Humanoid robots generated over $130 million in entertainment sales in 2025, representing 26 % of global humanoid robot revenue. Rental rates in China fell from ~20,000 yuan to 5,000 yuan per day between early 2025 and early 2026. The market is shifting toward short-term rental services rather than ownership.
Key points
Global humanoid robot sales revenue exceeded $500 million in 2025; entertainment accounted for $130 million (26 %).
Unitree G1 rental price dropped from ~20,000 yuan/day in early 2025 to 5,000 yuan/day by early 2026.
Sources
Sim-to-Real RL for ASVs using SysID – zero-shot transfer demo
Sim-to-Real RL for ASVs using SysID presents an ASV simulator and training pipeline that start from unknown vehicle dynamics. It uses only a CAD model and a brief set of open-water field trajectories to approximate and refine hydrodynamic and thruster parameters, achieving zero-shot sim-to-real transfer on a BlueBoat ASV for path following and station-keeping.
Key points
Simulator and pipeline train policies from unknown dynamics using only a CAD model and brief field trajectories.
Real-world deployments on a BlueBoat ASV show zero-shot transfer for path following and station-keeping without prior hydrodynamic or propeller information.
Sources
- Original post
- Sim-to-Real RL for ASVs using SysID - Linked page
- Linked resource - Linked in the post
METR_Evals AI time-horizon chart revised, R² = 0.996 on latent scale
METR_Evals updated AI time-horizon estimates and the chart changed on the left side. Converting to a latent capability scale reproduces the original chart on the right with R² = 0.996. The post asks why this occurs.
Key points
Updated AI time-horizon estimates alter the original chart.
Converting to a latent capability scale yields the original chart with R² = 0.996.
Sources
Rhoda tactile sensor – new robot touch capability announced
Rhoda’s new tactile sensor adds pressure, texture, vibration, slip, and temperature sensing to robots. The sensor lets a robot recognize and retrieve objects while its cameras are blindfolded.
Key points
Sensor: detects pressure, texture, vibration, slip, and temperature.
Demo: robot retrieved objects with vision disabled.
Sources
GPT-6 solves NIST assembly board for $3.98 (partial)
GPT-6 was used in a zero-shot attempt on the NIST assembly board task with a reported cost of $3.98 and achieved a partial solution. The result was noted as impressive compared to prior work.
Key points
Partial solution of the NIST assembly board using GPT-6.
Attempt cost reported as $3.98.