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Fox News
3 minutes ago
- Fox News
Humanoid robot swaps its own battery to work 24/7
Robots used to need our help to keep going. They had to be plugged in or manually recharged. Now, UBTech is changing that. The company's new humanoid, the Walker S2, has a feature that could reshape the future of factory work. It can swap out its own battery, requiring no human intervention. That means it can keep going, almost nonstop, 24/7. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Instead of shutting down to recharge, the Walker S2 walks to a nearby swap station. When one battery starts to run low, the robot turns its torso, uses built-in tools on its arms and removes the drained battery. It then picks up a fresh one, plugs it in and gets back to work immediately. The entire process takes about three minutes. This system is similar to battery-swapping tech used in electric vehicles. But this time, it's for humanoid robots. The Walker S2 is the size of a small adult. It's 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 95 pounds. It has two 48-volt lithium batteries. When one runs out, it switches to the other. Each battery lasts approximately two hours while walking or four hours when the robot is standing still. Swap stations also monitor battery health. If a battery starts to degrade, a technician can replace it. UBTech claims the Walker S2 is designed for real-world use. It has been tested in car factories operated by BYD, Nio and Zeekr. These robots are not just for show. They have vision systems to detect battery levels. A green light indicates that a battery is ready to use. The robot reads that, picks it up and plugs it in using a USB-style connector. The robot also features a display face to communicate its status to human workers. And, yes, there's an emergency stop button, just in case. China is investing heavily in robotics. More than 1,600 robotics companies operate in Shenzhen, UBTech's home base. Projects range from humanoids like the Walker S2 to delivery robots that ride the subway and restock convenience stores. This move toward automation is about global competition. China is betting on AI and robotics to lead the next era of manufacturing. Robots like the Walker S2 are built to work nonstop. That changes what the workplace looks like, not just in factories, but everywhere. You could start seeing machines like this in airports, warehouses or even hospitals. They handle the physical tasks. You focus on the thinking, planning or managing. For businesses, 24/7 automation means more output without adding more staff. It keeps operations moving, day and night. This tech is no longer a preview of what's next. It's starting to show up on real job sites. UBTech's Walker S2 is an example of how automation is moving beyond the lab and into the workplace. With battery swapping, humanoid robots may soon be able to work longer hours than any human could ever do. They don't take coffee breaks. They don't sleep. They just keep going. Would you be comfortable working next to a robot that never needs rest, and would you worry it would eventually take your job? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
CNN
33 minutes ago
- CNN
Qatari plane that could be new Air Force One will be ‘unconditional' gift to the Pentagon, agreement says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Qatari counterpart have signed an agreement outlining the terms of Qatar's 'unconditional donation' of a Boeing jet to the Pentagon, confirming that the US will pay nothing for the plane, according to a copy of the memorandum of understanding reviewed by CNN. The agreement, signed by Hegseth and Qatar's deputy prime minister and minister of state for defense affairs, Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, on July 7, says the plane — which is expected to be used by President Donald Trump as Air Force One once it is upgraded — is a 'bona fide gift' to the Defense Department. 'This donation is made in good faith and in the spirit of cooperation and mutual support between the parties,' the document says. 'Nothing in this MoU is, or shall be interpreted or construed as, an offer, promise, or acceptance of any form of bribery, undue influence, or corrupt practice.' The memorandum, while signed by both parties, could still be tweaked ahead of a formal announcement, a source familiar with the matter said. The aircraft is parked in San Antonio awaiting upgrades, CNN has reported. CNN has reached out to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Air Force and the Qatari Embassy for comment. The MOU was first reported by The Washington Post. The transfer of the jet from Qatar to the Trump administration sparked a political firestorm in the spring as Democrats and several influential Republicans, including supporters of the president, said they opposed the potential deal on ethics grounds. It also caught Air Force officials off guard, CNN has reported. While the Air Force was exploring options for getting a replacement plane for Air Force One faster than Boeing could deliver the new jets it had been contracted to build, the Air Force was initially under the impression that any transaction with the Qataris would involve a sale of the plane — not a donation, defense officials said. But after news of the US-Qatar discussions became public, Trump repeatedly described the plane as a 'GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE.' The memorandum signed by Hegseth and Al-Thani emphasizes the transfer of the plane is 'unconditional' and that it is 'not connected or otherwise related to any governmental decision and, as such, is not made, offered, promised or accepted because of any past, present or future official act or decision and is not intended to obtain or retain any improper advantage or to influence any official decision.' But beyond the ethical and legal questions, retrofitting and installing the required security and communications equipment on a second-hand plane from another government, even a friendly one, is a monumental task. To fund the upgrades, the Air Force has sought to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars from the vastly overbudget Sentinel program to an unspecified classified project, according to sources familiar with a congressional notification about the transfer. Sentinel is a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile system that is being developed to replace the US' aging Minuteman III missiles. Officially, the price tag to retrofit the Qatari plane for use by the president is classified, the Air Force previously told CNN. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers last month that it will 'probably' cost less than $400 million. An addendum to the Defense Department-Qatar agreement reviewed by CNN says the Air Force 'is in the process of finalizing the transfer of registration and will immediately begin execution of the required modifications.'
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Boeing's contract offer rejected by union members
(Reuters) -Union members who assemble Boeing's fighter jets in the St. Louis area have "overwhelmingly voted" to reject the company's contract offer on Sunday, with the company now preparing for an imminent strike. Boeing's proposal, which was sent on Tuesday to more than 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837, included a 20% general wage increase over four years and a $5,000 ratification bonus, as well as more vacation time and sick leave. "The proposal from Boeing Defense fell short of addressing the priorities and sacrifices of the skilled IAM Union workforce," the IAM union said. Dan Gillian, Boeing's Air Dominance vice president, general manager and senior St. Louis Site executive said in an emailed statement that it is disappointed Boeing employees voted down "the richest contract offer we've ever presented to IAM 837 which addressed all their stated priorities." "We've activated our contingency plan and are focused on preparing for a strike. No talks are scheduled with the union," Gillian added. The current contract expires on Sunday following which there is a seven-day cooling off period before a strike would begin, the union added. Boeing's defense division is expanding manufacturing facilities in the St. Louis area for the new U.S. Air Force fighter, the F-47, after it won the contract earlier this year. The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet program, initially conceived as a "family of systems" centered around a sixth-generation fighter jet, is meant to replace the F-22 Raptor.
