The Robots Are Running
Happy Saturday!
Welcome back to the Godspeed Weekly — Let’s get to it…
The Robots Are Running
In a world first, 21 humanoid robots raced alongside thousands of human runners at Beijing’s Yizhuang Half Marathon on Saturday.
Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics, was the first to cross the finish line — clocking in at 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Not every robot made it. One collapsed at the starting line. Another veered into the railing just meters in.
The race may have been a clever publicity play, but it offered a glimpse of what’s to come. As one spectator put it,
“I feel I’m witnessing the evolution of robots and AI.”
For perspective, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo recently ran an unofficial world record time of 56:42.
Robots aren’t setting records yet — but it’s something to behold.
Nvidia Powers AI Innovation in America
NVIDIA is bringing the future of AI to the United States. For the first time, its advanced AI supercomputers will be built entirely on US soil.
The company partnered with semiconductor manufacturers – TSMC and Foxconn – to power more than a million square feet of manufacturing facilities in Arizona and Texas.
NVIDIA’s Blackwell chip production is already active in Phoenix, while new manufacturing centers in Houston and Dallas are set to scale rapidly.
The semiconductor giant projects up to $500B in US-based AI infrastructure, leading to hundreds of thousands of jobs – cementing the US at the forefront of AI.
Improving Efficiency In Nuclear Deployment
GE Hitachi Nuclear achieved a breakthrough in nuclear construction with the successful test of its Diaphragm Plate Steel Composite (DPSC) technology.
Developed in partnership with the US Department of Energy, DPSC is a modular steel-concrete panel system designed to improve the efficiency of building nuclear reactor containment structures.
Unlike traditional construction techniques, DPSC panels are fabricated off-site, shipped to the reactor location, and filled with concrete upon arrival. This approach reduces on-site labor costs and enables more consistent quality control.
GE Hitachi plans to deploy this innovative technology in its first four BWXR-300 small modular reactors at the Darlington site in Ontario, Canada.
ABB To Create ABB Robotics
ABB, the Swedish-Swiss multinational engineering and automation leader, announced plans to spin off its robotics division to create ABB Robotics.
The news, revealed in its April 17th earnings report, is expected to be completed in Q2 2026, pending shareholder approval.
ABB Robotics will emerge as a pure-play robotics company, enabling more focused investment, innovation, and agility in automation and AI-powered solutions.
“ABB Robotics holds a global number two market position with revenues of $2.3 billion in 2024 and as a strong performer in its industry it would benefit from being measured more directly against its peers… We believe this change will support value creation in both units and now is a good time for both ABB and for the Robotics business.”
– Morten Wierod ABB CEO
Midnight in Manhattan
Archer Aviation was in Manhattan this week as it unveiled its proposed New York City air taxi network.
To celebrate, the company threw an exclusive – invite-only event – displaying its Midnight eVTOL aircraft.
Late-night TV host Jimmy Fallon had the money quote,
“Archer Aviation is delivering the Jetsons – the future is here.”
3D-Printed Infrastructure
In Ardia, Japan, Hatsushima Station became the world’s first 3D-printed railway station.
The 10-square-meter structure was printed off-site in four parts and assembled overnight.
Traditional construction methods would have taken months, but 3D printing cut construction to just six hours.
This is the future of constructing infrastructure.
Rosebee’s Radar
Netflix Reinvents Search with AI
Zipline Takes Flight in North Texas
Subaru Debuts Trailseeker, An All-Electric SUV
Yes, Good Stress Exists. Here’s How It Can Improve Your Resilience
A Look Back at 512E, General Motors’ Expandable Electric Bubble Car from 1969
This Company Wants to Bring Modern Night Trains to the U.S.
Watch How Flying Cars Became a Billion-Dollar Bet
UAE Sees Progress on AI Chips Access After $1.4 Trillion Pledge
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Godspeed – Rosebee
Disclosure: The author of this newsletter holds $ACHR/W.
