The Week in Robotics
This week in robotics — sourced, verified, and put in context against our index of 4,256 robots.
New Iron
TECH
Via Interesting EngineeringAirbus-Kratos U740 Valkyrie combat drone completes first European test flight
Airbus and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions flew the U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft in Europe for the first time, at an undisclosed facility in Northern Europe. The test included a rocket-assisted takeoff without a conventional runway, flight at Mach 0.8, and in-air adjustments to mission parameters.
The partners are targeting delivery of a combat-ready Collaborative Combat Aircraft for Germany and other European military customers by 2029. Future trials will test integration with Airbus' MARS autonomous mission system, which is intended to let European operators retain control over mission software, data, and hardware.
The aircraft measures 9.1 meters (29.9 feet) long with an 8.2-meter (26.9-foot) wingspan, has a maximum takeoff weight of about three metric tons, a range exceeding 3,100 miles, and can operate at altitudes up to 45,000 feet.
Boots on the Ground
DEPLOYMENT
Via The Robot ReportPromise Robotics signs multi-year deal with D.R. Horton for 1,250+ homes
Promise Robotics has signed a multi-year agreement with D.R. Horton, America's largest homebuilder by volume, to use its Factory-as-a-Service robotics platform to produce more than 1,250 homes in the U.S.
The Toronto-based company, founded in 2021, combines robotics, AI, and manufacturing systems to automate homebuilding from design translation through production and onsite installation, currently using KUKA industrial robot arms in a robot-agnostic system.
Promise Robotics is setting up initial FaaS facilities in Edmonton, Calgary, and Phoenix, with D.R. Horton being the first major U.S. homebuilder to use its platform.
Follow the Money
INVESTMENTVia Fierce BiotechStryker Makes $400M Preferred Equity Investment in CMR Surgical, Gains Buyout Option
Stryker has entered a strategic alliance with CMR Surgical, the UK-based maker of the Versius soft-tissue surgical robot, involving an approximately $400 million (£300 million) preferred equity investment.
The deal also grants Stryker an exclusive option to acquire 100% of CMR Surgical's outstanding equity in the future, and makes Stryker the exclusive U.S. sales agent for the Versius portfolio while CMR Surgical continues product development and commercialization outside the U.S.
Stryker's Andy Pierce will join CMR Surgical's board as part of the agreement, which remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
Via Unite.AISEC clears Agility Robotics' SPAC merger, valuing it at $2.5B pre-money
The SEC declared effective on October 13, 2026, the Form S-4 registration statement for Agility Robotics' proposed business combination with blank-check company Churchill Capital Corp XI, which values Agility at a pre-money equity value of $2.5 billion.
The deal is expected to provide more than $620 million in gross proceeds, combining roughly $424 million held in Churchill XI's trust account with a $200 million PIPE led by Foxconn. Churchill XI shareholders vote on the combination at a November 2, 2026 meeting, with closing expected that month.
Agility said it plans to use proceeds to fulfill existing customer orders, expand deployments, and scale production of its next-generation Digit 5 humanoid, for which it reports more than $300 million in committed orders.
On the Calendar
AHEADRobotics shows, conferences and competitions opening in the next eight weeks. Dates confirmed against each organiser’s own page.
- Oct 12–16on nowCIIF 2026 — China International Industry Fair
- Oct 20–21RoboBusiness 2026
- Nov 3–6CeMAT ASIA 2026
- Nov 9–12CoRL 2026 — Conference on Robot Learning
- Dec 6–9IEEE-RAS Humanoids 2026
The Number
DATAHalf the month’s rounds were under $15M; its three largest took 56% of the capital. Biggest: Cornerstone Robotics at $700M.
Full capital index →This is funding we have recorded, not all robotics funding — we find more rounds partly because we read more news than we used to. Amounts are the disclosed round size, not a valuation. Months run to the last complete one.
39 percent of the robots we track have a price on record. 1,651 of 4,256 active robots have a price in our index. Counted from the live index on the day this issue was assembled.