Robots at work: From receptions to R&D

ADVANCEMENTS IN ROBOTICS

1. 🤖“Robots will replace repetitive work, not human connection”: Meet Alina from Humanoid Robotics

What if your next receptionist wasn’t human but was still deeply human-like?

Sifted’s recent interview with Alina, the humanoid face of Germany’s Humanoid Robotics, offers a fascinating glimpse into the emotional intelligence of machines.

Alina is not just a voice assistant in a box, she’s built to look you in the eye, remember your name, and smile while answering questions. Her creators believe humanoid robots can help tackle the global labor shortage, especially in elder care, reception, and hospitality where empathy and presence matter.

Humanoid robots won’t replace us. They’ll replace work that exhausts us.

These robots aren't here to dominate, they’re here to assist. And the real innovation isn’t the hardware, but the software that lets them “understand” us better.

Why it matters?

▪️ Ageing populations need scalable care

▪️ Service roles face high turnover

▪️ People crave tech that feels more human, not less

As robotics moves from industrial arms to humanoid assistants, the question isn’t just what robots can do but what humans should still own.

2. Trailblazing: The Indy Autonomous Challenge officially joined the IndyCar Grand Prix weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on July 24, 2025, marking the first time fully autonomous racecars competed on the storied Corkscrew turn. AI‑piloted machines from top engineering universities showcased cutting‑edge software and speed on the same stage as professional drivers, a bold milestone for autonomy and automotive AI adaptation.

3. Self‑sustaining: UBTECH’s Walker S2 has shattered expectations by becoming the first humanoid robot to autonomously swap its own batteries. Operating with a dual 48 V lithium system, it can walk for 2 hours or stand for 4 hours before replacing its depleted pack making around‑the‑clock, human‑free operation a reality in factories or public spaces.

4. Revolutionary: California-based Figure AI has rolled out its new F.03 in‑house battery, packing 2.3 kWh for up to five hours of peak runtime. Fully manufactured at its BotQ facility, the battery is 80% cheaper to produce, charges faster, and meets safety certifications fuelling scalable deployment of humanoid robots in industrial settings.

5. Precise: A team led by the University of Surrey has introduced a groundbreaking slip‑prevention grip method that enables robots to handle fragile, slippery, or asymmetric objects with human-like dexterity. This smart control architecture significantly boosts reliability across manufacturing, healthcare, and automation applications.

ROBOTICS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS WEEK

1. 🤖 DIY: Build your own working cardboard robot at home with a DC motor perfect for school science projects!

2. 🤖 Ironic: An AI agent casually checks the “I’m not a robot” box, peak 2025 irony. The line between human and machine just got blurrier.

3. 📏 Surprising: From palm-sized bots to giant mechs, this 3D size comparison video shows just how diverse robot designs have become. Some could fit in your pocket, others tower like titans.

4. 🌍 Breakthrough: Chinese doctors performed the world’s first remote liver surgery across 10,000 km from France to Hangzhou in just 50 minutes using a homegrown robotic system.

5. 🥋 Battle Bot: This $6K humanoid robot can run cartwheel and fist-fight bringing sci-fi action to real life!

6. 🤖 Intern Bot: Terri MechKenna, the humanoid intern from Auki Labs, may just mark the real start of the AI revolution.

7. 🌕 MoonBot: Japan’s robot transforms on demand, ready to build our lunar future.

8. 🤖 Lonely Love: Men are turning to AI girlfriends as a cheaper, conflict-free escape from modern relationships.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

How ChatGPT built an app in minutes?

SPECIAL

📡 How robotics can bridge the digital divide in tribal India

In a remote school in Odisha, students are programming robots, not just learning from them.

The Hindu’s report highlights a powerful shift: Robotics isn’t just for the elite anymore. It’s becoming a tool of inclusion, especially in tribal and rural India.

Through government-backed STEM programs and non-profit-led interventions, tribal students are:

▪️ Learning coding through hands-on robot kits

▪️ Gaining digital confidence

▪️ Building solutions for their communities (like weather monitors or irrigation bots)

When children build robots, they also build belief.

This isn’t about creating engineers overnight, it’s about giving young minds the courage to explore tech and dream beyond their village boundaries.

🌱 Impact snapshot:

▪️ Improved school attendance

▪️ Higher digital literacy in low-connectivity zones

▪️ Real-life problem-solving using tech

Robotics isn’t a luxury anymore, it’s becoming a language of opportunity.

Let’s not just push tech in cities. Let’s plant it where it’s needed most.

PROMPT OF THE WEEK

Perform an asset-based valuation of a real estate company.

Act as a chartered financial analyst (CFA) or investment banker with experience in real estate valuation.

Your task is to perform an asset-based valuation for a real estate company using standard valuation methods. The goal is to calculate the company’s value based on the fair market value of its assets minus its liabilities — rather than using income-based or market-based approaches.

🏢 COMPANY CONTEXT:
- Company Type: Real estate development or holding company
- Location: [e.g., India, US, Dubai]
- Type of Assets: [e.g., Residential units, commercial buildings, land banks, under-construction projects, rental properties]
- Liabilities: [e.g., Term loans, working capital loans, advances from customers]
- Accounting Standard: [e.g., Indian GAAP, Ind AS, IFRS]
- Valuation Date: [Insert Date or "as of today"]

✅ STEPS TO FOLLOW IN VALUATION:

1. List all major asset categories:
   - Land & Buildings (include book value + estimated market value)
   - Inventory/Work-in-progress (for under-construction projects)
   - Investment Properties (include rental yield if needed)
   - Cash & Cash Equivalents
   - Other Current & Non-current Assets (e.g., advances, receivables)

2. List all liabilities:
   - Loans & borrowings (secured/unsecured)
   - Payables and provisions
   - Deferred tax liabilities (if material)

3. Adjust asset values to reflect fair market value:
   - Use recent market comparables or third-party valuations where available

4. Calculate Net Asset Value (NAV):
   NAV = Total Adjusted Assets – Total Liabilities

5. Optional Sensitivity
   - If possible, provide a low/base/high scenario based on different market assumptions (e.g., property prices -5% or +10%)

📊 DELIVERABLE:
Present the valuation in a structured table showing:
- Book Value vs. Market Value
- Total Assets
- Total Liabilities
- Net Asset Value (Equity Valuation)

Add 2–3 lines of commentary explaining the conclusion (e.g., “The NAV per share is ₹125, implying the company is undervalued at its current market cap of ₹100 per share.”)

📌 TONE:
Professional, analytical, and suitable for use in a valuation memo, pitch deck, or internal investment analysis.

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Until tomorrow!

Shinky & the Hanoomaan AI team