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Three creepy, yet useful robots for rescue missions and deep space travel
Whether or not you welcome humanity’s coming overlord robots, there’s something entertaining about watching them grow up. We’ve all seen Boston Dynamics release one video after the other displaying their robot dogs trotting around opening doors and their humanoid bots overcoming obstacle courses while being abused by their human creators (p.s. they won’t forget). However, they’re not the only company with some interesting, impressive, and somewhat creepy robotic developments. Here are three we thought should be on your radar:
Robugtix Z6 Spider-Bot
This little spider-like guy made some waves at the end of this month with its coordinated dance moves shown off in an 80s-style aerobics video. Its maker is Hong Kong-based robotics company Robugtix, and apparently they have a strong preference for arachnids in their designs. The Z6 has three other siblings in the family, all spider-like in their design as well, and all movie stars in their own right.
Described as “portable and foldable…for use in professional environments”, the Z6 boasts the ability to climb stairs, fold up into a compact/backpack size, roll over, right itself if upside down, and navigate in confined spaces and irregular terrain. A built-in camera provides video streaming and monitioring from its wireless joystick controller. At its smallest, the Z6 is 10 cm (L) x 23 cm (W) x 13.7 cm (H); default standing mode is 52 cm (L) x 49 (W) cm x 17 cm (H). Given the capabilities, some industrial applicability may be in the works, i.e., search and rescue assistance.
Looking for a price? You might not want to ask just yet, and you’ll have to if you want to know for sure. Its siblings range from around $1000 (T8X) to $40,000 (RoboNOBE Black Widow), so we can only guesstimate what this (-tiny-) compact dancer’s cash money trade value will be.
To see the Z6’s awesome dance moves, watch the video below:
Velox by Pliant Energy Systems
This robot actually evolved from research into renewable energy, specifically capturing wave and tidal energy. CEO Pietro Filardo of Pliant Energy Systems, the maker of Velox and based in New York, used his background in marine biology to design biomorphic devices that could not only capture energy from aquatic sources but also propel them. As seen by the ribbon-like attachments directing the bot’s motion, the final design involved a flexible fin moving in wave motions driven by internal actuators. With a few extra degrees of motion, Velox can also move across solid surfaces include sand, snow, pebbles, paving, and solid ice. To quote its makers, it can “swim like a ray, crawl like a millipede, jet like a squid, and slide like a snake.”
Pliant apparently has big plans for Velox’s eventual prodigy. The company’s website lists stealth characteristics and maneuverability useful for surf zone, amphibious beach, and polar ice missions – an obvious military appeal that’s not surprising considering the partial funding received from the U.S. Office of Naval Research, an organization within the Department of the Navy. Civilian uses are also suggested, if its proof-of-concept videos aren’t imagination-inspiring enough, such as personal propulsion for divers, propeller replacement for environmentally-sensitive waters like coral reefs, and search and rescue operations, specifically in the case of thin ice fall victims.
The company has been developing patented technologies since 2007 and its research has been sponsored by a variety of local and federal agencies including the National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pliant’s novel fin system (“undulating”, i.e., smooth and wavy) is also being applied towards its original intention – water energy generation – for which its design is useful where dams are not practical or desirable. Velox itself is still in the proof-of-concept stage, but its capabilities are already on display for admiration.
Watch the below video to see Velox in action:
Robotic Skins by Yale University
Admittedly, these devices aren’t actually robots but rather make things into robots. Designed by Yale University as a NASA initiative, “robotic skins” are sheets of elastic material with robot components embedded inside, i.e., actuators and sensors. When wrapped around compatible objects, they provide movement and sensing functionality as needed to perform tasks.
Deep space traveling was the inspiration for their design – preparing for the unknown. If travelers can’t be sure what robotic functionality will be needed in a somewhat unpredictable environment, it would be useful to have the ability to create what’s needed on-demand. Demonstrations of the skins thus far have included a stuffed horse walking, a cylinder crawling like a worm, a claw for moving things, and a posture sensor that vibrates when a user is slouching. Perhaps implementing multiple skins could create a bot that both flipped pages in a spacecraft instruction manual and slapped the reader when they stopped paying attention. Hey, deep space might also be boring.
Watch the below video for more on how these “robotic skins” work:
Tesla will resolve its massive recall of nearly three million vehicles in China with stickers and a software update.
On Friday, Chinese regulators filed recall plans against Tesla, Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Chery, Geely, Dongfeng, Arcfox, and FAW to resolve what is essentially a carbon-copy issue throughout each of the companies’ vehicle models: emergency door release latches are simply not visible enough.
Tesla door handle saga gets its latest chapter and a big change is coming
The companies will be required to add things that will make these latches, which will open the door in the event of an emergency, more visible. Of the 7 million vehicles impacted, Tesla accounts for 2,975,910 units. More than 1.9 million of those are Model Y vehicles, with the rest, just over 970,000, being Model 3s.
To resolve the issue, Tesla is going to add warning labels to the emergency latches free of charge, and then utilize an Over-the-Air update to add a post-crash window-lowering strategy, according to CNEVpost.
This massive effort to fix the all-electric Model Y and Model 3’s emergency latch system comes just months after several probes across various markets identified the trouble some had identifying this latch. Those who had gotten involved in car accidents that stripped the vehicle of its power were not aware that every Tesla has emergency door latches.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said that severe crashes that disable a vehicle’s low-voltage system could not only hinder occupants from getting out, but also make it more difficult for emergency response workers to gain entry.
SAMR is starting to tighten the regulations it has on door handles on vehicles. A new mandatory national standard will take effect for all models starting January 1, 2027, and will require all doors to be equipped with mechanical release mechanisms. This will effectively end purely electronic door handles. Models already on sale with type approval have been granted a two-year transition period, which will enable things to change until January 2029.
Tesla has officially confirmed plans to bring its all-electric Semi truck to Europe, with full specifications and market-launch details set for unveiling at the IAA Transportation trade fair in Hannover, Germany.
The event runs September 15–20, with a possible press preview on September 14. The announcement, shared via Tesla’s Semi account, marks a significant expansion beyond North America nearly nine years after the truck’s original 2017 reveal.
🚨 Tesla Semi is coming to Europe!
Sustainable logistics is a huge market internationally, and now Tesla is involved in it outside of the U.S. market! https://t.co/q3hjX6ybMv pic.twitter.com/mxTaVY3UsE
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) August 20, 2026
In the United States, the Semi’s path has been gradual. Limited pilot production and customer deliveries began in late 2022, primarily to fleets such as PepsiCo. After years of refinement, high-volume manufacturing started on April 29, 2026, at a dedicated facility adjacent to Gigafactory Nevada.
The plant targets an annual capacity of 50,000 units, though the ramp is expected to be gradual, with “many thousands” of trucks projected by the end of 2026.
Demand is building, with recent orders including 500 units for Einride (deliveries starting September 2026, serving Amazon and others) and hundreds more from operators such as WattEV. Pricing stands at approximately $260,000 for the Standard Range and $290,000 for the Long Range before incentives.
Tesla Semi pricing revealed after company uncovers trim levels
Earlier in 2026, Tesla finalized production specifications that incorporated substantial updates. In February, the company detailed two variants designed for a full 82,000-pound gross combination weight.
The Standard Range offers about 325 miles of range with a 548 kWh battery and curb weight under 20,000 pounds. The Long Range delivers roughly 500 miles with an 822 kWh pack and a 23,000-pound curb weight. Both use three independent rear-axle motors producing up to 800 kW (about 1,073 horsepower), achieve energy consumption of around 1.7 kWh per mile, and support megawatt-class charging at up to 1.2 MW—recovering about 60 percent of range in 30 minutes through the MCS standard.
Additional refinements include a roughly 1,000-pound weight reduction versus earlier prototypes, improved aerodynamics, a 48-volt electrical architecture, electric power take-off up to 25 kW for refrigerated trailers, and fleet management software with over-the-air updates.
These advances position the Semi as a competitive option against diesel trucks on operating costs and performance. For Europe, adaptations such as lighting, cab configurations (including potential sleeper options), and regulatory compliance are anticipated.
With series production underway in Nevada and major fleet commitments secured, the upcoming IAA reveal will clarify timelines, European-specific specs, and pricing, potentially accelerating electrification of heavy-duty freight on both continents.
Investor's Corner
Tesla Robotaxi gets a massive upgrade in Nevada
Nevada regulators just approved a massive expansion of Tesla’s robotaxi fleet across the entire county.
Tesla’s robotaxi footprint in Nevada just grew by roughly 500 times in a single regulatory vote.
The Nevada Transportation Authority approved Tesla’s full Autonomous Vehicle Network Company permit on Thursday, clearing the way for the company to deploy up to 5,000 driverless vehicles across Clark County over the next 12 months. The decision came during a four hour general session meeting that Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt watched live and reported on X, noting the vote replaces the interim order that had limited Tesla to just 10 robotaxis on a narrow stretch of the Las Vegas Strip.
EXCLUSIVE: Tesla has just officially received approval for its full Autonomous Vehicle Network Company permit in Nevada, clearing the way for Tesla to launch a paid public Robotaxi service in Las Vegas.
This officially allows @Tesla to deploy up to 5,000 robotaxis over the next… pic.twitter.com/DPs5UtUlrE
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) August 20, 2026
That earlier cap, covered here after it surfaced on August 13, came with restrictions that looked stricter than what Tesla runs in Austin: a 45 mph speed ceiling, no airport pickups, and a geofence confined to the Strip corridor. The new approval extends Tesla’s operating authority to all of Clark County, with room to request an even wider geofence across the state.
Tesla representatives at the meeting said they have no intention of putting 5,000 cars on the road right away. Commercial rides are expected to start within 30 days, pending vehicle inspections, insurance filings, and fare approval, the standard steps every robotaxi operator in Nevada has had to clear.
Tesla’s own Robotaxi account replied to the news with a short line, The golden future is upon us.
The timing lines up with Tesla’s broader robotaxi push this month. The company is preparing to open Cybercab rides to the public in Austin as soon as this month, and it opened a sweepstakes for riders to win a seat at the launch event. Tesla filed its original application for a 5,000 vehicle Nevada fleet back in June, a request regulators trimmed to 10 vehicles when they issued the interim order in July. Thursday’s vote effectively grants the number Tesla asked for from the start.
Zoox, the Amazon owned robotaxi operator, has run in Nevada since 2025 and was capped at 100 vehicles before Thursday’s decision. Tesla’s new ceiling puts it well ahead of that comparison on paper, though the company has said its actual fleet size will depend on how quickly FSD v15 rolls out, the software update executives have called the gateway to scaling unsupervised robotaxi operations nationwide.
Tesla will resolve massive China recall with stickers and a software update
Tesla Semi is officially headed to Europe
