Form factor is the theme of the day: Agility is pondering wheels while Tesla wrestles Optimus onto the production line, a reminder that the humanoid ideal often bends to practical reality. Elsewhere, robots are pitching in on farms and in homes, defense lasers take aim at drone swarms, and yes, there's a robot goose.

In today’s roundup

• Agility Robotics, maker of Digit humanoid, exploring wheeled robots — The Robot Report
  The company behind bipedal Digit is admitting that wheels sometimes beat legs, a pragmatic nod that form should follow the operating environment.
• Tesla’s Optimus robot is going through growing pains — The Verge
  Tesla's 20,000-robots-a-week ambition is bumping into reality, with production reportedly stuck at several hundred and hands proving especially hard to build.
• Video Friday: Life’s Better With a Little Robot Goose — IEEE Spectrum Robotics
  Your weekly dose of robotics video, this time featuring a little robot goose and household helpers to close out the week.
• Farmers are facing more pressure; CNH says robotics can help — The Robot Report
  CNH argues automation can ease farmers' mounting struggles with labor, cost, and productivity, staking out agriculture as a serious robotics frontier.
• Affected by layoffs? Don’t miss this $75 deal for your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Expo+ Pass — TechCrunch Robotics
  A discounted $75 Disrupt Expo+ pass aimed at those hit by layoffs, capped at the first 100 qualifying applicants.
• Last 24 hours to save up to $200 on TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Reason 5 of 5 to attend: Momentum — TechCrunch Robotics
  The final day to save up to $200 on Disrupt 2026 passes, pitched to founders chasing momentum for their startups.
• Robot Talk Episode 163 – Robots helping people, with Aaron Edsinger — Robohub
  Hello Robot's Aaron Edsinger discusses Stretch, the mobile manipulator designed to help people with mobility issues live more independently.
• EOS partners with Dutch MinDef to develop 100-kW laser system to destroy drone swarms — Interesting Engineering
  The Netherlands teams with EOS on a 100-kilowatt laser meant to knock down drone swarms, signaling how counter-drone defense is escalating.

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The Daily Grind · RobotCafe · robotcafe.com