Category: Service Robotics

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ICSR 2027: Key Dates Announced

The 19th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Health 2027) will take place in Potsdam, Germany, from July 25 to 28, 2027. ICSR is the leading international forum that brings together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from across disciplines to advance the field of social robotics. Under the theme “ICSR + Health,” the 2027 conference will place a special focus on assistive and rehabilitation robotics, care, mental health and companionship, healthy aging, and the clinical, ethical, and societal questions associated with these applications. A particular emphasis will be placed on involving people directly affected by the use of social robots in healthcare and caregiving settings, including physicians, nurses, caregivers, patients, and people in need of care. Their perspectives and practical experiences will contribute to discussions on how social robotics can address real-world needs and challenges. Contributions from all areas of social robotics are welcome, reflecting the broad and interdisciplinary scope of the conference. The key submission deadlines have now been announced: Workshop and special-session proposals are due on January 15, 2027, followed by the paper submission deadline on February 15, 2027. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out on April 15, 2027, and the deadline for camera-ready papers is May 15, 2027. The General Chairs are Dr. Katharina Kühne of the University of Potsdam and PECoG, Prof. Dr. Ilona Buchem of Berlin University of Applied Sciences (BHT), and Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel of the FHNW School of Business. The General Co-Chair is Prof. Dr. John-John Cabibihan of Qatar University. Further details will be published soon on the official conference website at icsr2027.org (Photo: University of Potsdam/Ernst Kaczynski).

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Robot Allegedly Gropes Teen

A 16-year-old girl in Cologne was allegedly sexually harassed by means of a humanoid robot. According to an October 12, 2026, press release issued by Cologne police, the approximately 4-foot-tall, red-and-gold robot approached the teenager from behind outside a fast-food restaurant early Sunday morning, touched her buttocks, and made thrusting motions. The robot’s 16-year-old owner, from Wegberg, and his 19-year-old companion allegedly filmed the incident, livestreamed it on social media, and provided commentary. Police officers responding to the incident located those involved shortly afterward and discovered the robot, which had since been stowed in the trunk of a Volkswagen. Officers seized the robot and two cell phones. The robot may have been a Unitree R1 manufactured by the Chinese company Unitree Robotics. The model, which stands approximately 4 feet tall (1.23 meters), can be remotely controlled and programmed to perform specific sequences of movements. Its identity has not yet been confirmed. Criminal investigators are investigating the incident on suspicion of sexually motivated insult, an offense under German law. A key question is whether the robot’s movements were deliberately controlled at the time of the incident.

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Kawasaki Unveils Home Leo

Japanese technology giant Kawasaki Heavy Industries has unveiled Home Leo, a dog-like robot designed to assist older adults in their daily lives. The Japan Times reported on the development on October 7, 2026. The prototype, presented in Tokyo on October 6, 2026, uses artificial intelligence to communicate with people, perceive its surroundings, make decisions based on the situation, and act autonomously. Home Leo is designed to provide companionship, help its owners with everyday tasks, and watch for potential hazards. By continuously learning individual preferences and habits, the robot is expected to adapt to each user’s needs. In the future, it could also detect falls, changes in health conditions, or fire hazards and alert family members or caregivers. According to the Japan Times, Kawasaki President Yasuhiko Hashimoto demonstrated the robot’s capabilities during the presentation by asking it where his smartphone was. Home Leo replied that the device was on the table, retrieved it, and handed it to its owner. Kawasaki plans to launch the robot in the Japanese fiscal year 2028 and is collaborating with government agencies, medical institutions, nursing care organizations, and AI companies on its further development. The goal is to enable older adults to live independently and safely in their familiar surroundings for as long as possible.

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The 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games

The 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games are taking place in Beijing from August 23 to 25, 2026. More than 2,000 humanoid robots from over 660 teams are competing in 30 sports events and 21 scenario-based competitions. Alongside media and robotics organizations, the Beijing municipal government is one of the co-organizers. Most of the models are general-purpose robots or are based on general-purpose robot platforms that have been modified to varying degrees. While the sports competitions are primarily about spectacle, effects, and emotion, the scenario-based competitions are intended to demonstrate whether the machines can actually perform in manufacturing, logistics, hospitality and catering, retail, household environments, offices, and rescue operations. The fluid movements in kickboxing are particularly impressive, even though the robots are remotely controlled. In tennis, the robots operate autonomously, albeit still at a modest level. The running records are spectacular as well, while slowing down and coming to a controlled stop continue to pose problems. Overall, the picture is clear: things are still somewhat shaky, much like image and video generators were a few years ago, but they are becoming steadily more stable. China has caught up rapidly in general-purpose robots and humanoid robotics more broadly in recent years and now enjoys advantages in manufacturing, infrastructure, supply chains, production volumes, and pricing. Around 80 percent of global shipments now come from China. Ultimately, the event is a demonstration of technological prowess and power.

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Registration Opens for LSR 2026

Registration for the 11th International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots (LSR 2026) is now open. Building on a conference series that began in 2011 and has helped establish the academic study of human-robot intimacy as an interdisciplinary field, LSR 2026 will take place on August 21–22 at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), with sessions hosted in the Pavillon J.A. DeSève in Montreal’s Latin Quarter. The conference is organized by Dr. Simon Dubé (Kinsey Institute, Indiana University Bloomington), Dr. David Levy, founder of the conference series, and Bobbi Bidochka (imagine ideation). The keynote speakers are Ellen M. Kaufman (Kinsey Institute, Indiana University Bloomington), Charlotte Poitras (multidisciplinary artist), and Valerie A. Lapointe (Université du Québec à Montréal), whose work spans informatics, psychology, media, and emerging technologies related to intimacy and AI. Further information on registration, the program, submissions, travel, and accommodation is available on the official conference website: www.lovewithrobots.com.

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BMW Deploys Figure 03 in Spartanburg

As reported by Heise News in an article by Oliver Bünte published on June 29, 2026, BMW will deploy the new general-purpose robot Figure 03 robot for logistics tasks at its Spartanburg plant in the US. The robot will sort vehicle components for production, taking over repetitive work to support human workers. Compared to its predecessor, Figure 03 features several upgrades, including soft exterior materials for safer human-robot collaboration, wireless charging, and redesigned hands equipped with tactile sensors and cameras for greater precision. Following successful trials with the Figure 02 robot, BMW is using the new system as part of its broader digital transformation strategy, which also includes digital planning, 3D simulations, and a digital twin of the factory through its BMW iFactory approach. BMW is not the only automaker investing in general-purpose humanoid robots. Mercedes-Benz has already been testing the Apollo robot at its Berlin-Marienfelde plant, where it supports employees with repetitive logistics and manufacturing tasks. These deployments highlight a growing trend across the automotive industry to use humanoid robots for flexible, general-purpose applications on the factory floor.

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Southwest Airlines Bans Humanoid and Animaloid Robots from Flights

Southwest Airlines has added a new clause to its baggage policy prohibiting humanoid and animaloid robots from being transported onboard, either in the cabin or as checked baggage. The airline defines a “human-like robot” as any robot designed to imitate human appearance, movement, or behavior. Likewise, an “animal-like robot” – more precisely described as an animaloid or zoomorph robot – refers to machines designed to resemble animals. The restriction would likely apply to robotic bipeds such as NAO, Pepper, Unitree G1, Apollo, Figure 03, or NEO, as well as robotc quadrupeds like Unitree Go2, Boston Dynamics’ Spot or Sony’s AIBO. While such machines are still uncommon in everyday travel, they are regularly used in research, engineering, education, and commercial demonstrations, making air transport a practical consideration for some owners and institutions. Southwest has not publicly explained the rationale behind the rule, but battery safety, handling concerns, and operational procedures are likely factors. Other robots and robotic toys remain permitted if they fit inside normal carry-on luggage and comply with existing battery restrictions. More information is available via support.southwest.com.

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Robot Dog Helps Blind Navigation

According to a Golem article published on April 12, 2026, researchers at Binghamton University have developed an AI-powered robotic guide dog designed to assist blind people through spoken interaction. Unlike traditional systems that rely on leash signals, the robotic dog uses large language models to understand voice commands, suggest different route options with estimated travel times, and verbally describe surroundings while guiding its user. As it moves, the robot continuously explains nearby hallways, obstacles, and environmental details to improve situational awareness. In tests with seven legally blind participants navigating an office environment, users responded very positively and especially appreciated the combination of route planning and real-time commentary. The research team plans to further improve the robot’s autonomy and expand testing in both indoor and outdoor settings, highlighting the technology’s potential as a future alternative or supplement to traditional guide dogs. An important practical consideration will also be how real dogs react to the robotic guide dog. This was examined in the Robodog project by Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel and his student Selina Rohr.

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The Rise of General-purpose Robots

The paper “The Universal Robot of the 21st Century” by Oliver Bendel was published in February 2025 in the proceedings volume “Social Robots with AI: Prospects, Risks, and Responsible Methods” … From the abstract: “Developments in several areas of computer science, robotics, and social robotics make it seem likely that a universal robot will be available in the foreseeable future. Large language models for communication, perception, and control play a central role in this. This article briefly outlines the developments in the various areas and uses them to create the overall image of the universal robot. It then discusses the associated challenges from an ethical and social science perspective. It can be said that the universal robot will bring with it new possibilities and will perhaps be one of the most powerful human tools in physical space. At the same time, numerous problems are foreseeable, individual, social, and ecological.” The proceedings volume comprises the papers presented at Robophilosophy 2024 in Aarhus. Leading philosophers, computer scientists and roboticists met there in August. Like the ICSR, the conference is one of the world’s leading conferences on social robotics. General-purpose robots, the predecessors of universal robots, have now become widespread, as exemplified by Digit, Apollo, and Figure 03. The author accepted manuscript of this article is therefore being made freely available on this site for non-commercial use only and with no derivatives, in line with the publisher’s self-archiving policy.

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Paper on “Robots in Policing”

In January 2023, the Proceedings of Robophilosophy 2022 were published. Included is the paper “Robots in Policing” by Oliver Bendel. From the abstract: “This article is devoted to the question of how robots are used in policing and what opportunities and risks arise in social terms. It begins by briefly explaining the characteristics of modern police work. It puts service robots and social robots in relation to each other and outlines relevant disciplines. The article also lists types of robots that are and could be relevant in the present context. It then gives examples from different countries of the use of robots in police work and security services. From these, it derives the central tasks of robots in this area and their most important technical features. A discussion from social, ethical, and technical perspectives seeks to provide clarity on how robots are changing the police as a social institution and with social actions and relationships, and what challenges need to be addressed.” (Abstract) Robots and AI systems in police work have become a hot topic. The author accepted manuscript of this article is therefore being made freely available on this site for non-commercial use only and with no derivatives, in line with the publisher’s self-archiving policy.