 2,000 by 2030, driven by projected 50% growth in mining capital expenditures and accelerating adoption in smaller mines and quarries. The AV Market Strategist
• [New] UAV Technology USA will return as the leading conference in the US dedicated to unmanned aerial systems and their evolving role in both modern warfare and the civil airspace. AUVSI Pathfinder
• [New] Autonomous trucking could soar into a $600 billion industry by 2035. altLINE
• [New] Autonomous AI agents will replace traditional workflows in 2025! Serokell
• [New] Significant progress in robot-assisted human interface technology will come very soon. Robotics News AI
• [New] Beihang University, known for its military aviation research, is using DeepSeek to improve drone swarm decision-making when targeting low, slow, small threats - military shorthand for drones and light aircraft - according to a patent filing in 2025. Yahoo News
• [New] Increasing Autonomy: AI agents will become more sophisticated and autonomous. Deepak Gupta | AI & Cybersecurity Innovation Leader
• [New] By 2028, one-third of enterprise applications will include autonomous AI agents. Deepak Gupta | AI & Cybersecurity Innovation Leader
• [New] From robot surgeons to hospital porters, robots will be increasingly visible in healthcare settings in 2026. Forbes
• [New] Combining reasoning with 360-degree camera vision is what Musk believes will give Tesla's autonomous vehicles a major edge in urban navigation. The News Wheel
• [New] A new approach developed at MIT could help a search-and-rescue robot navigate an unpredictable environment by rapidly generating an accurate map of its surroundings. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• [New] IRON is destined for mass production, although Xpeng ruled out household chores for the immediate future, pointing out that a humanoid robot operating in messy or unpredictable households could pose safety risks. Live Science
• [New] Cargill has introduced a four-legged robot, Spot, at its Amsterdam Multiseed crush and refinery plant in the Netherlands to support daily inspections, identify hazards in real time, and enhance operational reliability. CNS Media
• [New] ChatGPT-6 is the speculative next-generation large language model from OpenAI, expected to feature advanced capabilities such as persistent memory, autonomous agents, superior reasoning, and seamless integration of various data modalities. Medium

Last updated: 17 November 2025