Robots in Society, Business and Culture: August 2026

The August robotics monthly roundup covers developments in society, business, research, and culture, including a hardware-buying trip to Shenzhen and a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory investigation into the security risks of Chinese LiDAR. A3 data shows that 8,940 robots were ordered in North America in the second quarter of 2026, worth $622 million, with unit volume up 4.3% and revenue up 21.3%. About 300 companies exhibited more than 2,000 products at the World Robot Conference in Beijing; Unitree's closing price was 460% above its IPO price before falling nearly 30% on August 28.