Honor has begun selling its experimental Robot Phone in China, a device that hides a tiny three-axis gimbal mechanism behind the main 200-megapixel camera on its back. The company says it engineered a custom 2.6-gram motor to make the mechanism small enough to fit inside a handset, though the result is a 9.6mm-thick phone. Despite showing the device internationally at MWC 2026, Honor is limiting the launch to a small production run in its home market for now.
engadget.com
· 2026-08-31
A Department of Homeland Security procurement notice reveals plans to buy Boston Dynamics' Spot quadruped robots and accessories for between $1 million and $2 million. The robots would be used by ICE for inspection, situational awareness, and hazard assessment in risky or hard-to-access environments before officers enter. A DHS official confirmed to NBC News that the robots would not be used for apprehending people or making arrests.
techspot.com
· 2026-08-31
A Taiwanese man remotely accessed his robot vacuum's camera to catch his wife with another man, then used the footage to win roughly $16,000 in a civil suit over infringement of spousal rights. His wife countersued for illegal filming without consent, and a court sentenced him to five months in prison and fined him about 30% of his award.
techspot.com
· 2026-08-31
At an annual robotics showcase in Beijing, humanoid robots competed across events including sprints, standing high jump, kickboxing and dance routines. Several machines reportedly surpassed human world records, including in the 100-meter and 400-meter sprints, while others suffered dramatic falls during the competitions.
cnet.com
· 2026-08-30
Roborock has released the Qrevo 2 Pro, a midrange robot vacuum that combines suction and mopping capabilities in one device. Testing found the unit performs cleaning tasks well but its object-avoidance sensors frequently fail to detect cables, leading it to snag or ingest them during runs.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-08-30
Beijing hosted the second World Humanoid Robot Games, a five-day event featuring humanoid robots competing in sprints, weightlifting, and cheerleading routines. Alongside genuine performance gains over last year's inaugural games, the event was marked by spectacular malfunctions, including robots losing limbs, catching fire, and crashing into judges' tables.
theverge.com
· 2026-08-30
Amazon is selling the Roborock Q7 M5 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop for $279.99, a $150 cut from its $429.99 list price, marking a 35% discount. The device combines vacuuming and mopping with a self-emptying dock that can go 7 to 9 weeks between bag changes under normal use.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-28
Roborock has released the Qrevo 2 Pro, a midrange robot vacuum and mop combo with a self-emptying dustbin, self-washing mop pads, and 20,000Pa of suction. The device carries an $800 MSRP but is available for $550 through September 6 as an introductory offer. A ZDNET tester found it effectively handled pet hair on hardwood and carpet, though it struggled to avoid cords during use.
zdnet.com
· 2026-08-28
Roborock has unveiled the Qrevo 2 Pro, a robot vacuum featuring 25,000Pa of suction and a Dual Anti-Tangle System meant to stop hair from wrapping around its brushes. It also lifts its mop pads automatically before rolling onto carpet, using Carpet Boost+ and Deep Carpet Cleaning to dig dirt out of rugs, while its dock washes, dries, refills and empties the unit on its own for up to 65 days. The device launches at a promotional price of $550.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-28
Mammotion is discounting its LUBA 3 AWD 3000H robot lawn mower to $2,239 from $2,799 and its smaller LUBA mini 2 AWD 1500H to $1,799 from $1,999 through August 31. Both deals include a free $79 cleaning stand, and new customers buying the mini 2 directly from Mammotion can apply an extra $50-off coupon.
zdnet.com
· 2026-08-28
A string of automated pizza companies—including Zume, Pazzi, Basil Street and Picnic—have shut down after struggling to reliably assemble food with machines. Analysts note that robots often fumble ingredient placement, while human workers remain faster and more efficient at the task. Despite these setbacks, restaurateur Kindell is building his own 3D-printer-inspired pizza robot, aiming for a working prototype by 2027.
bbc.co.uk
· 2026-08-27
Anthropic has published a new framework called Model Hardware Standard that sets rules for how AI agents should interact with physical devices such as microscopes, liquid-handling systems, quantum computing hardware, manufacturing machines, and robot arms. The company plans to test it with trusted partners to refine safety measures before releasing it more broadly.
wired.com
· 2026-08-27
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