U.S. robotics import-risk finding adds trade uncertainty as robot orders rise

A U.S. national-security finding put robotics imports under greater policy uncertainty just as North American robot orders rose 24.8%. Humanoid commercialization also advanced, with GXO planning more Digit sites, while Agility’s expected listing proceeds fell and Unitree’s earnings showed pressure on recurring profit.

Key developments

Robotics imports face national-security scrutiny

The U.S. secretary of commerce’s Section 232 investigation concluded that dependence on robotics imports poses a national security risk. The White House made a determination regarding foreign-made robots.

Robot suppliers and buyers relying on imported systems face uncertainty over U.S. trade policy.

Oct 30 · The Robot Report

North American robot orders climb

North American robot orders rose 24.8% in the third quarter of 2026, according to A3. Demand from automotive component manufacturers nearly doubled, while other sectors also posted gains.

Industrial automation demand is strengthening across multiple sectors rather than depending on one customer or deployment.

Oct 29 · Robotics Business Review

GXO expands Digit rollout

GXO and Agility Robotics expanded their partnership to accelerate U.S. humanoid deployment. GXO plans to deploy Digit at two additional sites after testing humanoids from multiple companies.

Digit is moving beyond an initial customer deployment toward use across multiple logistics sites.

Oct 26–29 · Latest Press | Agility · Robotics Business Review · DC Velocity

Agility expects less SPAC cash

Agility Robotics expects approximately $465 million from its combination with Churchill Capital Corp XI, $155 million below its earlier estimate. The companies announced an anticipated closing, not a completed transaction.

The transaction would provide less capital for Agility’s expansion than previously expected.

Oct 30 · Latest Press | Agility · The Robot Report

Unitree revenue grows, recurring profit falls

Unitree’s first post-IPO earnings release showed third-quarter revenue rising 69.93% to 665 million yuan. Profit accounts differed across reports; one put reported net profit growth at 270% but recurring net profit down 19%.

Revenue growth is not translating consistently into stronger underlying earnings.

Oct 28–30 · The Standard (HK) · Gasgoo · 36Kr

Bedrock secures $600 million

Bedrock Robotics secured $600 million, bringing total funding close to $1 billion. The company aims to scale autonomous heavy equipment to address construction labor shortages.

The financing supports expansion of autonomous equipment for construction work constrained by labor availability.

Oct 29 · Robotics Business Review

Atlas actuator production approaches

Hyundai Mobis plans to begin prototype production of Boston Dynamics Atlas actuators in November. Reports also describe an entirely Korean Atlas supply chain led by Hyundai Mobis, with a prospective 10,000-unit order not yet confirmed.

Prototype actuator production provides a near-term test of the component supply chain behind Atlas manufacturing.

Oct 27–30 · KED Global · 머니투데이 · 조선일보

Meta’s Max prototype emerges

Meta reportedly built a humanoid prototype called Max with China’s Fourier in three months. Reports say it can perform household chores and that a second generation is already underway.

Meta’s humanoid effort now includes physical hardware and follow-on development, rather than only software work.

Oct 31–Nov 1 · The Information · The Next Web · The News International

Figure reportedly freezes next design

Figure AI reportedly froze the design of Figure 04 and is making a $3.5 billion compute investment tied to scaling robot AI.

The reported design freeze sets a hardware baseline for Figure’s next development phase alongside its investment in training capacity.

Oct 31 · BigGo Finance

Soft robot targets small-intestine procedures

MIT engineers designed a soft robotic enteroscope that inches through the small intestine. It is intended to make biopsies and drug delivery easier in that hard-to-reach area.

Soft robotic movement could improve access to intestinal sites for diagnosis and treatment.

Oct 28 · AAAS · MIT News - Robotics

Also this week

Humanoid development

• Tesla reportedly plans a 20,000-robot AI training cluster with investment of around 14 billion yuan. 36Kr

• Unitree’s newly launched H2-X humanoid reportedly lost a leg during a public demonstration. TechNode

• Agile Robots and NVIDIA unveiled Agile ONE SN, a humanoid platform intended for research. Gasgoo

• Neura Robotics and TUM opened a €17 million RoboGym and unveiled a new humanoid robot. Robotics & Automation News

• A humanoid using AGIBOT’s GO-3 model reportedly achieved an 85% task success rate. Interesting Engineering

• Elon Musk denied reports that Tesla would open Optimus orders in December. TeslaNorth.com · Drive Tesla Canada

Commercial deployments

• A Samsung-linked hospital plans to bring humanoid robots into an operating room. Nikkei Asia

• Audi is testing humanoid robots for logistics. Assembly Magazine

• Percepto launched Axion, a hardware-agnostic physical AI platform for unified inspection-data analysis across mission-critical infrastructure. The Robot Report

Capital and companies

• Affordable humanoid maker Noetix reportedly filed for a Hong Kong initial public offering. TechNode

• Agility Robotics added four customers and opened a 50,000-square-foot hub in Pittsburgh. Dealroom

• Bleu Robotics raised €5 million to accelerate factory humanoid deployment. AI Insider

• Unitree warned of valuation risks after a share-price rise of more than 65%, while separate reports described a halving over two months and a JPMorgan upgrade with a tripled price target. Investing.com · Seoul Economic Daily · Caixin Global

• Hyundai reportedly moved closer to full ownership of Boston Dynamics. Tech Edition

• About 300 Boston Dynamics employees reportedly protested a $1.3 million ICE robot-dog deal, with workers seeking to halt it before the award. TOKENPOST · Yahoo · Cybernews

• China’s Matrix Robotics plans to establish a Korean R&D center in 2027. Seoul Economic Daily

Touch and materials

• Researchers demonstrated artificial-skin-covered robotic fingers grasping fragile pencil lead and withdrawing from a needle before puncture. Tech Xplore Robotics

• National University of Singapore researchers developed eLuminator, an ultrathin flexible skin that lights up to show touch location and pressure. Robotics

• A moth-shaped robot used artificial circulation to transport chemical building blocks and grow a light sensor where ultraviolet light struck. Tech Xplore Robotics

Movement and manipulation

• Humanoid mobility research reported 92.5% success in simulation for ladders and obstacles, while another account described ladder climbing and obstacle vaulting using a single AI system. Interesting Engineering · Yahoo

• University of Toronto Engineering researchers improved Hopcopter’s performance on sand, ice and other difficult terrain with a flexible foot pad. Tech Xplore Robotics

• Researchers demonstrated an insect-inspired flying robot that recovers after collisions. Tech Xplore Robotics

• North Carolina State University researchers are developing a biomimetic underwater robot that moves more naturally, like a fish. Robotics

• RAI demonstrated Boston Dynamics’ Spot rolling heavy tires outside the laboratory using whole-body manipulation. TechEBlog -

What to watch

• Watch for Hyundai Mobis to begin Atlas actuator prototype production in November, the next stated manufacturing milestone.

• Watch whether Agility’s combination with Churchill Capital Corp XI closes and delivers the expected approximately $465 million.

• Watch for progress on Noetix’s reported Hong Kong IPO filing; timing for this and Agility’s transaction closing was not announced in the items.