MIT unveils elderly assistance robot; Robotic vertical farm launched
Key Takeaways
- MIT's E-BAR, a 220-lb mobile robot, assists the elderly and prevents falls.
- AutoStore & OnePointOne launched Opollo Farm, a robotic vertical farm supplying Whole Foods.
- GCR is developing robotic 'centipedes' for agricultural sensing and weed control.
- Sanctuary AI demoed autonomous labor with physical AI robots at Hannover Messe.
- Construction robotics investment is forecast to rise 360% over the next decade.
Top Stories
MIT unveils E-BAR: Elderly assistance robot
On 2025-05-16, MIT engineers presented the Elderly Bodily Assistance Robot (E-BAR), a mobile robot designed to provide physical support for the elderly, prevent falls, and navigate homes unobtrusively; the robot features a 220-lb base, with plans for automated autonomous assistance.
AutoStore & OnePointOne launch robotic vertical farm
On May 16, 2025, AutoStore and OnePointOne launched Opollo Farm, a robotic vertical farming system supplying Whole Foods Market with fresh greens; located in a warehouse outside Phoenix, the system uses robots to move crops through a precision-controlled environment, yielding harvest-ready greens in 15 days.
GCR developing robotic 'centipedes' for agriculture
On 2025-05-16, Ground Control Robotics (GCR), founded by Dan Goldman, announced the development of giant robotic "centipedes" for agricultural crop management, focusing on sensing and weed control in perennial crops; GCR is collaborating with farmers in Georgia on pilot projects, envisioning a swarm of robots operating 24/7 to scout and remove weeds.
Sanctuary AI demos autonomous labor at Hannover Messe
On 2025-05-16, IEEE Spectrum's Video Friday featured Sanctuary AI demonstrating autonomous labor powered by physical AI and general-purpose robots at Hannover Messe with Microsoft.
Humanoid robots in construction: investment surge forecast
Published on 2025-05-16, Mateo Zimmerman's opinion piece discusses the potential of humanoid robots in the construction industry, highlighting the growing investment in construction robotics, with a forecast of a 360 percent rise in global investment over the next decade.