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Scientists Create Robots Smaller Than a Grain of Sand by Daniel Akst

William Attardi on January 11, 2026

They run on light and are the world’s smallest, fully programmable, autonomous devices. Now researchers at Penn and the University of Michigan have created the world’s smallest, fully programmable, autonomous robots, packing significant capacities into a device smaller than a grain of salt. These are parsimonious little things, barely visible to the naked eye yet able to sense their environment, respond to it and move around in complex patterns. As described in a new paper in the journal Science Robotics, they run on infinitesimally small quantities of energy and gain power from light. Tiny robots do have potential medical functions and a second area of potential use could be in manufacturing tiny devices such as computer chips with intricate circuitry. Scientists Create Robots Smaller Than a Grain of Sand – WSJ

The Next Wave of Industry 4.0

William Attardi on January 7, 2026

For years, manufacturers have been told the future of Industry 4.0 lives in the cloud. Cloud-first AI may be powerful, but for many manufacturers, it’s too disruptive, too risky, or simply incompatible with day-to-day requirements on the shop floor. As we head into 2026, we’re seeing an inflection point. Manufacturers are embracing a new model of AI: lightweight, on-premise agents that integrate directly with existing systems rather than replacing them. These systems don’t require a rip-and-replace strategy or a costly cloud migration. Instead, they work with what’s already there. It’s a more grounded, incremental approach that aligns with how factories actually operate and how leaders actually make decisions. This shift is happening for three reasons at: The Next Wave of Industry 4.0 | Quality Digest

Mobile Robots Future-Proofing Supply Chains by Michael Murphy

William Attardi on December 30, 2025

Tariff implications and geopolitical tensions impact global supply chains, forcing manufacturers to think about how they manage inventory and minimize the effects of inflation. To address these conditions, manufacturers are turning to innovations, including mobile robots, that can offer more predictability for warehouse operations. Robots can work continuously to keep the flow of goods moving. With the ability to move hundreds of cases an hour, they can ensure that daily goals are met even as order-fulfillment demands increase. Automating this inbound process can alleviate several challenges for manufacturers. Mobile Robots Future-Proofing Supply Chains | advancedmanufacturing.org

6 Defining Manufacturing Trends of 2026 by Bernard Marr

William Attardi on November 14, 2025

 In 2026, focus is shifting from excitement over what AI can do in manufacturing to a more mature, considered understanding of what human-machine collaboration should look like in practice. Industries that gained first-mover advantage by adopting cognitive, connected processes are developing a deeper awareness of the challenges, complexities and cultural changes created by Industry 4.0. So here are what I believe will be the key trends driving the next phase of the industrial revolution as we head into 2026.  6 Defining Manufacturing Trends Of 2026

  1. Cognitive Industry: The Rise of Industrial AI Agents in Manufacturing & Industry
  2. Generative Design: From Pilot to Production
  3. Industrial Extended Reality
  4. Intelligent Supply Chains
  5. Smart Materials in Manufacturing
  6. Industry 5.0: Human-Centric, Sustainable Automation

Manufacturing Day: Inspiring the Next Generation of Makers by Kip Hanson

William Attardi on October 7, 2025

We’re talking about Manufacturing Day, described on the organizer’s website as a “national grassroots movement that demonstrates the reality and future of modern manufacturing careers.” And while manufacturing may no longer lead the nation in total employment as it did in Henry Ford’s time, it remains one of the most productive and strategically vital sectors of the U.S. economy—contributing nearly $3 trillion to GDP, employing more than 13 million Americans, and keeping the country secure, supplied and strong. That’s why hundreds of high schools, vocational-technical colleges, Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers, and—perhaps most importantly—machine shops, sheet metal fabricators, plastic injection molders and other members of this proud industry open their doors on the first Friday of October each year to students, parents and educators for MFG Day, a celebration of modern manufacturing and the people who make it possible. Manufacturing Day: Inspiring the Next Generation of Makers | Manufacturing Week | advancedmanufacturing.org

Energy Audits Need a Digital Upgrade

William Attardi on September 26, 2025

Traditional audits still have merit, but often they miss live inefficiencies. Artificial Intelligence tools reduce human error and generate immediate insights that could mean measurable savings. Automation is not new to manufacturing but the scope of the technology is leading to novel applications as industry leaders rethink energy management. Traditional audits still have merit, but often they miss the live inefficiencies that persist in production systems. Artificial Intelligence tools reduce human error and generate immediate insights that could result in measurable savings for those systems. Can AI Help Conduct an Energy Audit and Find Savings Opportunities? | Enterprise Data | American Machinist

Trump’s Team Explores Government-Backed Manufacturing Boost

William Attardi on September 19, 2025

President Trump’s team is weighing a plan to spur the construction of factories and other infrastructure in a bid to jump-start the American manufacturing sector, according to documents and people familiar with the discussions. Under the plan, the administration would use money from  a $550 billion investment fund established as part of trade negotiations with Japan to invest in the development of semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, energy, ships and quantum computing. Some of the projects would be granted preferential treatment from the government, including expedited regulatory review. The administration is considering granting leases to companies that would give them access to federal land and water.  Trump’s Team Explores Government-Backed Manufacturing Boost – WSJ

ABB to Invest Additional $110M in US Manufacturing

William Attardi on September 19, 2025

ABB announced today that it will invest a further $110 million in the United States in 2025 to expand the R&D and manufacturing of its advanced electrification solutions as customers focus on improving energy efficiency and uptime while reducing their energy costs and will create nearly 200 new jobs . ABB will invest $15 million to create a new production line for Emax 3 in its Senatobia, Mississippi site. A $30 million project will double the footprint of ABB’s Richmond, Virginia facility adding a new test center, warehouse and new assembly lines. In Arecibo, Puerto Rico, an investment of more than $30 million will increase the size of the facility to accommodate three new production lines. A $35 million investment will increase the capacity of ABB’s manufacturing facility in Pinetops, North Carolina. From 2022-2024, ABB invested around $500 million in its US business. ABB has a presence in all 50 states. Today, approximately 75-80% of the revenues ABB generates in the US are from products manufactured in the US. ABB to Invest $110M in US Manufacturing – tEDmag

Industry Leaders Rave About the Tax Cuts in Trump’s Megabill

William Attardi on July 8, 2025

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, preserves the 21% corporate tax rate and creates new expensing opportunities for manufacturers looking to expand. It provides a host of changes to the U.S. tax code, including extensions to parts of the 2017 Tax and Jobs Act and new provisions that allow for enhanced expensing for manufacturers looking to expand operations or invest in research and development. While most manufacturing groups expressed support for the bill in the days leading up to its passage, opponents have raised concerns over its cuts to non-military government programs such as SNAP and Medicaid, as well as its curtailing of certain clean-energy tax credits.Industry leaders rave about the tax cuts in Trump’s megabill | Manufacturing Dive

The Genesis of the U.S. Space Force – On December 20, 2019, President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, officially creating the United States Space Force, a new and independent branch of the U.S. military. The establishment of the Space Force marked a historic shift in how the U.S. views and manages its military operations in space, reflecting the growing importance of space as both a domain of strategic competition and national security. The Space Force is tasked with ensuring the U.S. maintains its superiority in space, focusing on both the defense of space assets and the development of offensive capabilities. Its mission includes:

  1. Space Operations: Overseeing space-based systems, such as satellites, that provide essential services to the U.S. military, including communication, reconnaissance, and missile defense.
  2. Space Security: Protecting U.S. space infrastructure from threats, including anti-satellite weapons, cyberattacks, and other potential forms of disruption by adversarial nations.
  3. Space Research and Development: Developing and deploying cutting-edge space technologies, including space-based defense systems, that ensure the U.S. maintains an edge in space exploration and military operations.
  4. Supporting National Defense: Integrating space capabilities into broader national defense strategies, ensuring that U.S. forces can operate effectively in space as part of a multi-domain approach to warfare.

The Space Force is designed to streamline and strengthen the U.S. military’s space operations, which were previously under the purview of the U.S. Air Force. By separating space operations into a distinct branch, the government hoped to increase focus on space as a critical area of national defense and enhance the U.S. military’s ability to respond to emerging threats. Source: Day in History