Robotics Daily News: ABB Expands Robot Line-Up in China to Target Mid-Sized Customers

ABB Expands Robot Line-Up in China to Target Mid-Sized Customers

ABB has introduced three new robot families—Lite+, PoWa, and IRB1200—designed for China's mid-market segment. These robots cater to sectors like electronics, food and beverage, and metals, performing tasks such as pick-and-place, basic inspection, and product polishing. The mid-market robotics segment in China is expected to grow at 8% annually over the next three years, driven by increasing automation amid labor shortages and improved AI interfaces making robots more user-friendly. (reuters.com)

UK Health Secretary Plans to Integrate Robotic Surgery into NHS Overhaul

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced that robotic technology will be central to the government's forthcoming 10-year plan to reform the NHS. The plan aims to improve productivity and patient outcomes by mandating increased use of robot-assisted surgeries—targeting that one in eight operations will be robot-performed within a decade, up from the current one in sixty. (ft.com)

China's Humanoid Robots Generate More Soccer Excitement Than Human Teams

In Beijing, humanoid robot soccer teams have captivated audiences, surpassing the excitement generated by China's underperforming national men's soccer team. Four university teams competed in China's first fully autonomous 3-on-3 robot soccer tournament, driven entirely by artificial intelligence without human intervention. The event showcased advanced AI technologies, including visual recognition, field navigation, and autonomous decision-making. (apnews.com)

CMR Surgical Faces Challenges Amidst Competition in Surgical Robotics Market

CMR Surgical, a UK-based surgical robotics company, has developed the Versius system, a modular robotic technology for keyhole surgery. Despite raising nearly $1 billion and being valued at $3 billion, CMR faces tough competition in a surgical robotics industry projected to reach $14 billion by next year. With fewer than 200 Versius units installed compared to 10,000 da Vinci systems, CMR is in a crucial growth phase and reported a £130 million loss in 2024. (ft.com)

China's AI-Powered Humanoid Robots Aim to Transform Manufacturing

China is advancing its use of AI-powered humanoid robots to transform the manufacturing sector amid economic challenges like trade tensions, population decline, and slower growth. Startups like AgiBot and MagicLab, backed by government support, are deploying robots capable of performing complex tasks including assembly and quality control. The government provides significant subsidies, with over $20 billion allocated and municipal programs offering financial and operational benefits to robot firms. (reuters.com)