North American automation sees steady growth in H2, leadership changes at Boston, Agility, and more
Daily brief on news from the world of autonomous mobile robots.
North American automation sees steady growth in first half of 2025
A3’s latest report shows North American robot orders rose 4.3 percent and revenue 7.5 percent in H1 2025, Robotics Tomorrow reports. Automotive led gains with a 34 percent increase, while life sciences and plastics also grew.
Collaborative robots (cobots) comprised 17 percent of orders, gaining market share. Non-automotive sectors drove Q2 growth, signaling automation’s expanding role. A3 launched a new market intelligence platform to provide exclusive forecasts and analytics for members focused on workforce-ready automation solutions.
Leadership shifts mark new chapters for top robotics innovators
Boston Dynamics CTO Aaron Saunders and Agility Robotics CPO Melonee Wise are both stepping down after long tenures shaping the direction of humanoid robotics, The Robot Report posts.
Saunders spent over 23 years helping pioneer robots like BigDog and Spot. Wise, recognized for developing ROS and leading multiple robotics ventures, joined Agility in 2023 and restructured its product teams. These departures signal pivotal change and fresh vision for both companies.
Rockwell Automation invests $2B in Wisconsin and Ohio plants
Rockwell Automation, which is stepping up its warehouse innovation, is investing $2 billion over five years to expand manufacturing in Wisconsin and Ohio, SupplyChain 24/7 reports. The initiative includes digital infrastructure upgrades, hiring additional talent, and enhancing plant productivity.
The investment will support both automation and brick‑and‑mortar improvements, aiming to grow market share and margins. While specific job numbers are unannounced, the CEO cited a renewed commitment to American manufacturing. This move signals confidence in Midwest industry and future U.S. economic growth.
Algorithm lets robots identify and integrate new sensors automatically
Researchers developed an algorithm enabling robots to instantly recognize and integrate new sensors—like GPS, magnetometers, or speedometers—without expert input or manual calibration, Tech Xplore reports.
The system identifies sensor type, position, and orientation following simple movements, easing deployment and saving time. This innovation makes sensor model integration faster and more robust for autonomous machines, with 14,000 GitHub requests highlighting demand. The advance simplifies sensor fusion for robots in diverse applications ranging from drones to autonomous vehicles.
Muscle‑inspired actuators drive powerful insect‑sized soft robots
Researchers have created a muscle‑like elasto‑electromagnetic actuator that powers insect‑sized soft robots for crawling, swimming, and jumping, IEEE Spectrum reports. Made of silicone, magnets, coils, and iron spheres, it delivers high force at low voltage with up to 60 percent contraction.
Autonomous bots showed resilience, traversing rough terrain and surviving 30‑meter drops. They also performed sensing tasks in complex environments. Future plans include sensor‑rich swarms, flying and swimming designs, and deep‑sea jellyfish‑like soft robots for exploration.
