June 2026

Robot Fish Could Help Us Understand How Fish Evolved to Walk on Land

Science has long sought to understand how animals evolved and moved onto land millions of years ago. Researchers are now using robots to mimic how modern-day fish walk on land, in hopes of forming a better understanding of how their ancestors evolved similar abilities millions of years ago.

“This research is borne out of research questions about the history of life; more specifically, about how ancient aquatic species from hundreds of millions of years ago started to develop the ability to move on land,” says Michael Ishida, the leading researcher on the study. "This is one of the great transitions in evolutionary history that we’re very curious about – how and why did these animals that were well-equipped for aquatic environments start to first become terrestrial? What are the minimum requirements for a fish to be able to start walking on land?"

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NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH 2026

A Safer Workplace Starts With Staying Informed

June is National Safety Month, making it the perfect time to evaluate your workplace safety program.

As automation continues to evolve, so do the standards that help keep people and machines working safely together. Staying current with OSHA guidance can reduce risk, improve compliance, and help prevent incidents before they happen. Start by downloading the Training Requirements in OSHA Standards to ensure your team has the knowledge they need to work safely.

SEE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS IN OSHA STANDARDS

GIVEAWAY!

AUTOMATED ROBOT BUILDING SETS

Enter for a chance to win a grand prize of 4 robot plastic brick building sets from Dexory, Cobot, Matic Robotics, and Serve Robotics, plus an Automated sticker and an Automated pin.

Enter to win by Friday, July 3, 2026!

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AGE OF AUTOMATION SERIES

The Teens Hoping to Redefine the Future

With technology developing faster than ever, there’s a skills gap that companies around the world are looking to fill.

Introducing the new generation of digital programmers, honing their skills at the Highlander Summit Signature Event High School VEX V5 Robotics Competition in New Jersey, United States. What can this new generation bring to industries looking to innovate?

Produced for the Association for Advancing Automation as part of the Age of Automation series.

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Aya Durbin on What It Will

Actually Take to Deploy Atlas

Automated-Podcast-Episode-Aya-Durbin-06-18-2026_12_31_PM

Humanoid robots are everywhere in the headlines.

But Aya Durbin says the real test is not whether a robot can impress people in a demo. It is whether that robot can deliver real value, positive ROI, and reliable performance inside industrial environments.

In this episode of Automated, Brian Heater speaks with Aya Durbin, Director of Product for Atlas at Boston Dynamics, about what it will actually take to bring humanoid robots out of the lab and into the workforce.