Tactile Sensing, ICRA Keynotes and Plenary Videos, Humanoid Lite from Berkeley
Plus Brighter Signals, Enchanted Tools, Tangible Robots, Apptronik and Elevate Robotics, InBolt and Axiles Bionics
Berkeley researchers presented Humanoid Lite at the RSS 2025 conference this week.
Berkeley Humanoid Lite is an open-source humanoid robot designed to be accessible, customizable, and beneficial for the entire community. The core of this design is a modular 3D-printed gearbox for the actuators and robot body. All components can be sourced from widely available e-commerce platforms and fabricated using standard desktop 3D printers, keeping the total hardware cost under $6,000 (based on U.S. market prices).
Authors: Yufeng Chi, Qiayuan Liao, Junfeng Long, Xiaoyu Huang, Sophia Shao, Borivoje Nikolic, Zhongyu Li, Koushil Sreenath University of California, Berkeley
Videos from ICRA
The full ICRA playlist includes 61 videos covering keynotes, demos, panels, and more. Here are the main keynote / plenary videos from the ICRA 2025 playlist:
Dr Tessa Lau, CEO & Co‑Founder of Dusty Robotics, shares hard-earned lessons from building a robot company currently reshaping construction sites
Dr Allison Okamura (Stanford) explores societal implications of robots—from medical to in‑home care—and reframes our relationship with them
Prof Raff D’Andrea (ETH Zurich) challenges traditional model‑based robotics in light of AI’s rise—highlighting his CyberRunner ML platform
A deep dive into place recognition—a foundational capability for autonomous navigation
Tactile Sensing for Robots and the Bitter Lesson
This is a great article by Chris Paxton, outlining a number of new tactile sensing technologies, but also diving into the data scaling problem for tactile data vs language or vision data, aka The Bitter Lesson. The usefulness of tactile data might be approaching a tipping point however. Paxton sees rapid developments in the sensor field accompanied by new data collection techniques which will help tactile data to scale.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Thanks to everyone who is sending me their robotics news! Shout out to the launch of Brighter Signals (tactile sensing) this week and the soft launch of Tangible Robots (mobile bimanual manipulator) and the Enchanted Tools investor evening at Stanford Robotics Center.
Brighter Signals B.V., a sensing technology startup founded by serial entrepreneurs Andrew Klein, Christine Fraser and Edward Shim, today announced its launch and the acquisition of a breakthrough portfolio of patents for high-depth multi-modal tactile sensors made wholly of fabrics.
Backed by early-stage VC firm Antler, Brighter Signals has developed a sensor platform over ten years that offers unprecedented high-depth tactile sensitivity, flexibility, and environmental sustainability. Unlike binary touch sensors, Brighter Signals’ technology captures nuanced pressure gradients in real-time and can be seamlessly integrated into fabrics, surfaces, and structures. The sensors are lightweight, durable, and fully recyclable.
The company is initially focused on three industries:
Robotics: enabling high-fidelity tactile sensing in grippers and humanoid systems.
Automotive: powering advanced occupant classification and intelligent airbag control through in-seat sensors.
Healthcare: enabling passive, continuous monitoring of vitals such as heart rate and breathing, via wearables and smart surfaces.
Brighter Signals is actively working with top robotics and automotive OEMs, select tier 1 suppliers, and healthcare research partners to bring its sensors into real-world use.
“We’ve quietly built a platform that delivers true tactile intelligence,” said CEO Andrew Klein. “Now, with the support of Antler and our industry partners, we’re ready to scale.”
COO Christine Fraser added, “From adaptive robotic grasping to non-invasive patient monitoring, our sensors unlock safer, smarter systems across verticals.”
Inventor Edward Shim developed the sensor suite through over $2 million in grants and years of R&D. “What started as a better pressure sensor has become a platform with global relevance,” said Shim.
Ronald Jan Schuurs, Partner at Antler, noted: “With demand growing for non-invasive, context-aware sensing, Brighter Signals is well-positioned to lead.”
Production capacity is secured through outsourced partners in Europe and Asia.
About Brighter Signals:
Brighter Signals B.V. offers a flexible, high-depth and multi-modal tactile sensing platform protected by foundational patents. Based in Amsterdam and backed by Antler, its mission is to power the next generation of intelligent, responsive systems across industries.
About Antler:
Antler is a global early-stage VC enabling founders to build groundbreaking startups from day zero. With a presence in 30 cities, Antler has backed over 1,400 startups across six continents.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250623625986/en/
Apptronik announced the creation of Elevate Robotics, a wholly owned subsidiary focused on superhuman mobile manipulation.
Elevate will focus on automating industrial tasks beyond the limits of the human form. Apptronik is establishing Elevate to commercialize a unique multipurpose automation solution outside of the humanoid form factor with enormous potential to transform the way humans live and work.
Apollo was also featured in a blog from Google DeepMind on its new Gemini Robotics On-Device, with footage of Apollo doing tasks.
Inbolt, a Paris-based pioneer of real-time robot guidance solutions, announced it is expanding its operations to the U.S. and Japan. The company already has relationships in Europe with Stellantis, Renault, Volkswagen, Ford, and Beko. It will be setting up its U.S. office in Detroit, MI at Newlab. It will be led by co-founder and COO, Albane Dersey, one of the IFR's Top 10 women shaping robotics in 2025.
Brussels-based Axiles Bionics, a deeptech and medtech spin-off from Brubotics at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), has closed the first €6M tranche of its €8M Series A financing round.
The round was led and structured by PE Group, with support from the EIC Fund, Finance&Invest.brussels, private investors, entrepreneurs, and the company’s management team.
The funding will facilitate the international expansion of Lunaris, which the company asserts is the most advanced biomimetic prosthetic foot. Lunaris combines mechanical adaptability with embedded systems and is currently in use in clinical settings across multiple countries.
The funding will also advance the company’s development of future bionic devices. Axiles Bionics has received ongoing support from Innoviris, the Brussels public agency for research and innovation.
Stefan Yee, founder and CEO of PE Group, says, “Axiles Bionics is setting a new benchmark in robotic prosthetics. With Lunaris already demonstrating clinical, regulatory and initial commercial success, and a disruptive bionic technology on the horizon, Axiles is well-positioned to scale globally and transform the quality of life for amputees worldwide.”
The next generation bionic feet
Founded in 2019, Axiles Bionics is developing technologies at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and biomechanics to support mobility through prosthetics.
Its first product, Lunaris, is a robotic foot with FDA and CE certification that replicates natural walking patterns.
Lunaris represents a new approach to prosthetic technology aimed at improving movement for lower limb amputees. It serves as a base for future developments in the field, focusing on biomechanical function and responsiveness.
Use in clinical settings is increasing, supported by rising interest from patients and professionals seeking alternatives to standard prosthetic options.
Svetoslava Georgieva, Chair of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund Board, says, “The EIC Fund is proud to participate in this funding round, supporting a European deeptech company that has already demonstrated impressive commercial success and clinical achievements.”
“Axiles Bionics exemplifies the kind of science-driven innovation Europe needs to stay globally competitive in health technology and human-centric robotics.
Pierre Cherelle, founder and CEO of Axiles Bionics, adds, “We envision a future where advanced bionics become standard, enhancing lives with superior mobility, health, and wellbeing. This funding is a vote of confidence in our vision, our team, and the patients we serve.”
“Lunaris has proven that intuitive, lifelike mobility is achievable today. With our pipeline of bionic technologies, we aim to raise the bar once more — and reshape the global standard of prosthetic technology.”
The IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE) is the flagship automation conference of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) and constitutes the primary forum for cross-industry and multidisciplinary research in automation. Its goal is to provide broad coverage and dissemination of foundational research in automation among researchers and practitioners.
CASE 2025 will be held on August 17 – August 21, 2025, in Los Angeles, California, USA. The pre-conference workshops will be held on August 17, 2025. This is a great opportunity to showcase to the world’s leading automation, robotics and engineering community.
Sponsor and exhibitor information can be found here and you can also apply for the IEEE RAS IAB Startup Zone (discounted exhibit space and conference registration).
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Robotics News
Nvidia could use humanoid robots to build AI servers in Foxconn’s US factory - but I wonder where these robots will be built - TechRadar
Nvidia CEO says robotics is chipmaker’s biggest opportunity after AI - CNBC
Nvidia’s CEO sees a future with ‘billions of robots’ - Quartz
A tiny robotics company is more than tripling after drawing attention to its relationship with Nvidia - Sherwood
ForSight Robotics Secures $125M in Series B Funding, Addressing Global Surgeon Shortage and Exploding Demand for Ophthalmic Surgery - BusinessWire
US surgeons complete first-ever heart transplant using robotics - Techspot
Here are nine humanoid robots used by carmakers and no we’re not scared at all - Top Gear
OpenAI is working on Self-Driving Vehicles - NYTimes
Uber Eyes Pony.ai Acquisition: Autonomous Vehicle Stocks Heat Up - Yahoo Finance
Tesla says it delivered its first car autonomously from factory to customer - The Verge
These construction robots work 8x faster than human crews - New Atlas
Flipped, Tricked and Stuck in Snow: The Streets Are Mean for Food Robots - WSJ
Swarms of tiny nose robots could clear infected sinuses, researchers say - The Guardian
Wes Streeting puts robotic surgeons at heart of 10-year plan for NHS - Financial Times
Germany’s Humanoid Robots Fail to Show Up for Their Debut - Bloomberg
Tesla’s $800 Billion Robotaxi Dream Is Finally Facing Reality - Bloomberg
The Holy Grail of Automation: Now a Robot Can Unload a Truck - WSJ
This Amish company embraced robots - then made an even bolder bet - Fortune
Forget the Terminators, our robot future may be squishy and fun - New Scientist
Robotics Events
Bots & Beer & Boardgames - July 2
Actuate - Sep 23-24
SVR Robotics Investment Summit - Sep 25
ROSCON UK
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
