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Cardiovascular surgeons at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami have performed the state's first robotics-assisted atrial septal defect repair, a minimally invasive cardiac procedure that typically requires open-heart surgery. The procedure places Florida among a handful of states offering robotic-assisted congenital heart defect repair. The technique reduces incision size from 6-8 inches to several centimeter-long ports.

The United Nations and International Committee of the Red Cross have jointly issued new calls for binding international restrictions on autonomous weapon systems that select and engage targets without human oversight. The effort comes as militaries worldwide deploy increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled drones in active combat zones, with data generated by civilians increasingly factoring into targeting algorithms.

Hyundai Motor Group's CEO revealed the automaker is exploring using its existing car dealership network to sell humanoid and quadruped robots manufactured by Boston Dynamics. The distribution strategy could leverage thousands of retail touchpoints already familiar with complex machinery sales, potentially bypassing the direct-to-business model most robotics companies currently use. The move signals Hyundai's intent to treat robotics as a consumer-facing product category rather than purely industrial equipment.

The humanoid robotics division of Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng Motors has closed a $900 million funding round, pushing its valuation to $6.3 billion as the company prepares for volume manufacturing. The capital infusion positions Dogotix among the most valuable standalone humanoid robotics ventures globally, trailing only Figure AI in private market valuations. The round signals intensifying competition between automotive manufacturers and pure-play robotics firms for dominance in the humanoid sector.

A pair of Beijing-built humanoid robots sustained more than 100 consecutive rallies against human athletes during a live demonstration on August 23 at the second World Humanoid Robot Games. The performance, broadcast globally during the event's opening ceremony, marks the longest autonomous tennis exchange on record for bipedal machines and demonstrates real-time ball tracking and court positioning at competitive speeds.

The Federal Communications Commission expanded its national security Covered List on July 28 to block new imports of communicating mobile robots weighing more than 2 kilograms from any foreign country. The Department of Defense-driven move disrupts supply chains across manufacturing, logistics, and research sectors that have relied on international robotics suppliers for years.

The California-based robotics retailer has ceased all imports from Chinese suppliers and moved production to domestic facilities, making it one of the first major consumer robotics brands to fully onshore manufacturing in response to federal trade restrictions. The transition affects the company's entire product catalog and could signal a broader restructuring of consumer robotics supply chains across North America.

Pudu Robotics has introduced the MP2000, an autonomous mobile robot engineered to move 2,000-kilogram loads through warehouse environments. The AI-native system enters a crowded autonomous forklift market where payload capacity and navigation precision determine customer adoption. Pudu, known primarily for service robots in hospitality, is now positioning itself against established industrial automation suppliers.

The global medical technology company has established a dedicated innovation center with Imperial College London's Hamlyn Centre to compress the timeline from laboratory research to clinical deployment. The partnership targets faster commercialization of surgical robotics technologies developed within one of Europe's leading academic programs, with both parties committing resources to bridge the gap between academic prototypes and market-ready systems.

Surgeons at Savelyeva Hospital deployed the CUVIS Hip robotic platform for a fully autonomous joint replacement procedure, marking the first time Russian orthopedic teams have ceded real-time control to a surgical robot. Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova disclosed the milestone operation, which arrives as domestic manufacturers race to reduce reliance on imported medical robotics systems banned under sanctions.

The weekly Video Friday collection from IEEE Spectrum continues to document robotics development milestones, with this edition featuring commentary on DARPA challenge experiences and upcoming industry events including IROS 2026 in Pittsburgh and the Humanoids Summit in Seoul. The roundup reflects ongoing industry attention to government-funded competitions as proving grounds for breakthrough capabilities.

Automotive supplier Unichem has purchased Loomia, a soft-circuit fabricator that pioneered flexible textile sensors, to manufacture tactile skin for humanoid robots. The acquisition brings automotive-grade manufacturing discipline to a technology category where most developers still rely on research-grade prototypes. R&Y, another automotive supplier, is separately partnering with the combined entity.