Ready For Tomorrow #65

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Robots danced on TV, crushed 12-hour jobs in minutes, and one even joined the billion-dollar club. If you thought this week would be quiet, think again.

Let’s jump in!

NEO just got smarter. Really smart.

1X’s humanoid robot NEO now comes packed with a new onboard brain called Redwood and it changes everything. Unlike traditional robots that rely on separate systems for vision, movement, and language, Redwood blends it all into one. It sees, understands, and acts on its own.

We're talking about a robot that can pick up unfamiliar objects, open doors, walk with purpose, and even decide whether to use one hand or two without being told what to do.

The best part? Redwood learns from its mistakes. If it fails, it tries again and does better.

This is not just a robot that follows commands. It is a robot that figures things out.

We are no longer just building machines. We are giving them intuition. The line between automation and true autonomy is fading right in front of us.

The home assistant of the future might already be alive.

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Twelve hours of welding. Now done in 45 minutes.

A recent welding project cut down a 12-hour manual task to just 45 minutes using full automation. The setup included robotic arms, precise joint positioning, and real time process control to keep everything moving smoothly from start to finish.

The result is a fully autonomous system that delivers consistent weld quality with minimal human involvement. Once programmed, it runs the entire process without stops or slowdowns.

This approach is especially useful for high volume applications where repeatability and speed are critical. It also reduces the chance of human error and increases overall efficiency.

Automation is not just improving welding. It is transforming it. What used to take half a day can now be done in under an hour.

And for industries focused on output, this kind of shift is no longer optional. It is becoming the new normal.

Gecko Robotics hits unicorn status at 1.25 billion

Gecko Robotics has raised 125 million dollars in Series D funding, pushing its valuation to 1.25 billion. The Pittsburgh-based company is now officially a unicorn, doubling its previous valuation in less than two years.

Founded over a decade ago, Gecko develops robots that climb, crawl, fly, and swim to inspect critical infrastructure. Their technology feeds data into AI systems that analyze the condition of power plants, naval vessels, bridges, and more.

The company’s platform helps reduce maintenance downtime and improve safety by identifying structural issues before they become serious problems. Clients include the US Navy and major energy providers around the world.

With this latest funding, Gecko plans to scale operations across defense, energy, and manufacturing. It is a strong signal that smart robotics and predictive maintenance are no longer future trends. They are becoming the industry standard.

Robot dog steals the show on America’s Got Talent

Boston Dynamics’ robot dog Spot made a surprise appearance on America’s Got Talent. Five Spots took the stage and performed a synchronized dance to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” complete with mechanical arm lip syncing.

In the middle of the performance, one robot lost power and collapsed. The rest quickly adjusted and finished the routine without missing a beat. The crowd loved it, and the judges gave unanimous approval to move on to the next round.

This was more than just a show. It was a live demonstration of coordination, real time recovery, and robotic charm in front of millions. Spot has already worked on oil rigs and in inspections, but now it is entertaining prime time audiences.

Robots are not just part of the future of work. They are stepping into the spotlight.

If any of this made you smile, raise an eyebrow, or rethink what robots can do, then my job here is done.

Thanks for reading. I am glad you are here.

See you next time 🙂 

Jacek