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 concerning the newest NVIDIA merchandise and catching up with a few of the key gamers within the robotics and synthetic intelligence trade.
This 12 months, fewer humanoid robotic distributors had 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 point out.
There have been a number of different collaborative robotic demonstrations together with just a few cell robots. Total, there appeared to be fewer robots on the NVIDIA GTC present ground this 12 months.
I additionally talked to a number of firms, comparable to Lab0 and Agilox, that break 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 individual for the primary time and at last noticed the corporate’s robotic dwell 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 may translate their intentions to the robotic. Watching it easily choose up and use a vacuum cleaner to scrub the carpet was a testomony to the intuitive controls. 1X is actively coaching the robotic for autonomy via teleoperation.
I requested Børnich concerning the present state of the corporate’s product roadmap. He replied that it’s getting ready to deploy extra beta models into properties later this 12 months. 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 mandatory info for coaching its AI mannequin.
Security is paramount for 1X, particularly because it plans to ship robots into properties. This focus is clear within the robotic’s design. As a substitute of a tough shell, it’s clothed in mushy supplies, giving it a much less intimidating look.
The padding, strategically positioned the place human muscle tissues could be, is a considerate element, designed to reduce impression in case of unintentional contact. This design language positions it as a possible house 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 trade verticals, NVIDIA GTC is a horizontal know-how showcase, so Agility Robotics confirmed off new developments in its AI improvement 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, nearly “drunk.”
Nevertheless, as Hurst defined, this new gait was a realized conduct, and the engineering group didn’t know what the result could be. The robotic had realized to stroll autonomously in two weeks, the vast majority of which occurred in simulation with the NVIDIA group.
Whereas Agility continues to be a frontrunner with the economic deployments of humanoids, it’s also a analysis firm and all the time pushing the boundaries of what’s potential.
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. Nevertheless, 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 large 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 sturdy AI platform that permits fast iteration and straightforward integration for companions.
Davidson envisioned making a platform much like Android Studio, supposed to make it fast and straightforward for companions to develop techniques, with seamless interfaces and supporting libraries. The purpose is to supply 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 permits fast improvement and adaptation, quite than attempting to create a one-size-fits-all robotic resolution. By specializing in platform improvement and strategic partnerships, Teradyne goals to speed up AI-driven robotics adoption throughout totally different industries. We are able to anticipate 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 capable of study its design and development. The system options “swerve” drive for the 4 wheels on the bottom, plus a sturdy cart-capture gadget.
The writer 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 may 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 guide calipers, the training curve was fast. I used to be capable of choose up and transfer gadgets on the desk with excellent 3D comprehension of the place the tooltips had been in house.
This can be a extremely refined system, but when I used to be capable of study it this shortly, I can solely think about how this instrument would enhance the capabilities of a talented surgeon.
Pebble Mobility is the newest in good RVs
I acquired a full tour of the brand new Pebble Movement leisure automobile from Stefan Solyom, CTO of Pebble Mobility. After studying concerning the RV’s options, I’d classify it as a robotic. The automobile 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 automobile, and utilizing a imaginative and prescient digicam, routinely hook as much as the automobile.
As soon as beneath means, the automobile 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 automobile. Which means that the Pebble Movement may be towed behind an electrical automobile with minimal impression on the vary of the electrical automobile.
The trailer may also 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 automobile to totally cost its batteries earlier than reaching a campsite.
As soon as on the campsite, the trailer may 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
Total, the Pebble Movement is among the most modern RVs to be launched prior to now 12 months. The goal marketplace for Pebble Movement is primarily electrical automobile homeowners, however fuel/diesel fuel-powered tow automobile homeowners may also 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 features 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 models for its “Founder Collection” within the second half of this 12 months. The Founder Collection 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 collection 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 reveals persevering with advances
Total, Day 3 of NVIDIA GTC supplied 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.
All the periods from GTC had been recorded and can be obtainable solely to registered attendees of the occasion for the subsequent week. Then, choose periods can be printed and obtainable for watching by anybody. Go to the occasion website to study extra.
