In August 2026, large funding rounds, humanoid robot developments, and stories about the latest AI models for robotics got our readers’ attention.
Here are the 10 most popular articles on The Robot Report in the past month. Subscribe to The Robot Report newsletter and listen to The Robot Report Podcast to stay up to date on the latest robotics news.
10. XPeng humanoid robot unit Dogotix picks up $900M in August 2026
Like other global automakers, XPeng Motors is branching into humanoid robots. The electric vehicle manufacturer said that its Dogotix robotics unit has raised more than $900 million, bringing its pre-money valuation to $5 billion and post-transaction valuation to more than $6.3 billion. Read more.
9. Gravis Robotics raises $200M for autonomous construction
The construction industry has been slow to automate, but demand is growing for infrastructure repairs, AI data center buildouts, and U.S. reshoring and defense. SoftBank has invested in Gravis Robotics’ Series A round, which it claimed is the largest in construction robotics history. Read more.
8. Reimagine Robotics emerges from stealth in August 2026 with robots that ‘learn on the job’
AI is enabling robots to learn on the job, according to Reimagine Robotics. The startup is developing technology that it claimed anyone can train and use. Its CEO founded Google DeepMind’s Applied Robotics team in London and led it for seven years. Read more.
7. Jetson Orin Nano 2 doubles inference performance for robotics on the edge, says NVIDIA
Robotics developers need compact, energy-efficient computers built for edge AI, asserted NVIDIA. The company introduced a new entry-level computer for edge AI that it said enables developers worldwide to build systems for physical AI applications. Read more.
6. What does Unitree Robotics’ IPO mean for the humanoid industry?
In August 2026, Unitree Robotics made its debut on Shanghai’s STAR Market, closing its first day 460% higher. The company raised 6.1 billion yuan, around $905 million U.S., with its initial public offering. Unitree claimed that it is the first major legged robotics company to go pubic. Read more.
5. Humanoids won’t scale on factory floors until costs drop
While the tech industry thinks AI is the main barrier for robots joining the workforce, the real issue has more to do with robotic unit economics, says Plus One Robotics’ CTO. AI has come a long way, and the hardware has significantly improved. But for most manufacturers, the cost of automating using humanoids just isn’t feasible. Read more.
4. HII signs up to $900M agreement with Path Robotics, GrayMatter Robotics in August 2026
Huntington Ingalls Industries, or HII, has signed production agreements with two robotics providers. HII intends to award shipbuilding work to welding technology provider Path and robotic sanding provider GrayMatter across seven years. Read more.
3. Zoox unveils production-ready robotaxi for U.S. expansion
Armed with feedback from more than half a million riders, autonomous vehicle pioneer Zoox has unveiled the final production design of its purpose-built robotaxi. The company said its latest vehicle will ready its custom, driverless fleet for mass production and immediate commercial expansion. Read more.
2. The technology that could bring robot mowers to one in two American lawns
For years, robotic lawn mowers have been perceived as a niche technology, limited by complex installations, wired systems, and performance that was not always suitable for larger and more demanding lawns. Today, that phase is over. Read more.
1. Google DeepMind says Gemini Robotics 2 enables full body control
Google DeepMind in August 2026 unveiled Gemini Robotics 2, the latest version of its vision-language-action, or VLA, model. The updated VLA includes intelligent whole-body control, advanced dexterity, and multi-robot collaboration, DeepMind said. Read more.
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