NVIDIA GTC 2025 featured many main builders that embed NVIDIA merchandise of their robots. | Credit: The Robot Report
I spent nearly all of Day 3 at NVIDIA GTC exploring the expo flooring, studying in regards to the newest NVIDIA merchandise and catching up with a number of the key gamers within the robotics and synthetic intelligence business.
This 12 months, fewer humanoid robotic distributors have been in attendance. Agility Robotics, 1X Technologies, Unitree Robotics, and Neura Robotics had programs on the expo flooring, and EngineAI had a small kiosk with solely movies to point out.
There have been a number of different collaborative robotic demonstrations together with a couple of cell robots. Overall, there gave the impression to be fewer robots on the NVIDIA GTC present flooring this 12 months.
I additionally talked to a number of firms, resembling Lab0 and Agilox, that break up their staffs this week to ship the larger demos to ProMat in Chicago. Unitree will deliver 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 Technologies. 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). While the robotic was managed remotely, it was clear how simply the operator might translate their intentions to the robotic. Watching it easily decide up and use a vacuum cleaner to wash the carpet was a testomony to the intuitive controls. 1X is actively coaching the robotic for autonomy by means of teleoperation.
I requested Børnich in regards to 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 will likely be actively teleoperated over the community, however that is 1X’s plan to fill its “data flywheel” with the required data for coaching its AI mannequin.
Safety is paramount for 1X, particularly because it plans to ship robots into properties. This focus is obvious within the robotic’s design. Instead of a tough shell, it’s clothed in comfortable supplies, giving it a much less intimidating look.
The padding, strategically positioned the place human muscle groups can be, is a considerate element, designed to attenuate 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
At the Agility Robotics sales space subsequent door, I spoke with co-founder and Chief Robot Officer Jonathan Hurst and Chief Technology Officer Pras Velagapudi. They demonstrated the applying of AI-driven, reinforcement studying (RL) for complete physique management.
The Digit humanoid demo was in contrast to something that I’ve seen from the corporate earlier than. While ProMat and different occasions concentrate on business verticals, NVIDIA GTC is a horizontal expertise showcase, so Agility Robotics confirmed off new developments in its AI improvement program.
The firm stated its whole-body loco-manipulation coverage was developed from scratch. The robotic’s gait, as seen within the video beneath, seems considerably erratic, virtually “drunk.”
However, as Hurst defined, this new gait was a discovered conduct, and the engineering group didn’t know what the end result can be. The robotic had discovered to stroll autonomously in two weeks, nearly all of which occurred in simulation with the NVIDIA group.
While Agility continues to be a frontrunner with the commercial deployments of humanoids, it is usually a analysis firm and all the time pushing the boundaries of what’s attainable.
RIVR exhibits 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 strong than Boston Dynamics‘ Spot, and it displayed outstanding agility.
It was thrilling to see legged robots being developed for sensible functions like last-mile supply.
Neura Robotics teases humanoid
Neura Robotics confirmed its 4NE-1 humanoid robotic. However, the robotic was a static show. The firm is planning to roll it out — or ought to I say, “walk 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: The Robot Report
Teradyne has large plans for its AI roadmap
At 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 Universal Robots (UR) and Mobile 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 programs, with seamless interfaces and supporting libraries. The aim 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, relatively than making an attempt 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 completely different industries. We can anticipate to listen to extra sooner or later, immediately from Davidson.
Mike Oitzman (l) interviews Teradyne Chief AI Officer James Davidson (r) on the Teradyne sales space at NVIDIA GTC 2025. | Credit: McCall Media
CoBot brings Proxie robotic
Also at GTC, I had an opportunity to see and contact the Collaborative Robotics Proxie robotic up shut and private.
While the cell manipulator wasn’t operating on the present, I used to be in a position to study its design and development. The system options “swerve” drive for the 4 wheels on the bottom, plus a sturdy cart-capture gadget.
The creator stands subsequent to the Proxie AMR from Collaborative Robotics. | Credit: The Robot Report
I grew to become a robotic surgeon, for a second
One of the enjoyable interactive demos on the present was the Intuitive Surgical sales space, the place attendees might sit down and teleoperate the corporate’s da Vinci robotic. I used to be shocked at simply how straightforward to make use of the surgical system was.
After adjusting the 3D monitor and guide calipers, the training curve was quick. I used to be in a position to decide up and transfer objects on the desk with excellent 3D comprehension of the place the tooltips have been in house.
This is a extremely refined system, but when I used to be in a position to study it this rapidly, I can solely think about how this instrument would enhance the capabilities of a talented surgeon.
Pebble Mobility is the newest in sensible RVs
I received a full tour of the brand new Pebble Flow leisure automobile from Stefan Solyom, CTO of Pebble Mobility. After studying in regards to the RV’s options, I’d classify it as a robotic. The automobile contains a 45kWh battery, Easy Tow with powered wheels, and 1.1 kW photo voltaic arrays.
One characteristic that triggered me to outline Pebble Flow as a robotic is the the Magic Hitch characteristic. The trailer can autonomously drive to the rear of the tow automobile, and utilizing a imaginative and prescient digital camera, mechanically hook as much as the automobile.
Once underneath method, 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. This signifies that the Pebble Flow could be towed behind an electrical automobile with minimal impression on the vary of the electrical automobile.
The trailer may use regenerative braking to recharge its battery. The RV may even be put into “charge mode” and apply light regenerative braking towards the facility of the tow automobile to completely cost its batteries earlier than reaching a campsite.
Once on the campsite, the trailer could 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 new Pebble Flow sensible RV goes into manufacturing as the corporate prepares to ship its Founder Club version to the primary paying prospects. | Credit: The Robot Report
Overall, the Pebble Flow is without doubt one of the most progressive RVs to be launched previously 12 months. The goal marketplace for Pebble Flow is primarily electrical automobile house owners, however gasoline/diesel fuel-powered tow automobile house owners may profit from the options of the platform.
Pebble Flow was featured at NVIDIA GTC as a result of it has a NVIDIA ORIN processor onboard for the entire programs administration capabilities and notion. The Pebble Flow is constructed within the U.S., and the firm‘s group is made up of skilled automotive engineers and Silicon Valley veterans.
The firm plans to start transport models for its “Founder Series” within the second half of this 12 months. The Founder Series comes totally loaded with each characteristic, and it contains emergency roadside help wherever within the continental U.S. The firm is taking orders for future supply of the following collection of trailers.
The Pebble Flow contains a work space, together with a desk beneath the complete queen Murphy mattress. | Credit: The Robot Report
NVIDIA GTC exhibits persevering with advances
Overall, Day 3 of NVIDIA GTC offered a wide-ranging have 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 of the periods from GTC have been recorded and will likely be obtainable solely to registered attendees of the occasion for the following week. Then, choose periods will likely be printed and obtainable for watching by anybody. Go to the occasion web site to study extra.