Cyborg Cockroaches Trained for Search and Rescue, SoftBank Eyes 1X in $6B Bid

Bio-Robotic Cockroaches Step Up as Search-and-Rescue Medics

Researchers at the University of Queensland have taken bio-hybrid robotics a step further by converting giant burrowing cockroaches into miniature emergency responders dubbed “paraborgs.” Equipped with compact cameras and remote-activated drug injection mechanisms, the insects work in teams: one acts as the eyes, while the second carries and administers medication to survivors trapped in disaster rubble.

• Precision performance: In controlled trials, the system achieved a 95% injection success rate when positioned within 15 cm of the target, and a 72% success rate across the full search-and-inject routine.
• Animal welfare: Microchips and electrodes were attached under anesthesia, and researchers noted the insects maintain a normal lifespan once the hardware packs are detached.
• Timeline: Lead researcher Thang Vo-Doan estimates that practical rescue swarms are roughly 5 to 10 years away from field deployment.

SoftBank in Discussions to Acquire Control of 1X Technologies

Investment giant SoftBank is negotiating a majority stake in humanoid robotics startup 1X Technologies at an estimated valuation of $6 billion. The acquisition would place the creators of NEO—a $20,000 humanoid designed for home environments—under the control of Masayoshi Son’s expanding robotics umbrella.

The move aligns with SoftBank's aggressive push into physical AI, following its $5.4 billion planned takeover of ABB Robotics and substantial backing of Skild AI. While 1X secured 10,000 preorders for NEO within days of announcement, commercial consumer units have yet to ship.

Amazon Tests Full Automation for Delivery Hubs

Under an internal initiative named Project Tetromino, Amazon is developing automated delivery stations engineered to streamline parcel sorting, storage, and van loading. By deploying specialized robotics and AI, the retail giant aims to accelerate processing speeds up to 2.5 times compared to existing facility benchmarks, addressing one of the most labor-intensive bottlenecks in logistics.

Generalist AI Valuation Surges to $3 Billion

Robotics intelligence startup Generalist AI reached a $3 billion valuation following a $200 million funding extension led by 8VC, boosting its Series B round to $600 million. The company is developing universal “robot brain” software, demonstrating that its GEN-1.5 model can learn novel manipulation tasks after seeing a single brief video demonstration.

Industry Highlights

• Waymo expands to Europe: Autonomous mapping and trials are set to begin in Munich, Germany, targeting a commercial robotaxi debut by late 2027.
• Humanoid speed milestone: China’s Tiangong Ultra humanoid completed a 100-meter sprint in 8.64 seconds at the Beijing Humanoid Games.
• Figure AI launches data platform: Figure introduced Index, a crowdsourcing initiative that has gathered over 16 million real-world task clips across 100+ countries to train generalist humanoid models.
• Dealership robotics: Hyundai confirmed plans to explore distributing and financing Boston Dynamics robots through its global automotive dealer network.