Thomas Unise
The robotics industry underwent significant transformations in 2025, with major players facing uncertain futures while others charted new paths forward. From humanoid robotics advancements to large-scale robot deployments, the year brought noteworthy developments across multiple sectors.
Top Robotics Stories of 2025
Hyundai’s commitment to purchase “tens of thousands” of Boston Dynamics robots topped the industry news, signaling a major vote of confidence in advanced robotics technology. The automaker plans to integrate its manufacturing capabilities with Boston Dynamics’ technologies, potentially revolutionizing production processes.
Intel made headlines by spinning out its RealSense division as a standalone company, surprising industry observers who had questioned Intel’s continued investment in the product line amid financial restructuring.
The humanoid robotics sector gained significant attention, with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang declaring it “a multi-trillion-dollar market.” Early investors in companies like Agility Robotics witnessed the evolution of humanoids from concept to commercial reality over the past five years.
Industry Challenges and Setbacks
Economic uncertainty took a toll on several established players. Teradyne’s robotics group, which owns Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots, laid off 10% of its global workforce. Zebra Technologies began winding down its autonomous mobile robot division built around its $290 million acquisition of Fetch Robotics in 2021.
iRobot, one of the few household names in consumer robotics, continued to struggle, with a Chinese company acquiring its debt as bankruptcy loomed. Meanwhile, drone startup Guardian Agriculture shut down after failing to secure additional funding, despite having received FAA approval for its commercial electric vertical take-off and landing system.
Innovation Highlights
The industry continued to celebrate innovation through events like Automate 2025, which showcased the latest in commercial and industrial automation. The annual RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards honored the 50 most innovative robotics companies, technologies, and applications worldwide.
The inaugural Startup Radar report profiled 100 promising robotics startups, each five years old or younger, highlighting the next generation of robotics innovators poised to shape the industry’s future.
Market Outlook
Despite setbacks for some companies, the overall trajectory for robotics remains positive, particularly in sectors like humanoid robotics, which continues to attract significant investment and market interest. The partnership between major manufacturers like Hyundai and robotics specialists like Boston Dynamics suggests a future where advanced robots become increasingly integrated into traditional industries.
As the industry evolves, companies that can navigate economic challenges while delivering practical, scalable robotics solutions appear best positioned for success in this rapidly changing landscape.
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