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China's LinkTouch showcases robot force sensors at IROS 2026 - RobotHOT

China's LinkTouch showcases robot force sensors at IROS 2026

PITTSBURGH, Sept 27 – The International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2026, a major robotics conference, opened in Pittsburgh on Sept. 27, with Chinese sensor maker LinkTouch showcasing a full product matrix that put Chinese-made robot core components in the spotlight. Six-axis force/torque sensors are a key sensing component for flexible robot manipulation and are often described as a crown jewel of high-end equipment manufacturing. Overseas companies long monopolized the technology, keeping prices high and delivery cycles long and limiting mass commercialization of humanoid robots. Chinese firms such as LinkTouch have pushed the mass-production cost of high-end six-axis sensors down to the tens of thousands of yuan level through independent innovation and scaled manufacturing, the company said, removing...

Briefs

  • China accounts for 78% of H1 humanoid robot shipments

    The global humanoid robot market extended its explosive growth in the first half of 2026, with shipments approaching 25,000 units, up 432.1% year on year, according to a new report from International Data Corp (IDC), as the industry accelerates from technology validation to commercial deployment.

    China's humanoid robot market maintained rapid growth, with shipments exceeding 19,000 units, accounting for about 77.9% of the global total.

    Notably, China's AGIBOT, a leading player in the global embodied AI sector, shipped more than 8,600 units, taking a runaway lead in global rankings. Leveraging its fully self-developed, full-stack “Three Intelligences in One” technology framework and large-scale mass production and delivery capabilities, AGIBOT is continuing to deploy flagship projects in factories, cultural tourism and retail, underscoring Chinese manufacturers’ leading strength in body manufacturing, large models, comprehensive embodied AI capabilities and commercialization in real-world scenarios.

  • Shanghai to host global embodied AI skills contest Oct 23-25

    The 2026 Global Developer Pioneer Conference and International Embodied Intelligence Skills Competition will be held in Shanghai from Oct 23 to 25.

    The event will be centered on the international embodied intelligence skills competition and organized under an overall framework of “one competition, one opening ceremony and multiple developer activities,” aiming to build a national demonstration platform for real-world, practical embodied intelligence applications and help drive technological breakthroughs and large-scale deployment of robots and embodied intelligence.

    The international competition will focus on real demand in industrial, service and special-operation sectors, with nine key tracks and 23 events, and is expected to bring together more than 200 competing teams and over 300 robot hardware companies.

    The developer activities will revolve around three dimensions: “developer thought and community space,” “cutting-edge technology hands-on training,” and “AI vertical-scenario industrial deployment,” building a bridge between developer communities and industrial practice.

  • Hangzhou Binjiang seeks embodied AI talent, projects

    The 2026 Hangzhou International Talent, Academic and Industry Exchange Conference (Embodied Intelligence) was held in the High-tech Zone (Binjiang) under the theme “Embodied Intelligence, Human-Machine Symbiosis.”

    Representatives from academia, industry and investment institutions, along with talent from home and abroad, gathered to exchange and match on technology iteration, scenario development and project incubation.

    Zheng Di, Party secretary of the High-tech Zone (Binjiang), invited outstanding talent from home and abroad. He said the zone views embodied intelligence as a major industrial opportunity and is striving to build a leading district for AI industrial innovation and development. In industry, it will pursue integration of software and hardware and of the digital and real economies, host a national embodied intelligence application pilot testing base, and use “chip-machine linkage” to cluster upstream and downstream enterprises. In applications, it will regularly carry out scenario solicitation, “open bidding” and other activities, promote “chip-model linkage” and domestic adaptation, and create benchmark applications. In ecosystem, it is preparing the world’s first embodied intelligence application innovation challenge and other high-level competitions, and will continue to foster an innovation and entrepreneurship culture that encourages innovation and tolerates failure.

  • Amazon to invest over $100 mln in Indiana robot plant

    Amazon.com Inc said it plans to invest more than $100 million to build an advanced robot manufacturing facility in Greenwood, Indiana, with production expected to begin in 2028.

    The 585,000-square-foot plant, located in Johnson County south of Indianapolis, will produce warehouse robots and supporting automation equipment for Amazon’s North American fulfillment network.

    The facility will integrate precision component machining, robotic welding, automated powder coating and final assembly, with production organized through AWS cloud and smart manufacturing systems. All completed robots and components will be supplied to Amazon’s North American fulfillment centers and robotic operations network.

  • AMD to buy World Labs in $8.2 bln all-stock deal

    Advanced Micro Devices said on Monday it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire World Labs in an all-stock deal valued at about $8.2 billion.

    The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.

    World Labs, co-founded in 2024 by prominent Chinese-American scholar Fei-Fei Li, has about 70 employees. Its core technology focuses on “spatial intelligence”—enabling AI to understand the 3D physical world and navigate and make decisions within it. Its first product, Marble, is a foundation model that generates 3D worlds from image or text prompts.

    After the acquisition closes, Li will become AMD’s executive vice president and chief scientist, reporting directly to CEO Lisa Su.

  • Tesla's Optimus output hits hundreds a week at Fremont

    Tesla is producing several hundred Optimus robots a week at its Fremont factory, about 10 times the dozens a week seen during small-batch testing in the second quarter.

    But the ramp-up does not mean Optimus has reached commercial maturity. The V3 units now rolling off the line are not Tesla’s planned final commercial version and still need to meet durability and reliability requirements.

    Management reportedly aims to build a continuously running automated line by year-end with capacity of more than 1,000 units a week.

    Production still relies heavily on manual assembly, especially complex hand and forearm assemblies containing more than 100 small parts and fasteners. Tooling positioning problems and post-production rework also persist.

    Supplier yield challenges are growing, with reliability issues reported in tactile sensors used in Optimus’ hands. Tesla must improve parts consistency, assembly precision and overall reliability to scale further.

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