Global Scans · Robots · Weekly Summary

• [New] Tesla's Optimus robot initiative appears to be a significant long-term growth opportunity. PandaForecast.com
• [New] Uber and the European-grown robotaxi technology company Wayve have announced a partnership to launch trials of fully autonomous robotaxis in London starting in spring 2026. Eleport
• [New] Increasingly autonomous vehicles are expected to hit the roads in 2025, with the first robotaxis using level 4 autonomous driving systems (highly automated, but with the option of human control) now in use in several US cities. DE-CIX - we make interconnection easy. Anywhere.
• [New] The autonomous enterprise accelerates: 45% of enterprises operate semi - to fully autonomous today, a number projected to reach 74% by 2030, with 53% expecting to be fully autonomous. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Europe is boosting its defence spending, aiming to reach 5% of GDP by 2035, and working to enhance capabilities, including developing a resilient defence industrial base and autonomous digital infrastructure such as cloud computing for defence operations. Economic Times
• [New] In a recent post on X, formerly Twitter, Musk emphasized the exponential potential of Tesla's autonomous tech, suggesting it could proliferate faster than any prior innovation due to over-the-air updates enabling self-driving in millions of existing vehicles. WebProNews
• [New] The National Robotarium has introduced a new, tentacle-like, underwater robot that can safely interact with offshore structures which could revolutionise how subsea infrastructure is inspected and maintained around the world. Walker Morris
• [New] Industry Growth Outlook: The 5G IoT industry is estimated to be more than USD 380 billion by 2033, as driven by next-gen use cases in autonomous mobility, smart manufacturing, and healthcare IoT. Precedence Research
• [New] Verkkoby 2035, autonomous driving could create $300 to $400 billion in revenue. Jhu Innovations
• [New] Most analysts agree that progress on autonomous driving and the Cybercab program will be crucial swing factors for valuation over the next few years. The Cryptonomist
• [New] While Tesla's real-world driving data pool far exceeds that of rivals, which is a key advantage analysts say could accelerate autonomy development, Waymo currently maintains a commercial lead, operating hundreds of thousands of fully autonomous paid rides each week. Stocktwits
• [New] The U.S. government lacks a unified strategy to collectively protect American communities from emerging drone threats. DefenseScoop
• [New] The Google-owned robotaxi company is betting big on nationwide rollout while tackling its toughest challenge yet: winter driving conditions that could make or break autonomous vehicle adoption. The Tech Buzz
• [New] The U.S. Army is planning a major ramp-up in drone acquisition and plans to acquire at least a million drones within the next three years. Knobbe Martens
• Croatia's Verne is testing 60 autonomous cars in Zagreb, backed by €194M funding, with a driverless ride service slated for 2026 and safety operators at launch. 32CARS
• As agentic AI - autonomous systems capable of reasoning and making real-time decisions with minimal human intervention - matures beyond prototype stage, major global insurers must navigate a complex landscape of opportunity and risk. Insurance Business
• Dubai Autonomous Transportation Network - Fully autonomous buses and taxis will service major routes, reducing carbon output and easing congestion. Explore Dubai
• Autonomous Vehicle Expansion: Waymo plans to grow from 5 cities to 20 cities by 2027, representing 400% expansion in under three years. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• Google already has numerous partnerships with vehicle manufacturers and other autonomous tech companies; it will likely want to sell the Waymo driving tech to others and let them do the dirty work of operating a robotaxi service. Sherwood News
• In November, Waymo said it would begin rolling out fully autonomous rides in the three Texas cities for employees, before launching for the public in 2026. CNet
• Waymo is advancing its autonomous vehicle operations by removing safety operators from its robotaxi fleet in Miami, marking a significant step towards a commercial launch in 2026. Tipranks
• Google's Waymo announced today that its autonomous robotaxi service will be available to the public in five new US cities - Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando - beginning in 2026. Sherwood News

Last updated: 08 December 2025