Six Degrees of Robotics

A Long Island inventor has unveiled a robotic fire dog called B2, capable of charging into burning buildings, blasting flames from 100 feet away, and enduring heat up to 572°F. Developed by Teddy Haggerty of Robostore using a Unitree platform, the 150-pound, three-foot-tall quadruped can trot at 12 mph, carry 200 pounds, and use thermal imaging to locate trapped victims. It’s also learning from experience — during one demo, it toppled under water pressure but righted itself on the next attempt using AI-based motion correction. Priced at $150,000, the B2 is designed to assist — not replace — firefighters. Local departments see it as a game-changer for volunteer forces facing staff shortages and increasingly dangerous fires linked to lithium-ion batteries. Expected to hit the U.S. market in 2026, B2 could make “going into a burning building” a job for robots, not humans. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eQ_vqSTv

PostNL has begun testing robotic dogs and a humanoid robot to support its delivery workers. The trials, conducted in Leerdam with Smartrobot Solutions, explore how robots can assist rather than replace human staff. The robotic dog helps carry packages—especially up stairs—while the humanoid robot restocks parcel lockers. PostNL emphasized that delivery workers will remain the public face of service as it continues to integrate robotics into operations already supported by automated sorting centers. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e6j3KM5t

San Francisco–based robotics startup Armstrong has raised $12 million from investors including Lerer Hippeau, Bloomberg Beta, and Next Play Ventures to scale its AI-powered dishwashing robots. Founded by Axel Hansen and Jonah Varon (who previously sold a company to LinkedIn), Armstrong is tackling one of the toughest jobs in restaurants—dishwashing, which sees high turnover despite $20/hour wages. The company’s robots are already washing over one million dishes annually for major restaurant chains, operating 24/7 under a monthly subscription that covers installation, operation, and maintenance. Using advanced neural networks and 3D perception, the robots can identify and clean messy dish piles with precision, integrating into existing commercial dish systems without workflow disruption. Armstrong’s broader goal: to create general-purpose kitchen robots that will soon take on prep, cooking, and cleaning tasks, helping restaurants stay open, efficient, and profitable amid ongoing labor shortages. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e-FsR4TC

Iran has unveiled its third-generation smart robots, marking a major leap in automating its national postal network. These AI-powered machines can read barcodes, weigh and sort parcels with near-perfect accuracy—reportedly handling up to 30,000 packages a day and speeding up operations fourfold. Developed largely by domestic tech teams, the robots are part of a broader “smart post” initiative that includes automated kiosks and intelligent mailboxes—signaling Iran’s push for homegrown logistics automation amid ongoing import restrictions. It’s also a reminder that robotic transformation isn’t just a Western story. From Singapore’s smart ports to Tehran’s postal hubs, nations worldwide are weaving automation into the infrastructure of everyday life.

You can still smell it if you close your eyes: sawdust, hot solder, the tang of cutting oil. For most of the 20th century, American high schools had rooms where kids learned to wire, weld, and build. Then those rooms disappeared—replaced by test prep and Chromebooks. Now, as robots roll into warehouses, hospitals, and construction sites, we’re realizing something: the future still runs on people who can read a wiring diagram and a risk assessment—who can think in both code and metal. In our deep dive for this week, we trace how we lost that capacity, why it matters now, and what a new “robotics shop class” could look like—complete with modern labs, safety systems, stackable credentials, and teachers treated as critical infrastructure. This isn’t nostalgia. It’s economic strategy. Because without a new generation of technicians, the robot revolution stops at the loading dock. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eHyaMsRa

Canadian robotics companies are positioning themselves to capture a share of Ottawa’s massive defence spending plans, arguing that the same machines built for civilian industries—like logistics, energy, and marine research—can be adapted for military use. With the federal government pledging tens of billions of dollars in new defence funding, including $9 billion this year, firms say their technologies can deliver faster and cheaper results than traditional big-ticket items such as submarines or fighter jets. Military leaders are showing interest in systems that enhance soldiers’ capabilities or reduce their risk, from exoskeletons to surveillance robots. One major beneficiary is Cellula Robotics of Burnaby, B.C., whose autonomous underwater vehicles—originally built for offshore energy and environmental monitoring—are now being tested for naval surveillance, submarine detection, and mine clearance. Supported by Defence Research and Development Canada, Cellula is developing hydrogen-powered AUVs capable of long-range missions. Other firms, like Sanctuary AI, see their humanoid robots as dual-use systems that could support logistics and maintenance in military settings. Despite the opportunity, Canadian robotics startups face steep barriers: slow procurement, inconsistent government contracts, and limited manufacturing capacity. Industry leaders say building domestic production will be essential to reduce reliance on U.S. suppliers and strengthen Canada’s defence ecosystem. Officials like retired Lt.-Gen. Frances Allen argue that while foreign purchases remain necessary, Canada should aim to grow its own defence-industrial base and promote successful homegrown products abroad. Still, public unease about autonomous weapons persists, pushing companies to emphasize nonlethal, support-oriented applications—robots that secure and sustain rather than fight. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ehZiREDc

You can still smell it if you close your eyes — sawdust, solder, cutting oil. Once, every high school had a shop where students learned to wire a switch, rebuild a carburetor, or square a board. Then, quietly, those rooms disappeared—replaced by test-prep labs and Chromebooks. Now, as robots roll into warehouses, restaurants and construction sites, we’re realizing something: the future still runs on people who can think in both code and metal. In this week's Six Degrees of Robotics feature, I explore what happened to America’s shop classes, why that loss matters, and how a “robotics shop class” revival could reshape the nation’s talent pipeline. From FIRST Robotics and FANUC CERT to Amazon’s mechatronics apprenticeships and UMaine’s new B.O.T. Loft, we’re seeing the blueprint emerge for a modern era of hands-on, high-tech education. This isn’t nostalgia—it’s strategy. The next industrial revolution won’t run without technicians, makers, and builders who understand torque curves as well as Python scripts. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/dJ3D4kUD

Robotic delivery pioneer Starship Technologies has raised $50 million in Series C funding, led by Plural, bringing its total funding to $280 million. The company operates over 1,200 sidewalk robots—mostly on U.S. college campuses—and has completed 9 million deliveries across seven countries. With competitors like Serve Robotics (partnering with DoorDash) and Coco Robotics (recently raising $80 million) expanding quickly, Starship aims to bring its proven European and campus success into major U.S. cities. CEO Ahti Heinla said Starship plans to make sub-30-minute robotic delivery a new standard for Americans. Advocates say such systems could cut delivery costs, traffic, and emissions—but technical and regulatory hurdles remain, including poor sidewalks, bad weather, and the need for remote human oversight during complex maneuvers. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eQtWZJPm

Apple is developing a motorized tabletop robot as part of its expanding smart home strategy — a project that marks one of its most ambitious forays into robotics. Planned for release around 2027, the device will feature a 9-inch display mounted on a motorized arm that can move and reposition itself around a user’s workspace or kitchen. The system draws inspiration from Apple’s now-canceled self-driving car project, where many of the same robotics engineers once worked. The robot will leverage an upgraded version of Siri capable of more natural, conversational responses and AI-driven personalization. Apple is exploring use cases that blend motion, context awareness, and AI, allowing the robot to act as a dynamic assistant that can track users or reposition its screen for better visibility. The robot will be produced in Vietnam through a partnership with BYD, which will handle final assembly and testing. It will use low-cost LCD panels to control pricing, but the inclusion of motors, sensors, and advanced AI systems places it in the several-hundred-dollar range. While still in development, Apple’s robotic assistant represents a major pivot for the company — from handheld devices to autonomous, embodied computing that blends AI, motion, and interaction in the home. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d4FZtRh5