NVIDIA GTC 2025 featured many main builders that embed NVIDIA merchandise of their robots. | Credit score: The Robotic Report
I spent nearly all of Day 3 at NVIDIA GTC exploring the expo flooring, studying in regards to the newest NVIDIA merchandise and catching up with among the key gamers within the robotics and synthetic intelligence trade.
This yr, fewer humanoid robotic distributors had been in attendance. Agility Robotics, 1X Applied sciences, Unitree Robotics, and Neura Robotics had programs on the expo flooring, and EngineAI had a small kiosk with solely movies to indicate.
There have been a number of different collaborative robotic demonstrations together with a number of cell robots. General, there appeared to be fewer robots on the NVIDIA GTC present flooring this yr.
I additionally talked to a number of firms, reminiscent of Lab0 and Agiloxthat cut up their staffs this week to ship the larger demos to Promat in Chicago. Unitree will convey its G1 humanoid to the Robotics Summit & Expo subsequent month.
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1X designs a humanoid with a human contact
My first cease was 1X Applied sciences. I met CEO Bernt Børnich in particular person for the primary time and at last noticed the corporate’s robotic stay in motion. My preliminary impression? The humanoid was spectacular, particularly its obvious nimbleness.
What caught my consideration was the teleoperated demo within the sales space (see video beneath). Whereas the robotic was managed remotely, it was clear how simply the operator might translate their intentions to the robotic. Watching it easily decide up and use a vacuum cleaner to wash the carpet was a testomony to the intuitive controls. 1X is actively coaching the robotic for autonomy by teleoperation.
I requested Børnich in regards to the present state of the corporate’s product roadmap. He replied that it’s making ready to deploy extra beta items into properties later this yr. Autonomy will nonetheless be restricted, and the robotic can be actively teleoperated over the community, however that is 1X’s plan to fill its “knowledge flywheel” with the required info for coaching its AI mannequin.
Security is paramount for 1X, particularly because it plans to ship robots into properties. This focus is obvious within the robotic’s design. As a substitute of a tough shell, it’s clothed in delicate supplies, giving it a much less intimidating look.
The padding, strategically positioned the place human muscle groups could be, is a considerate element, designed to reduce influence in case of unintentional contact. This design language positions it as a possible dwelling companion.
Agility’s Digit demonstrates whole-body RL physique management
On the Agility Robotics sales space subsequent door, I spoke with co-founder and Chief Robotic Officer Jonathan Hurst and Chief Expertise Officer Pras Velagapudi. They demonstrated the appliance of AI-driven, reinforcement studying (RL) for entire physique management.
The Digit humanoid demo was in contrast to something that I’ve seen from the corporate earlier than. Whereas ProMat and different occasions deal with trade verticals, NVIDIA GTC is a horizontal know-how showcase, so Agility Robotics confirmed off new developments in its AI growth program.
The corporate stated its whole-body loco-manipulation coverage was developed from scratch. The robotic’s gait, as seen within the video beneath, seems considerably erratic, virtually “drunk.”
Nonetheless, as Hurst defined, this new gait was a discovered conduct, and the engineering group didn’t know what the end result could be. The robotic had discovered to stroll autonomously in two weeks, nearly all of which occurred in simulation with the NVIDIA group.
Whereas Agility continues to be a pacesetter with the commercial deployments of humanoids, it is usually a analysis firm and all the time pushing the boundaries of what’s doable.
RIVR reveals legged robotic for last-mile deliveries
I additionally stopped by the RIVR sales space, the place I noticed its wheeled quadruped robotic designed for last-mile supply. This robotic is considerably bigger and extra sturdy than Boston Dynamics‘ Spot, and it displayed outstanding agility.
It was thrilling to see legged robots being developed for sensible purposes like last-mile supply.
Neura Robotics teases humanoid
Neura Robotics confirmed its 4NE-1 humanoid robotic. Nonetheless, the robotic was a static show. The corporate is planning to roll it out — or ought to I say, “stroll it out” — later this yr, so we’ll have to attend to see it in motion.
Neura is constructing a bipedal robotic. At NVIDIA GTC 2025, the corporate had a static show. | Credit score: The Robotic Report
Teradyne has huge plans for its AI roadmap
On the Teradyne sales space, I met with James Davidson, chief AI officer. He emphasised the worldwide initiatives that he’s overseeing at Teradyne, throughout each Common Robots (UR) and Cell Industrial Robots (MiR) product groups to construct a strong AI platform that enables fast iteration and straightforward integration for companions.
Davidson envisioned making a platform much like Android Studio, meant to make it fast and straightforward for companions to develop programs, with seamless interfaces and supporting libraries. The objective is to offer core AI capabilities like manipulation and notion that companions can simply select and customise for his or her particular wants.
Teradyne’s technique seems to be constructing a versatile ecosystem that enables fast growth and adaptation, quite than making an attempt to create a one-size-fits-all robotic answer. By specializing in platform growth and strategic partnerships, Teradyne goals to speed up AI-driven robotics adoption throughout completely different industries. We will anticipate to listen to extra sooner or later, immediately from Davidson.
Mike Oitzman (l) interviews Teradyne Chief AI Officer James Davidson (r) on the Teradyne sales space at NVIDIA GTC 2025. | Credit score: McCall Media
CoBot brings Proxie robotic
Additionally at GTC, I had an opportunity to see and contact the Collaborative Robotics Proxie robotic up shut and private.
Whereas the cell manipulator wasn’t operating on the present, I used to be in a position to study its design and development. The system options “swerve” drive for the 4 wheels on the bottom, plus a strong cart-capture system.
The creator stands subsequent to the Proxie AMR from Collaborative Robotics. | Credit score: The Robotic Report
I turned a robotic surgeon, for a second
One of many enjoyable interactive demos on the present was the Intuitive Surgical sales space, the place attendees might sit down and teleoperate the corporate’s da Vinci robotic. I used to be shocked at simply how simple to make use of the surgical system was.
After adjusting the 3D monitor and handbook calipers, the training curve was rapid. I used to be in a position to decide up and transfer objects on the desk with good 3D comprehension of the place the tooltips had been in area.
It is a extremely refined system, but when I used to be in a position to be taught it this rapidly, I can solely think about how this instrument would enhance the capabilities of a talented surgeon.
Pebble Mobility is the newest in sensible RVs
I bought a full tour of the brand new Pebble Movement leisure car from Stefan Solyom, CTO of Pebble Mobility. After studying in regards to the RV’s options, I’d classify it as a robotic. The car encompasses a 45kWh battery, Straightforward Tow with powered wheels, and 1.1 kW photo voltaic arrays.
One function that brought on me to outline Pebble Movement as a robotic is the the Magic Hitch function. The trailer can autonomously drive to the rear of the tow car, and utilizing a imaginative and prescient digital camera, robotically hook as much as the car.
As soon as beneath approach, the car has a number of modes, together with one mode that utilizing energy from its batteries to drive the wheels and scale back drag on the tow car. Because of this the Pebble Movement could be towed behind an electrical car with minimal influence on the vary of the electrical car.
The trailer also can use regenerative braking to recharge its battery. The RV may even be put into “cost mode” and apply mild regenerative braking in opposition to the facility of the tow car to completely cost its batteries earlier than reaching a campsite.
As soon as on the campsite, the trailer could be unhitched and moved into the ultimate place utilizing a Bluetooth connection to a smartphone app — no extra worries about backing into one thing.
The brand new Pebble Movement sensible RV goes into manufacturing as the corporate prepares to ship its Founder Membership version to the primary paying prospects. | Credit score: The Robotic Report
General, the Pebble Movement is without doubt one of the most modern RVs to be launched prior to now yr. The goal marketplace for Pebble Movement is primarily electrical car homeowners, however gasoline/diesel fuel-powered tow car homeowners also can profit from the options of the platform.
Pebble Movement was featured at NVIDIA GTC as a result of it has a NVIDIA ORIN processor onboard for the entire programs administration capabilities and notion. The Pebble Movement is constructed within the U.S., and the firm‘s group is made up of skilled automotive engineers and Silicon Valley veterans.
The corporate plans to start delivery items for its “Founder Version” within the second half of this yr. The Founder Version comes totally loaded with each function, and it contains emergency roadside help wherever within the continental U.S. The corporate is taking orders for future supply of the following collection of trailers.
The Pebble Movement encompasses a work space, together with a desk beneath the complete queen Murphy mattress. | Credit score: The Robotic Report
NVIDIA GTC reveals persevering with advances
General, Day 3 of NVIDIA GTC offered a wide-ranging take a look at the evolving world of robotics. From the safety-conscious design of 1X’s humanoids and Agility Robotics’ AI-driven studying experiments to Pebble’s self-driving RV, it was clear that the way forward for robotics is each thrilling and quickly approaching.
The entire classes from GTC had been recorded and can be accessible solely to registered attendees of the occasion for the following week. Then, choose classes can be printed and accessible for watching by anybody. Go to the occasion website to be taught extra.
