EP.67 A JET-POWERED HUMANOID THAT FLIES
Electronic skin with human-like touch from Cambridge, Korea with a hydraulic and powerful robot & much more...
New electronic skin brings human-like touch to robots 🫳🏼
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and University College London have developed a breakthrough single-material electronic skin that equips robots with a more human-like sense of touch. Fabricated from a flexible, conductive gel, the skin can detect pressure, temperature, and damage across its entire surface without requiring multiple embedded sensors.
Unlike conventional robotic skins, which rely on separate sensor types embedded in soft materials, this innovation uses a single material that senses multiple forms of contact simultaneously. The skin contains more than 860,000 micro-scale conductive pathways, enabling it to process complex tactile information—such as finger taps, heat exposure, and even punctures—through a unified interface.
Machine learning models trained on data from physical tests, including robotic and human interaction, enable the skin to recognize and classify different forms of touch. Researchers say this simplifies fabrication, reduces material complexity, and improves resilience.
The team envisions applications beyond robotics, including prosthetics, automotive safety systems, and disaster response. The project is backed by funding from Samsung, the Royal Society, and the UK’s EPSRC, and is part of an ongoing effort to bring biologically inspired sensing to next-generation machines.
Cobot cells that enable smarter welding! 👨🏼🏭
FR San Martino, a metal fabrication company in Italy, has modernized its welding operations with ABB’s OmniVance™ collaborative arc welding cells, equipped with GoFa™ collaborative robots. Facing increasing demand for low-volume, high-mix production, the company needed a flexible, safe, and efficient automation solution capable of handling frequent changeovers without compromising precision.
The GoFa cobots, built for collaborative arc welding, operate safely alongside human workers without physical guarding. Featuring ABB’s SafeMove app pre-installed on the FlexPendant, the system allows for easy setup and monitoring of safety zones. With intuitive programming and an Easy Teach Device mounted directly on the robot arm, even operators with limited robotics experience can quickly create accurate welding paths.
Since integrating the OmniVance system, FR San Martino has achieved improved speed, quality, and adaptability. The cobots’ precision ensures consistent weld quality across a variety of part geometries, while their collaborative design reduces worker exposure to heat and repetitive motion.
🦾 Feature sponsorship with ABB Robotics
A heavy-lifting hydraulic robot from Korea! 🇰🇷
KAERI has released a new video showcasing the strength of its dual-arm hydraulic robot, ARMstrong Dex, in a heavy lifting test. The robot, which is roughly human-sized, is seen performing a controlled bicep curl with a 40 kg weight—an impressive demonstration of power and mechanical precision.
Developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute for disaster response, ARMstrong Dex is built to carry out physically demanding tasks in hazardous environments where human presence may be unsafe. The robot combines human-like flexibility with high-force output, making it suitable for complex operations under extreme conditions.
This latest test not only highlights the robot’s lifting capabilities but also provides valuable performance data for its use in emergency and industrial applications where strength and precision are critical.
automatica 2025 starts today! 🚨
One of the largest automation and robotics fairs in the world will take place from June 24 to 27.
Lots of interesting companies, brilliant lectures and great people who make up the robotics community.
Some of my recommendations:
I will also be there, let's get to know each other!
World’s first jet-powered humanoid robot takes flight 🚀
Researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) have successfully flown iRonCub3—the world’s first humanoid robot to lift off using jet propulsion. The third-generation robot rose roughly 50 cm off the ground during a controlled test flight, maintaining its balance mid-air.
Built for rugged environments, iRonCub3 is a 70 kg humanoid machine equipped with four jet engines—two on its arms and two mounted on a backpack module. It can generate over 1000 newtons of thrust, with turbine exhaust temperatures reaching 800°C. A custom-designed titanium spine and thermal shielding allow it to withstand these extreme conditions.
The team developed new flight control models and integrated AI-driven estimators that help the robot respond in real time to air turbulence and limb movements. Neural networks trained on both simulations and experimental wind tunnel data enable adaptive flight stability.
The project is the result of a two-year collaboration involving IIT’s Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence (AMI) Lab, the Polytechnic of Milan, and Stanford University. A co-design approach was key—engineers simultaneously optimized structural design and propulsion layout for thermal tolerance, thrust control, and maneuverability.
Coco Robotics raises $80M to scale delivery fleet 🚛
Los Angeles-based Coco Robotics has secured $80 million in funding to expand its fleet of last-mile delivery robots. The round includes capital from returning angel investors Sam and Max Altman, as well as institutional backers such as Pelion Venture Partners and Offline Ventures. The total also incorporates previously undisclosed investments made between 2021 and 2025.
Founded in 2020 by Brad Squicciarini and Zach Rash, Coco has been deploying zero-emission sidewalk robots capable of carrying up to 90 liters of cargo. Since launch, its autonomous vehicles have completed over 500,000 deliveries, partnering with national brands like Subway, Wingstop, and Jack in the Box to streamline urban logistics.
Coco’s recent growth is closely tied to a partnership announced in March with OpenAI. The deal allows the robotics startup to integrate OpenAI’s language and vision models into its systems, while OpenAI benefits from access to Coco’s extensive real-world sensor data—fueling further model training. Although Sam Altman, a returning investor, personally backed Coco, a spokesperson confirmed he was not involved in brokering the OpenAI partnership.
With its new capital, Coco plans to accelerate development and broaden deployment across urban markets, reinforcing its position at the intersection of robotics, AI, and sustainable delivery infrastructure.
