Consumer Robotics

May 2026 was a busy month full of robotics news, and it was topped off by the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston.

Tutor Intelligence is running 100 Sonny semi-humanoid robots in its headquarters while sharing technology and data with its Cassie mobile manipulator.

Familiar Machines & Magic, Colin Angle’s new robot startup, is developing a quadruped ‘familiar’ to succeed in a challenging category.

Amazon now has over 1 million robots operating in fulfillment centers, helping with stowing, picking, sorting, and intra-facility transport.

While standards vary, consumer robotics and AI developers need compliance strategies, explain Cooley experts.

This is iRobot’s first product rollout since the company emerged from a pre-packaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy process in January.

Fauna Robotics unveils Sprout: a safe, character-driven robot designed to live, work, and play alongside humans in everyday life.

iRobot has restructured after its bankruptcy proceedings and purchase by Chinese manufacturer Picea, adding a data security unit in the U.S.

Skild AI has received investment from SoftBank, NVIDIA, Bezos Expeditions, and more as it builds a brain to operate any robot.

Catch up on CES 2026 robotics highlights; explore more 2026 predictions; and analyze major acquisitions by Mobileye, Oshkosh, and Amazon.

Intuition Robotics’ ElliQ uses relationship-based AI to provide proactive health coaching and support independence for older adults.

We look back at some of the many robots that iRobot developed in addition to the Roomba over the past 35 years. 

iRobot’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy has sparked intense reactions across the robotics industry, with opinions on the roles of regulation, innovation speed, manufacturing scale, and global competition.

iRobot has begun bankruptcy proceedings under which its Chinese creditors will acquire the consumer robot company and continue the brand.

Mike LeBlanc, co-founder of Foundation Robotics and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey.

iRobot negotiations with another potential acquirer fell through, and its main creditor has set a deadline of Jan. 15 for certain conditions.

iRobot going out of business would be a loss far bigger than its current financial situation. Will anyone step up and save the robotics icon?

iRobot said if it can’t obtain new capital, it “may be forced to significantly curtail or cease operations and would likely seek bankruptcy protection.”

Orbbec says its Pulsar ME450 sensor can switch scanning modes so that robots don’t need to switch between devices for navigation or 3D reconstruction.

Things have gotten so bad that iRobot has suspended future financial guidance and opted not to host an earnings call for Q2.

NEURA Robotics is exhibiting with partners at Automatica its latest-generation humanoid, service, and mobile robots, as well as Neuraverse.

Piaggio Fast Forward provides insights on its collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm to design the Star Wars-themed G1T4-M1N1 robot.