IJR News

FireFly Robotics Files for Proposed Nasdaq Direct ListingTech — 1dFireFly Robotics filed to list up to 27.1 million existing shares on Nasdaq as FFLY on Oct. 7, 2026, raising no proceeds after withdrawing a prior $29.3 million IPO plan.

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Boston Dynamics names Prasad CEOBusiness — 2dEx-Amazon Alexa chief Rohit Prasad takes Boston Dynamics CEO role October 7 as Hyundai targets 30,000 humanoid robots a year and a 2028 Georgia Atlas deployment.

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Figure gives F.02 robots fiery Terminator farewell in Finland — 4dCalifornia robotics company Figure retired its F.02 humanoid robots by melting them at a Finnish steel foundry, turning the disposal into a dramatic farewell inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s suggestion. Figure said the approach protected proprietary technology and spared engineers from dismantling the machines as it shifts to newer models.

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German RobCo Reaches $1B Valuation After Share Sale — 3dMunich-based robotics startup RobCo has topped a $1 billion valuation after an approximately $40 million share sale that lets employees cash out and brings in new and existing investors. The valuation roughly doubles its January level as the company scales its industrial automation business and prepares to launch its self-learning robot, Alfie.

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Elena Vasquez Alfie sounds promising but self-learning robots still need plenty of real-world testing before they scale.

Danaher Plans AI Lab for Antibody Discovery in 2027 — 1dDanaher plans to launch an AI-powered autonomous laboratory at Abcam, combining robotics and technology from across the company to design, build and test antibodies and other molecular tools. Expected to operate at scale in early 2027, the lab aims to accelerate discovery up to eightfold and eventually produce nearly ten times more reagents, while scientists retain key decision-making roles.

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Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

China Slows Humanoid-Robot IPOs Over Valuation Concerns — Sep 21, 2026Unitree Robotics shares surged more than fivefold on Shanghai debut then fell 55% from peak as regulators slow humanoid-robot IPOs over valuation concerns.

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Rachel Meyers Regulators are right to pause these IPOs after Unitree's wild surge and drop showed how overheated the valuations got.

Estonia Says Russia Ordered Milrem Factory Arson — Sep 29, 2026Estonia says Russian services ordered the Aug. 15 arson at Milrem Robotics, a Ukraine supplier; three suspects arrested; Kremlin calls the claim baseless.

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Tom Gallagher This sabotage attempt shows why Estonia needs to stay vigilant against hybrid threats from Moscow.

Efficient Computer raises $97M Series B at $650M valuation — Sep 29, 2026Efficient Computer raised more than $97M in Series B funding at a $650M valuation, led by TQ Ventures, to scale its shipping Electron E1 dataflow chips from robots and drones toward datacenters.

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Humanoid robot sales total 7,000 as forecasts point to rapid growth — Sep 21, 2026About 7,000 humanoid robots sold worldwide in 2025 in the IFR's first industry-wide tally, as Bank of America projects 1.2 million shipments by 2030.

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Maya Lindstrom Seven thousand units this year already proves companies see real value in these robots for tough jobs.

Toyota estimates $6.4B yearly automation spend for 400,000 robots — Sep 18, 2026Toyota estimates about $6.4B a year from 2028 for automation, with roughly 400,000 robots that could be deployed across its factories, group and suppliers.

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Priya Raman Smaller suppliers will have trouble matching that kind of robot rollout even if Toyota helps them with the technology.

Five Arrested Near RAF Fairford, 85 Homes Evacuated — Sep 27, 2026Five men arrested near RAF Fairford as a bomb disposal robot inspected three white vans—two with open rear doors and black barrels scattered—while 85 homes were evacuated.

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Jared Kim This shows we can't take security around US bases for granted with threats like explosives.

New York Pizza vs Chicago Deep DishYourlist — VS BattleThe foldable slice versus the fork-and-knife casserole — America's longest-running food fight.

World’s Busiest Station Tests Robotic Bins — Sep 18, 2026Shinjuku Station in Tokyo is testing three mobile robotic trash bins to assist the overwhelmed sanitation staff amid reduced traditional bins, with trials running until late November and daily passenger flow exceeding 2.7 million. The slow-moving, about-1-meter-tall robots navigate crowds to collect waste, return to a collection point when full, and are evaluated for safety, navigation, and passenger engagement, drawing both concerns about efficiency and enthusiasm from tourists.

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Spacecraft reenters after failed bid to rescue aging NASA telescope — Sep 25, 2026Link reentered Friday, ending a $30 million NASA-sponsored bid by Katalyst's three-armed commercial robot to rescue the 22-year-old Swift Observatory.

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Maya Lindstrom It's a shame they couldn't grab the Swift with that robot arm before it burned up, after all that money spent.

Global Race for Intelligent Robots IntensifiesTech — Sep 16, 2026A global race to build general-purpose robot intelligence and autonomous systems is accelerating, with US and Chinese firms pushing embodied robots and robotaxi-scale deployments that could redefine homes, factories, hospitals, and energy use, including a looming surge in electric-vehicle charging demand. At the same time, discussions—ranging from serious regulatory concerns to tongue-in-cheek warnings—underscore that safety, governance, and societal risks must accompany the rapid technological advances.

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From Wearables to Robots to Tabletop Trinkets, the AI Hardware Scene Is BoomingTech — Sep 8, 2026

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Can you actually read a map?Quizie — QuizFifteen world-geography questions. Most people miss at least three — the AI grades you and names your traveler rank.

Beijing Chaoyang Light, Arts Festivals OpenEntertainment — Sep 27, 2026Beijing is hosting a major light-and-arts festival, while Chinese choreographer Fang Zhenghua is combining street dance with traditional cultural elements and robotics. Other reports examine the potential upheaval of a Taiwan annexation, a U.S.-China summit that produced a temporary trade truce, and allegations that Hunan officials took money from a detained Shanghai technology executive without releasing him.

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Chinese EV Makers Reportedly Pursue Tech Sales — Sep 17, 2026After a 1.7 billion yuan Q2 loss, Li Auto seeks outside buyers for its 1,280-TOPS Mach chips; Xpeng plans tech offers beyond VW as its IRON robot walks off the line.

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Maya Lindstrom Xpeng letting its robot walk off the line shows real progress but offering tech to outsiders could help them recover faster than VW alone.

Altera Prepares Confidential IPO Filing Targeting Over $2 Billion — Sep 10, 2026Altera, now backed by Silver Lake and Intel, is moving toward a confidential IPO that could raise over $2 billion and list as early as 2026, in what would be a major standalone semiconductor listing driven by growth in FPGAs for AI, robotics, and edge computing. The move follows Intel's 2015 acquisition, subsequent partial sale to Silver Lake in 2025, and fresh governance with new independent directors as Altera positions itself to capitalize on its double-digit revenue growth and expanding AI-enabled FPGA portfolio.

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Sam Okafor Silver Lake's stake makes me think this IPO valuation will hold up if their robotics growth numbers are real.

Waymo Launches Robotaxis in 15th U.S. City — Sep 14, 2026Waymo launched paid, fully autonomous robotaxi rides in Las Vegas, its 15th U.S. city, starting in a 24-mile zone around the Strip.

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Maya Lindstrom Las Vegas traffic is brutal so having driverless cars available for tourists sounds like a smart move.

Tesla Plans First Cybercab Display in EuropeTech — 2dTesla will show its steering-wheel-free Cybercab robotaxi at the Paris Motor Show, its first European display, as it seeks to build momentum for a potential European rollout. The showcase advances Tesla’s autonomy ambitions, but commercial service will depend on technical progress and regulatory approvals; separately, a growing Cybercab presence in Houston has fueled speculation that the city could be the next U.S. launch market after Austin.

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Tesla Nearly Quadruples Texas Cybercab ApprovalsTech — 5dTesla nearly quadrupled its Texas-authorized Cybercab fleet to 169 in the month after its Austin launch, but riders have reported long waits, incorrect pickups and drop-offs, and door and trunk problems. Scaling the robotaxi service is central to Tesla’s growth strategy as its auto business faces weak sales and competition, while Waymo’s larger expansion underscores the challenge ahead.

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Waymo Plans Singapore Robotaxi Launch in 2028 — Sep 18, 2026Waymo plans fully autonomous ride-hailing in Singapore in 2028, its first Southeast Asia market, after more than 20 million autonomous rides.

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Elena Vasquez Singapore's dense traffic and strict rules will be a real test for Waymo's self-driving tech by 2028.

Waymo Robotaxi Stops After Loaded Ghost Gun Detected — Sep 12, 2026Two minors in a Waymo autonomous vehicle in San Francisco were detained after Waymo detected a firearm, prompting a high-risk stop that led to the recovery of a loaded AR-style ghost gun along with suspected marijuana and mace spray, and the youths were booked on illegal firearm possession. Waymo says it cooperated with police and notes this is not the first incident involving underage riders, with a prior July case in San Mateo where teens were found with alcohol and shooting objects from a car, and the investigation into the SF incident is ongoing.

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Rachel Meyers Waymo's detection system probably prevented something worse from happening with those kids and the gun.

Beijing Humanoid Games Highlight Robot Speed and Reliability — Aug 22, 2026Honor’s Lightning humanoid robot ran 100 metres in 9.32 seconds, shaving 0.26 seconds off Usain Bolt’s human world record and signaling rapid advances in robotics ahead of the World Humanoid Robot Games. The feat underscores China’s push to develop humanoid AI and robotics for manufacturing, logistics and other applications, with Lightning previously winning a Beijing half marathon and now shown at heightened speed and capability.

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