Category: Robotics

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A Delivery Robot in Zurich Oerlikon

Since August 2025, food delivery service Just Eat has been testing the use of delivery robots in Zurich Oerlikon, in collaboration with ETH spin-off Rivr. Several Swiss media outlets, including Inside IT und Tages-Anzeiger, reported on this on August 21, 2025. For two months, a four-legged robot with wheels will be delivering orders from the restaurant Zekis World. At first, a human operator will accompany each delivery run. What happens after that remains unclear. Although the robot is frequently referred to as autonomous in media reports, it’s also said to be monitored or even remotely controlled from a central hub. This setup is reminiscent of the Segway delivery robot that’s been operating in the U.S. for years, as well as Starship Technologies’ delivery robot, which Swiss Post tested near Bern in 2016. However, those models are more conventional in designe – ssentially wheeled boxes. The sleeker and more advanced Zurich robot, by contrast, travels at 15 km/h (about 9 mph), can handle obstacles like curbs and stairs, and uses an AI system for navigation. Its delivery container is insulated and leak-proof. The trial is reportedly a European first. If successful, Just Eat plans to expand the rollout to additional cities and retail applications. According to Inside IT, Rivr CEO Marko Bjelonic views the project as an important step toward autonomous deliveries in urban environments. However, some experts advise caution, especially in areas with heavy foot and vehicle traffic. Encounters with dogs and other animals must also be taken into account – initial research on this topic has been conducted in the context of animal-machine interaction.

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How Human-Like Should It Be?

The Research Topic “Exploring human-likeness in AI: From perception to ethics and interaction dynamics”, hosted by Frontiers in Cognition, invites submissions on how human-like features in robots and AI systems influence user perception, trust, interaction, and ethical considerations. As AI becomes more integrated into society, anthropomorphic design raises pressing questions: Do human-like traits improve communication and acceptance, or do they lead to unrealistic expectations? What ethical implications arise when machines simulate empathy or emotion? This interdisciplinary call welcomes contributions from fields such as psychology, engineering, philosophy, and education. Submissions may include empirical research, theoretical analysis, reviews, or case studies that explore how human-likeness shapes the way we engage with AI. The deadline for manuscript summaries is September 22, 2025; full manuscripts are due by January 10, 2026. Articles will undergo peer review and are subject to publication fees upon acceptance. Topic editors are Dr. Katharina Kühne (University of Potsdam, Germany) and Prof. Dr. Roger K. Moore (The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom). For full details and submission guidelines, visit: www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/72370/exploring-human-likeness-in-ai-from-perception-to-ethics-and-interaction-dynamics.

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Wearable Social Robots for Space Missions

The short paper “Wearable Social Robots in Space” by Tamara Siegmann and Oliver Bendel (FHNW School of Business) has been accepted for presentation at the International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR). The conference will take place from September 10 to 12, 2025, in Naples, Italy. Social robots have been explored on Earth since the 1990s, but this study considers their application beyond our planet – specifically, on manned missions to Mars. The focus lies on wearable social robots, a promising form factor due to their compact size and light weight. Using AIBI as a case study, the short paper examines how such a robot could support astronauts under the unique psychological and environmental conditions of deep space travel. The authors discuss the little robot’s potential roles and highlight directions for future development, particularly in improving human-robot interaction and communication. The findings suggest that wearable social robots like AIBI could offer valuable support on long-duration space missions.

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Suzuki Presents its Moqba

“On June 5, 2025, Suzuki made headlines in the robotics and mobility sector by launching the Moqba, a $3,000 four-legged transport robot designed to revolutionize urban commuting, accessibility, and logistics.” (The Jurnals, 6 June 2025) This was reported by The Jurnals in the article “Suzuki’s Moqba Unleashed: A $3,000 Robot Dog Redefining Urban Mobility” on June 6, 2025. “The Moqba’s sleek design features a white-and-black color scheme, a futuristic aesthetic, and a saddle-like seat for riders, blending practicality with a forward-thinking vision. Its four-legged structure, inspired by robots like Spot, allows it to navigate varied terrain, making it a versatile tool for both individual transport and commercial applications. With a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) and a range of up to 50 miles (80 km) on a single charge, the Moqba is well-suited for urban environments, where short, efficient trips are the norm.” (The Jurnals, 6 June 2025) The device looks solid and ready for use. However, it is probably not suitable for people taller than 180 cm. It is also unlikely to be suitable for physically disabled people. For everyone else, it could be an interesting way to get around (Image: ChatGPT/4o Image).

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Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.

At the 19th Architecture Biennale in Venice (Biennale Architettura 2025) with the title “Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.”, robots play an important role. This is reported by several media, such as The Architect’s Newspaper. “Robots Falling from the Sky” is an installation in which robots appear to fall from the sky and interact with their surroundings. Another robot demonstrates its musical abilities by playing a handpan, a brass instrument. One is reminded of Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz’s 18th century musician, who preferred a keyboard instrument. A robotic arm from ABB assists two Bhutanese craftsmen in working on a beam. For safety reasons, according to The Architect’s Newspaper, live carving with a drill was not permitted. The problem is not the two artisans, but the visitors. The Biennale is always dedicated to technical and futuristic themes. In 2021, the Architecture Biennale focused on cyborgs and transhumanists, among other things. In 2024, the art biennial featured a quasi-hologram and a spaceship-like installation. The Biennale runs from May 10 to November 23, 2025 at various venues in and near Venice, including the Giardini della Biennale, the Arsenale di Venezia, and the Forte Marghera in Mestre. Further information and the full program can be found at www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2025 (Photo: Biennale Arte 2024).

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ICSR Deadlines Extended One Last Time

The ICSR is one of the leading conferences for social robotics worldwide. The 17th edition will take place from 10 to 12 September 2025 in Naples, Italy. The deadline for submissions has been extended one last time. Full papers should consist of 11 pages of body text plus references as appropriate. The most important conferences dates are: Full Paper Submission: May 9th, 2025; Full Paper Notification: June 13th, 2025; Camera-ready: June 30th, 2025; Paper Presentation Days at ICSR’25: September 11th and 12th, 2025. All dates – including the deadlines for the submission of short papers and special session papers – are listed on the website. “The conference theme, ‘Emotivation at the Core: Empowering Social Robots to Inspire and Connect,’ highlights the essential role of ‘Emotivation’ in social robotics. Emotivation captures the synergy between emotion and motivation, where emotions trigger and sustain motivation during interactions. In social robotics, this concept is key to building trust, fostering empathy, and supporting decision-making by enabling robots to respond sensitively to human emotions, inspiring engagement and action.” (Website ICSR) Participants will meet for two days at the Parthenope University of Naples and for the third day at the Città della Scienza conference center. All buildings and rooms are also listed on the website. The PDF of the CfP can be downloaded here.

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A Martian Landscape on the Brugg-Windisch Campus

Students from the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences (Campus Rapperswil) have created a Martian landscape in front of the Hallerbau on the Brugg-Windisch campus in collaboration with the FHNW. This will serve as a training ground for the FHNW Mars rover and promote “interest in space travel and technology” (information sign on the construction site, own translation). According to the website, the FHNW rover team consists of “an interdisciplinary group of students from the School of Engineering and Environment and the School of Computer Science”. The so-called “Umwäldchen” with new plantings offers a place for relaxation and encounters and makes a “positive contribution to the environment” (information sign on the construction site). According to its website, the FHNW is “active in the development of observation instruments, components and manufacturing processes for the aerospace sector”. In addition to the aforementioned universities, the FHNW School of Business is also active in this field. In 2021, SPACE THEA was developed, a voice assistant for Mars flights, which was presented at the AAAI Spring Symposia at Stanford University in 2022 and attracted the attention of NASA. In 2025, the focus will be on social robots for Mars flights with a view to ICSR 2025.

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This Robot Could Spy on You

As reported by the CyberInsider platform on March 24, 2025, security experts have discovered a pre-installed, undocumented remote access tunnel in the Unitree Go1 robot dogs that enables remote control and network access. The Unitree Go1 can be found in numerous companies and universities. During their tests, the researchers were able to list all connected devices and their IP addresses and access these devices. They were also able to use the robotic quadruped’s cameras for live monitoring. The article states: “Perhaps most concerning is the implication of deliberate design. The tunnel is not merely an over-looked debug utility; it appears fully integrated into the boot process and enabled by default.” (CyberInsider, 24 March 2025) Users should immediately isolate their devices from critical internal networks, change SSH credentials, and disable the tunnel service. More information is available on the platform.

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The Next Social Robots Module

The elective module “Soziale Roboter” (“Social Robots”) by Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel will be held again from April 15 to 17, 2025 at the FHNW in Olten. It is primarily aimed at prospective information systems specialists, but prospective business economists can also take part. Dr. Amol Deshmukh has been invited as a guest speaker. He previously worked for the University of Glasgow and now conducts research at ETH Zurich. In his lecture, he will present the findings from his paper “Leveraging Social Robots to Promote Hand Hygiene: A Cross-Cultural and Socio-Economic Study of Children in Diverse School Settings”. Unitree Go2, Alpha Mini, Cozmo, Vector, Aibi, Furby and Booboo from Oliver Bendel’s private Social Robots Lab will also be on site. Social Robotics Girl, a so-called GPT who specializes in this topic, will be available as a tutor throughout the event. Basic works are “Soziale Roboter” (2021) and “300 Keywords Soziale Robotik” (2021). At the end of the elective module, students design social robots – also with the help of generative AI – that they find useful, meaningful, or simply attractive. The elective modules have been offered since 2021 and are very popular.

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About Inclusive Robotics

The Gabler Wirtschaftslexikon is the largest economics encyclopedia in the German-speaking world. In March 2025, Oliver Bendel published an article on inclusive robotics in this reference work. The first part reads as follows: “Inclusive robotics designs, develops, controls, manufactures, and operates robotic solutions for individuals with disabilities or impairments. The goal is to enable them to fully participate in social life and to engage in education, culture, and sports. This can involve the replacement or enhancement of a body part, as well as the use of a robot that provides assistance (an assistive robot or companion robot) or is worn on or with the body (a wearable robot). Robotic quadrupeds and bipedal general-purpose robots are becoming increasingly relevant. In the future, these will function as universal robots – true generalists. Inclusive Robotics addresses not only physical aspects but also psychological ones. It is closely related to inclusive AI.” The full article is available at: wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/definition/inclusive-robotics-172663 (Photo; ETH Zurich, Cybathlon/Alessandro Della Bella).