An end effector is the device attached to the end of a robot arm that interacts directly with objects or materials. Common end effectors include grippers, suction cups, welding tools, and cutting devices. The choice of end effector determines what tasks a robot can perform. End effectors are used in manufacturing, packaging, assembly, and inspection. They are essential for turning robotic movement into useful work.
Alibaba has unveiled RynnBrain, an artificial intelligence model designed to help robots understand and interact with the physical world, marking the company’s latest move into physical AI and embodied robotics.
Humanoid robots have joined monks at China’s Shaolin Temple for kung fu training, highlighting how physical AI is increasingly intersecting with human movement, culture, and embodied learning.
Indian automation firm Addverb has unveiled Elixis-W, the country’s first domestically developed wheeled humanoid robot, marking a shift from experimental robotics to real industrial deployment.