hinese robot maker Dobot Robotics has showcased its humanoid ‘Atom’ robot preparing a delicious steak. Although impressive enough, the real feat was the fact that the robot was remotely operated from 1,118 miles (1,800 km) away using virtual reality (VR).

Teleoperation over long distances
The company released the Atom model in March of this year at the cost of around $27,500 (199,000 yuan) a piece. Dobot celebrated the release of Atom with a similar culinary-themed video showing the robot preparing a nutritious breakfast.

Beyond just cooking steak
Founded in 2015, Dobot specializes in collaborative robot (cobot) arms, SCARA arms, desktop robot arms, and educational robot arms. Following the release of the video, Dobot’s stock price reportedly soared over 3%. The company has also already begun global shipments, with Japan receiving the first batch.

ack Ma-backed Ant Group has officially introduced its first humanoid robot, R1, at two major tech events this month in Berlin and Shanghai. At the IFA 2025 in Berlin on September 6, the robot was shown cooking shrimp in a mock kitchen.

Days later, it was featured at the Inclusion Conference in Shanghai on Thursday, where one model was on display while another demonstrated kitchen skills for visitors.

The robot was developed by Ant Lingbo Technology, also called Robbyant, the robotics arm of Ant Group. The company says that R1 can handle simple cooking, be a tour guide, or even provide basic medical consultations.

The demonstrations are part of Ant’s push to show that its artificial intelligence expertise can extend beyond digital services and into real-world machines.

Ant’s move into humanoid robots comes as competition in the field heats up. Companies like Unitree Robotics and Tesla are working on similar technology, aiming to combine advances in AI with robotics.

he food service industry is on the cusp of a significant transformation with the introduction of the Circus Autonomy One (CA-1), a groundbreaking robot designed to automate the entire food production process.

Housed within a mere seven-square-meter glass enclosure, the CA-1 utilizes dual robotic arms to manage inventory, retrieve ingredients from climate-controlled silos, cook meals over a heating element, and deliver the final product to a collection window—all without any human involvement.

This system is not a kitchen aid but a “full-stack replacement” aiming to redefine the traditional restaurant model.

The system is currently in a commercial pilot phase, actively processing orders and serving meals within REWE supermarkets in Germany.

Automation addresses labor shortages
Circus SE, the Munich-based company responsible for the CA-1, states that this automation is intended to address existing labor shortages and increase operational efficiency. The CA-1 is a self-contained unit powered by a proprietary AI named CircusOS, which manages real-time adaptive decision-making during operation.

Its successful integration into a real-world retail environment establishes a clear operational model for future fully automated food service locations. The technology is an automated, self-contained food service unit.

Defense sector identified as potential deployment area
Circus SE has also identified the defense sector as a potential area for the deployment of this technology. The CA-1 offers a model for automated, standardized food preparation that is not limited to civilian retail environments.

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