Dexterity as a new robot olympic sport
Plus Dyna Robotics is adding reinforcement learning to robot arms for a massive $600 million valuation
Are you getting tired of robots boxing, running. doing gymnastics and playing football? The great debate at the 1st International Humanoid Olympiad was about finding a sport that would test robot dexterity. It turns out that humans don’t really test for dexterity in the Olympics. The most dexterous sports that people could come up with were rock climbing, archery, chariot racing, sailing and the throwing sports like discus and javelin.
Dexterity is such a fundamental human talent that we don’t find it exceptional on its own but usually only when qualitative or subjective value is added. Some of the most dexterous skills we discussed for robots at the Olympiad included: sewing, knitting, cooking, gardening, and playing music.
These are all areas where exceptional skills are considered arts, rather than sports. Or perhaps just considered ordinary. Even getting dressed in the morning requires great dexterity, but if a human can’t get dressed, we consider that a disability. Then consider the feats performed by parents who have to wash, dress, feed and care for fragile wriggling little children.
The 1st International Humanoid Olympiad was an incredible experience, held in the birthplace of the Olympics, next to the ancient stadium and gymnasiums. The next Humanoid Olympiad will set the bar higher with sports designed specifically for robots.
Greek Reporter: https://greekreporter.com/2025/09/02/humanoid-robots-descend-ancient-olympia/
Dyna Robotics shows that arms plus intelligence can compete with China
The common wisdom is that no robotics company can outperform a Chinese company on manufacturing physical robots, and that therefore physical robots are a ‘race to the bottom’ commodity. Certainly this has some truth as we’ve seen with the dominance of DJI in drones, or BYD in electric vehicles.
However, the largest industrial robotics hardware companies are Japanese or European, in spite of China now being the largest market for industrial robotics. China’s strength in commodity hardware is a weakness here, squeezing them in the middle zone in between robust, reliable more expensive industrial arms and the potential new breed of more intelligent robot arms.
The U.S. is well positioned for creating new robot hardware companies if playing to the strengths here in physical AI, which seems to explain the investment excitement gathering around newcomer Dyna Robotics, founded in 2024.
The startup, Redwood City, California-based Dyna Robotics, is considering multiple investment offers valuing it at $600 million, including the investment, according to a person involved in the process. The offers are coming just nine months after the company closed its $23.5 million seed round, which valued it at around $100 million. Dyna’s executives haven’t yet decided how much funding they will raise, but it’s likely to be more than $100 million, the person said.
Dyna aims to deploy its robots in specific industries earlier on than its competitors, so it can master more narrowly-defined tasks like folding laundry and preparing food in hotels or restaurants. This real world experience and repetition will help Dyna’s robots master individual skills faster and get to more generalized intelligence, the company has said.
Robotic Arm Company Considers Investment at $600 Million Valuation - by Stephanie Palazzolo and Rocket Drew at The Information
COMMUNITY NEWS
Foxglove's annual developer conference for physical AI, Actuate, is back next month. The two-day event will take place on September 23rd & 24th at the SFJAZZ in San Francisco, CA.
Acuate is one of the premier conferences for robotics developers looking to gain insight to tools, processes, and workflows used by leading companies to bring autonomous robotics to market.
As a partner of Foxglove, Silicon Valley Robotics has arranged a 15% discount code for registration.
15% registration discount code: SVROBO15
Register here
FIRA USA for AgRobotics
I'm excited to share a special invitation with you for this year's FIRA USA, taking place from October 21st - 23rd in Woodland, CA. This unique event focuses on autonomous solutions for specialty crops and large-scale farming, making it a must-attend for anyone in the agricultural robotics market.
As a partner of FIRA USA, Silicon Valley Robotics is proud to support this incredible event, and we hope you will join us. We've arranged a special 20% discount code for registration. Feel free to use this code as many times as you need.
20% registration discount code: NAOMISHISAIKEGUESTS
Register here
This year, Reservoir Farms will be exhibiting and will also be a stop on the "CA Ag Robotics Tour" hosted by FIRA USA. It's a fantastic opportunity to see the latest innovations in action on various farms.
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Robotics News
Humanoid robots were a scifi dream. Suddenly they’re everywhere - Washington Post
LG CNS to establish R&D center in Silicon Valley - The Korea Herald
Robots as clever as an octopus - Marine Technology News
Why Runway is eyeing the robotics industry for future revenue growth - TechCrunch
Elon Musk says Optimus robots will save Tesla. But many of them don’t work yet - The Independent
Do People Really Want Humanoid Robots in Their Homes? - Maya Cakmak inIEEE Spectrum
Autonomous technology startup Avride to ramp up testing as part of uber robotaxi rollout - Reuters
Joby Completes Landmark U.S. Defense Exercise with Autonomous Flight Technology - BusinessWire
San Jose Airport Authorizes Waymo To Offer Autonomous Car Rides From Terminals - SFGate
US Government Wants To Rewrite Rules For Autonomous Cars - SFGate
The US Government Sparks Global Alarm By Launching Self-Driving Robot Lab While Rivals Accuse Leaders Of Weaponizing Quantum Technology - Energy Reporters
US and Indian VCs just formed a $1B alliance to fund India’s deep tech startups - TechCrunch
Orchard Robotics, founded by a Thiel fellow Cornell dropout, raises $22M for farm vision AI - TechCrunch
Eufy built a stairlift for its robovacs - The Verge
Apple demands suppliers switch to robotics for manufacturing - MacRumors
Apple AI researcher for robotics joins META in latest exit - Bloomberg
Key Takeaways from Visual Capitalist
ABB and Epson are tied as the largest industrial robotics companies, each holding a 13% market share.
Japanese firms dominate the industry, occupying five of the top 10 spots globally.
The global industrial robotics market is on a sharp growth trajectory, projected to hit $10.2 billion in sales by 2025.
As factories automate and smart manufacturing expands, robotics play an increasingly vital role in production. By 2025, industrial robots are expected to handle nearly 60% of new installations in the automotive and electronics sectors alone.
This visualization breaks down the market share of leading industrial robotics manufacturers. The data for this graphic comes from Statista’s Market Insights.
(note Kuka was acquired by Chinese company Midea in 2016, so is no longer a German company)
Robotics Events
Actuate - Sep 23-24 (use our code “SVROBO15” for 15% discount)
SVR Robotics Investment Summit - Sep 25 (invite only)
FIRA USA, Woodland CA - Oct 21-23 (use our code “NAOMISHISAIKEGUESTS” for 20% discount)
ROSCON Singapore - Oct 27-30
SVR Robotics Leadership Summit - Dec 10
Humanoids Summit - Dec 11-12
Join the organizing team at Silicon Valley Robotics - bots&beer@svrobo.org
