Global Scans · Robots · Weekly Summary

• [New] The humanoid robot industry is entering an early commercialization phase, with adoption expected to scale first in industrial environments before expanding into broader commercial and consumer markets. i4.0 Today Magazine
• [New] The humanoid robot industry is entering an early commercialization phase, with adoption expected to scale first in industrial environments - such as automotive manufacturing and logistics & warehousing-before expanding into broader commercial and consumer markets. DC Velocity
• [New] Tesla will try to release a new robot design every year. NextBigFuture.com
• [New] As sensors become more affordable, computation more efficient, and algorithms more semantically aware, SLAM will continue to expand the frontiers of what autonomous systems can achieve - whether exploring distant planets, optimizing industrial workflows, or assisting humans in daily life. Level Up Coding
• [New] By level of automation, the fully autonomous segment will grow at a significant CAGR between 2026 to 2035. Precedence Research
• [New] The U.S. military will have to adapt much faster to manufacture drones in the enormous numbers required and to learn to employ autonomous systems effectively. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• [New] Autonomous formations will transform irregular warfare (such as counterinsurgency campaigns in the Sahel or Gaza), stability operations, and gray-zone competition (such as the maritime pressure Beijing exerts in the South China Sea), too. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• [New] Backed by an additional $250 million from Uber, Waabi plans to deploy at least 25,000 autonomous taxis through Uber's ride-hailing service, whose world-dominating reach encompasses 70 countries, about 15,000 cities and more than 200 million monthly users. IEEE Spectrum
• [New] The Uber-backed Nuro will test its own autonomous vehicles in the Japanese metropolis soon. Engadget
• [New] Uber's and Motional's Hyundai Ioniq 5 autonomous EVs will start appearing as an option for riders in Las Vegas. Engadget
• [New] Riders requesting UberX, Uber Electric, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric may be matched with a Motional robotaxi and will receive a notification before each trip, with the option to switch to a non-autonomous vehicle. Automotive World
• [New] Global autonomous vehicle numbers could reach about 125,660 units by 2030. Mexico Business
• [New] Semi-autonomous vehicles are expected to generate roughly US$ 2.33 trillion of that value, while fully autonomous vehicles could account for approximately US$ 1.88 trillion. Mexico Business
• [New] S&P Global estimates autonomous vehicles will account for about 10% of all US rideshare trips by 2030. Mexico Business
• MOLIT has finalized the results of the Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Operation Zone (AV POZ) Service Support Project open call and will provide a total of KRW 3 billion (approx. $2.14 million) to eight local governments: Seoul, Daegu, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongnam, and Jeju. Medium
• The Korean government is making efforts to provide opportunities to companies by expanding Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Operation Zones (AV POZ) nationwide. Medium
• Tesla's Optimus robot project is anticipated to reach human-level proficiency in 2026, potentially opening a new growth avenue beyond automotive. Thong Market Intelligence
• In 2026, Kasmi expects gradual integration of humanoid and autonomous systems in controlled environments such as logistics hubs, industrial sites and disaster zones. Khaleej Times
• Waymo plans to continue expanding its autonomous ride-hailing services to additional cities in the U.S. and internationally, as well as scaling up production of its vehicles to meet growing demand. National Today
• British self-driving startup Wayve has said it is confident its technology will allow autonomous vehicles to really drive anywhere, including on the UK's sometimes pothole-blighted roads. BBC News
• The Liberty-Class will comprise autonomous vessels designed for long-term operations and repeat production. Marine Insight

Last updated: 16 March 2026