A lidar technology company and a robotics AI developer have announced a collaboration to improve how general-purpose robots perceive and navigate complex environments.

The partnership between San Francisco-based Ouster and California -based FieldAI combines high-resolution lidar technology with a universal robot intelligence platform designed to operate across different robot types, tasks, and environments.

The system enables robots to be deployed at new sites without prior maps, pre-planned routes, supporting infrastructure, or environmental modifications.

“Scaling autonomous systems in demanding real-world conditions starts with advanced sensor technology,” said Andrew Mullen, Head of Hardware at FieldAI, in a statement.

Robots gain perception

The collaboration between Ouster and FieldAI aims to accelerate the deployment of autonomous robots in some of the world’s most challenging industrial environments by combining advanced sensing hardware with general-purpose robot intelligence.

The partnership centers on the integration of Ouster’s Rev8 native color digital lidar technology with FieldAI’s Field Foundation Models, a robotics AI platform designed to enable autonomous operation across a wide range of robot types, tasks, and environments. The companies believe the combination can help robots perform reliably in complex, unstructured settings where traditional automation systems often struggle.

FieldAI has developed what it describes as a universal robot “brain” capable of operating across radically different robotic platforms. Unlike conventional robotic systems that typically require detailed maps, carefully planned routes, specialized infrastructure, or extensive site preparation, FieldAI’s technology is designed to allow robots to enter a new worksite much like a newly hired employee. The robots can assess unfamiliar surroundings, understand environmental conditions, and begin operating without prior knowledge of the location.

At the core of this capability are the company’s Field Foundation Models, large-scale AI models trained to understand and interact with the physical world. These models are intended to help robots navigate unpredictable environments where terrain, obstacles, equipment, and working conditions can change continuously. Such environments include construction sites, mines, industrial facilities, energy infrastructure, and remote operational areas where conventional robotic systems often face significant limitations.

To support these capabilities, FieldAI relies on Ouster’s digital lidar sensors, which provide a detailed three-dimensional perception of the surrounding environment. Lidar technology uses laser pulses to measure distances and generate highly accurate spatial maps. Ouster’s latest Rev8 platform adds native color perception to lidar data, enabling robots to capture richer environmental information while maintaining precise depth sensing.

Scaling physical AI

The Rev8 digital lidar platform is designed to deliver high-resolution perception in conditions where cameras or GPS-based systems may be less effective.

According to its developers, it is particularly important in unmapped environments, indoor facilities, underground operations, and GPS-denied locations where autonomous systems must rely heavily on onboard sensing. The technology’s rugged construction also makes it suitable for deployment in harsh industrial conditions involving dust, vibration, weather exposure, and heavy machinery.

FieldAI already uses Ouster’s lidar technology to support navigation and autonomy in complex operational settings. As the company expands deployments with major industrial customers, it plans to incorporate the enhanced sensing capabilities of the Rev8 platform to further improve robot safety, environmental awareness, and decision-making. The addition of native color data is expected to provide greater interpretability of robot actions and improve the ability of autonomous systems to identify and understand objects and conditions in their surroundings.

The collaboration is expected to support the broader adoption of physical AI systems across industries where labor-intensive, hazardous, or difficult-to-access tasks remain challenging for human workers. Target sectors include construction, mining, energy production, manufacturing, security operations, and government applications.

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London-based startup morph has launched a new soft robotics platform designed to bring physical intelligence directly into products through adaptive, deformable materials.

Founded by a former reconstructive surgeon, the company says its “soft robotic cells” combine embedded sensing and adaptive control to enable real-time changes in shape and stiffness.

The technology is aimed at creating products that can sense, adapt, and respond to human interaction, marking a shift from traditional static systems to responsive, AI-enabled physical solutions for consumer and enterprise applications.

“With our platform, we can build a new generation of products embedded with soft robotic cells that adapt in real time to support natural movement,” said Dr. Jean Nehme, Founder of morph, in a statement.

A soft robotics platform

The UK startup has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first soft robotics platform, introducing a new approach to physical AI through adaptive, deformable robotic materials.

Founded by London-based Dr. Jean Nehme, a former reconstructive surgeon and founder of surgical AI company Digital Surgery, morph is developing “soft robotic cells” — modular robotic units made from synthetic materials that can sense, process information, and physically adapt to changing conditions.

Unlike traditional robots built from rigid components and designed primarily for industrial environments, soft robots are constructed from flexible materials that allow safer and more natural interaction with people.

The company’s technology enables robotic cells to alter their shape and stiffness in real time in response to environmental conditions and user needs. By embedding sensing, adaptive control, and intelligence directly into materials, morph aims to create products that can actively respond to human movement and interaction rather than remain static. The approach represents a shift toward embodied AI, where intelligence is integrated into physical systems capable of taking action through the product itself.

According to morph, these soft robotic cells can be combined and configured across a range of products, generating data that supports richer interactions between humans and the physical world. The platform is designed to serve as a foundation for multiple industries, allowing manufacturers to integrate adaptive robotic capabilities into their own products.

Future mobility reimagined

Morph’s initial applications will focus on human performance, mobility, and longevity. Early products are being developed for athletic performance enhancement, injury prevention, and mobility support. The company believes its technology could eventually expand into healthcare, automotive, and industrial safety sectors, where adaptive materials could improve comfort, safety, and functionality.

Inspired by the adaptability of octopuses, morph has built a development platform that allows engineers to program robotic cell behaviors, simulate real-world environments, and rapidly prototype deformable components intended for direct human interaction. The system combines reinforcement learning with high-fidelity physics-based simulations, helping accelerate the transition from concept to deployable product while maintaining safety and reliability standards.

The company is currently working with several industrial partners and plans to operate primarily as a software, design, and fabrication partner for businesses seeking to adopt soft robotics technology. Through its business-to-business strategy, morph aims to help companies incorporate adaptive robotic materials into future products.

“Driven by a worldwide team of experts in robotics, AI, medicine, design, and manufacturing, morph enables the creation of products that embed robotic cells. Initial product offerings will focus on human performance and longevity,” claims the firm in a statement.

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