automation

Towson, Md. – October 16, 2026 -- DEWALT's DALE drilling robot has cut project timelines by more than 300 weeks across 44 data center construction phases, and TIME has named it to its Best Inventions of 2026 list in the Robotics category.

DALE, an autonomous downward drilling robot, was developed by DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, in collaboration with mobile robotics company August Robotics. TIME editors and correspondents selected 300 winning innovations based on originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.

DALE drills up to 10 times faster than conventional methods on live jobsites

On live data center jobsites, DALE has reached drilling speeds up to 10 times faster than conventional methods. The robot has drilled more than 385,000 holes with over 99% accuracy.

Shenzhen, China – October 16, 2026 -- ONERugged, a brand of Emdoor Information (SZ:001314), has expanded its Vehicle PC (VPC) portfolio with rugged vehicle-mount computers aimed at precision agriculture and autonomous mining, citing a market where autonomous mining vehicles are moving from pilot programs to full-scale commercial deployment.

Five models span 8-inch and 10.1-inch displays

The VPC line covers the V80J, V80T, V10J, V10T and V12R, in 8-inch and 10.1-inch form factors. Each unit uses a high-performance CPU architecture for edge processing and offers CAN bus communication for integration with native vehicle systems. Connectivity options include aviation-grade or Deutsch connectors and CAN, RJ45, RS232, RS485, USB and GPIO interfaces.

Douglas – October 15, 2026 -- Douglas Police Department has launched an automated victim notification system on Versaterm CommunityConnect that requires no additional staff and no restructuring of its records workflow.

Automated alerts replace manual follow-up by officers and advocates

The system sends crime victims case information and status changes as their cases move through investigation. Staff no longer have to track down and contact each victim individually.

Department leadership describes the system as an upgrade over a manual, ad hoc process. That process depended on individual officers or victim advocates remembering to follow up, and it was prone to delays and inconsistency as caseloads grew.

San Francisco – October 15, 2026 -- Benchling launched Science Foundries, a product that lets R&D teams run entire scientific processes with agents and scientists working from the same data, and made it available to its customers the same day.

Teams select a process or goal, such as producing proteins, optimizing a lead or improving a manufacturing process. They then define which steps agents run and where scientists must approve. Agents execute and monitor work, coordinate handoffs and flag key decisions to scientists.

Benchling has spent the past 18 months building AI into its platform. The company says agents are the fastest-growing capability it has released. Science Foundries extend agents from individual tasks to complete workflows.

Green Bay – October 15, 2026 -- RC Mowers will unveil a new autonomous commercial mower platform and an all-season accessory lineup for its remote-controlled slope mowers at Equip Expo Booth No. 7056 in Louisville, Kentucky, on Oct. 20-23.

Dealers and media get first look on Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon

The Wisconsin-based manufacturer will show the products during the Indoor Trade Show Dealer & Media Preview on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The solutions open to all Equip attendees at noon the same day.

Accessory lineup takes R-Series slope mowers beyond mowing for the first time

The company plans to expand the capabilities of its R-Series remote-controlled slope mowers. Contractors could use them to offer additional services, generate new revenue and keep equipment working through more of the year.

Boston – October 13, 2026 -- Bouygues Telecom Wholesale is adopting the Connectbase Mplify API adaptor within The Connected World platform, automating eligibility, pricing and product data exchanges with its operator clients, Connectbase announced.

Adaptor translates between Bouygues systems and Mplify LSO APIs

The integration standardizes access to Bouygues Telecom Wholesale's workflows. It simplifies interactions with operator customers that implement Mplify Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs. These industry-standard APIs support service orchestration across the full service lifecycle and let providers automate the buying and selling of connectivity.

Singapore – October 13, 2026 -- YYForce Inc. (NASDAQ: YFOR) projects approximately 10% lower monthly operating costs from a planned service-robot rollout across Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens, a 772-room precinct. The figure comes from a pre-deployment comparison; deployment has not yet begun, and actual costs, productivity and guest-service outcomes will be assessed after rollout.

Cost model covers housekeeping, concierge and F&B, including robot costs

The 10% estimate applies only to selected housekeeping, concierge and food and beverage operations, and the model includes the cost of the robots themselves. A separate planning assumption estimates a potential 5% cut in rooms-department overtime costs. The two estimates use different bases and do not add up to a combined saving. Both depend on the model's cost scope, operating coverage and service assumptions.

Phoenix – October 13, 2026 -- D.R. Horton, America's largest homebuilder by volume, has signed a multi-year commercial agreement with Promise Robotics to produce more than 1,250 homes through the company's Factory-as-a-Service (FaaS) platform.

D.R. Horton is the first major U.S. homebuilder to use Promise Robotics' production platform. The deal comes as Promise expands its U.S. manufacturing network.

FaaS lets builders add automated capacity without owning factories

FaaS takes a builder's existing home designs and converts them into a coordinated production process. The process spans robotic manufacturing, factory operations and onsite installation. Builders gain access to automated production capacity without developing and operating their own factories. Promise Robotics says this improves cycle times, increases capacity and allows more predictable scaling across communities and markets.

Shanghai – October 13, 2026 -- HSG Laser has unveiled a five-year product strategy that shifts its focus from high-performance standalone machines to intelligent manufacturing cells and integrated production lines, announced at its 20th anniversary event on October 11 in Shanghai.

The event brought together customers, strategic partners, industry experts and media from around the world. Ricky Wu, Rotating CEO, traced the company's path from a local laser equipment maker in Guangdong to a global provider of high-end laser solutions.

HSG sets three strategic priorities for global fabricators

The company will focus on product and technology innovation, global service capability, and localized operations. HSG says these priorities are meant to strengthen its delivery of high-performance solutions and support for fabricators worldwide.

Delray Beach – October 12, 2026 -- The global low-power brushless DC (BLDC) motor market will grow from USD 6.59 billion in 2026 to USD 9.69 billion by 2031, a compound annual growth rate of 8.0%, according to MarketsandMarkets. The 2025 market size stood at USD 6.11 billion.

Asia Pacific is forecast to grow fastest at 8.8% CAGR through 2031

Asia Pacific is expected to post the highest regional CAGR of 8.8%. MarketsandMarkets attributes the growth to industrial development, expanding manufacturing, rising automation and demand for energy savings. China, Japan, South Korea, India and ASEAN countries have invested heavily in robotics, industrial automation, electric transportation, smart appliances and battery devices.