NVIDIA GTC 2025 featured many main builders that embed NVIDIA merchandise of their robots. | Credit score: The Robotic Report
I spent the vast majority of Day 3 at NVIDIA GTC exploring the expo ground, studying in regards to the newest NVIDIA merchandise and catching up with among the key gamers within the robotics and synthetic intelligence business.
This 12 months, fewer humanoid robotic distributors have been in attendance. Agility Robotics, 1X Applied sciences, Unitree Robotics, and Neura Robotics had techniques on the expo ground, and EngineAI had a small kiosk with solely movies to indicate.
There have been a number of different collaborative robotic demonstrations together with just a few cell robots. General, there gave the impression to be fewer robots on the NVIDIA GTC present ground this 12 months.
I additionally talked to a number of corporations, similar to Lab0 and Agiloxthat break up their staffs this week to ship the larger demos to Promat in Chicago. Unitree will carry 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 eventually noticed the corporate’s robotic reside 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 under). Whereas the robotic was managed remotely, it was clear how simply the operator might translate their intentions to the robotic. Watching it easily choose 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 way of 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 models into houses later this 12 months. Autonomy will nonetheless be restricted, and the robotic shall be actively teleoperated over the community, however that is 1X’s plan to fill its “knowledge flywheel” with the required data for coaching its AI mannequin.
Security is paramount for 1X, particularly because it plans to ship robots into houses. This focus is obvious within the robotic’s design. As an alternative of a tough shell, it’s clothed in gentle supplies, giving it a much less intimidating look.
The padding, strategically positioned the place human muscle mass could be, is a considerate element, designed to reduce impression in case of unintentional contact. This design language positions it as a possible residence 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 applying of AI-driven, reinforcement studying (RL) for complete physique management.
The Digit humanoid demo was not like something that I’ve seen from the corporate earlier than. Whereas ProMat and different occasions give attention to business verticals, NVIDIA GTC is a horizontal expertise showcase, so Agility Robotics confirmed off new developments in its AI improvement program.
The corporate mentioned its whole-body loco-manipulation coverage was developed from scratch. The robotic’s gait, as seen within the video under, seems considerably erratic, nearly “drunk.”
Nonetheless, as Hurst defined, this new gait was a realized habits, and the engineering crew didn’t know what the end result could be. The robotic had realized to stroll autonomously in two weeks, the vast majority of which occurred in simulation with the NVIDIA crew.
Whereas Agility continues to be a frontrunner with the economic deployments of humanoids, it is usually a analysis firm and all the time pushing the boundaries of what’s doable.
RIVR exhibits 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 strong than Boston Dynamics‘ Spot, and it displayed outstanding agility.
It was thrilling to see legged robots being developed for sensible functions 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 12 months, 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 Cellular 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 just like Android Studio, meant to make it fast and straightforward for companions to develop techniques, with seamless interfaces and supporting libraries. The aim 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 improvement and adaptation, reasonably than attempting to create a one-size-fits-all robotic answer. By specializing in platform improvement and strategic partnerships, Teradyne goals to speed up AI-driven robotics adoption throughout totally different industries. We will count on to listen to extra sooner or later, straight 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 working 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 machine.
The creator stands subsequent to the Proxie AMR from Collaborative Robotics. | Credit score: The Robotic Report
I grew to become 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 straightforward to make use of the surgical system was.
After adjusting the 3D monitor and handbook calipers, the training curve was fast. I used to be in a position to choose up and transfer gadgets on the desk with excellent 3D comprehension of the place the tooltips have been in area.
It is a extremely refined system, but when I used to be in a position to study it this rapidly, I can solely think about how this software would enhance the capabilities of a talented surgeon.
Pebble Mobility is the most recent in good RVs
I acquired 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 contains a 45kWh battery, Simple 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 digicam, robotically hook as much as the car.
As soon as below means, 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. Which means that the Pebble Movement might be towed behind an electrical car with minimal impression 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 ability of the tow car to totally cost its batteries earlier than reaching a campsite.
As soon as on the campsite, the trailer might 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 good 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 among the most progressive RVs to be launched previously 12 months. The goal marketplace for Pebble Movement is primarily electrical car homeowners, however fuel/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 all the techniques administration capabilities and notion. The Pebble Movement is constructed within the U.S., and the firm‘s crew is made up of skilled automotive engineers and Silicon Valley veterans.
The corporate plans to start transport models for its “Founder Version” within the second half of this 12 months. 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 subsequent sequence of trailers.
The Pebble Movement contains a work space, together with a desk beneath the complete queen Murphy mattress. | Credit score: The Robotic Report
NVIDIA GTC exhibits persevering with advances
General, Day 3 of NVIDIA GTC supplied a wide-ranging have 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.
All the periods from GTC have been recorded and shall be obtainable solely to registered attendees of the occasion for the subsequent week. Then, choose periods shall be revealed and obtainable for watching by anybody. Go to the occasion web site to study extra.
