Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
This week’s robot-video roundup ranges from a quadrotor that can also travel on the ground to humanoid design, multimodal manipulation, pipe inspection, and teams of different robots working together. The clips are demonstrations and research highlights—not a like-for-like performance test or evidence that the systems are broadly available for everyday use.
What the videos show
IEEE Spectrum’s Video Friday is a weekly selection of robotics videos. Its 7 November 2025 roundup, by robotics editor Evan Ackerman, brings together projects with different goals and levels of autonomy. Here are the main ideas behind the featured clips.
Duawlfin: a drone that drives and flies
HiPeR Lab presents Duawlfin as a hybrid quadrotor that can move through the air and on the ground. The project description says it uses the quadrotor’s standard motors with a differential drivetrain and one-way bearings for ground movement, rather than adding actuators or using propellers to propel it along the ground. That is the lab’s description of its design; the roundup does not independently validate performance or establish commercial availability. See IEEE Spectrum’s roundup.
For a system expected to move between aerial and ground travel, the design’s central idea is to reuse the quadrotor’s motors for both modes. The clip illustrates the concept, but it does not by itself show how the design performs across a range of real-world missions.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
NEO and humanoid research
A 1X design video features NEO, with the roundup drawing attention to the robot’s soft-looking exterior and fingers. That is an editorial observation about its appearance, not an assessment of durability or readiness for routine home use. The roundup also includes a Carnegie Mellon seminar on generalist humanoids, placing NEO among a wider set of design and research activity rather than presenting a single settled approach to humanoid robots.
Combining sensory inputs for manipulation
One research highlight addresses multimodal manipulation: how a robot can use different sensory inputs, such as cameras, tactile sensors, and depth sensors, when selecting actions. The described method trains separate expert policies for different modalities, then combines their action predictions at the policy level. The problem it tackles is integration: having several sensors does not automatically make it easy for a robot to use their information together.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
A robot that crawls through drainage pipes
A Michigan State University lab video shows a worm-like robot tested in corrugated drainage pipes and a smooth subsurface drainage section, according to the roundup. The clip is a demonstration in those settings; the article does not report a broader evaluation of inspection performance or deployment.
Different robots coordinating on tasks
SPINE-HT is a framework for grounding language-model reasoning in the abilities of a robot team and adjusting subtasks using online feedback. The reported real-world team included Clearpath Jackal and Husky robots, Boston Dynamics Spot, and a high-altitude UAV. IEEE Spectrum reports an 87 percent success rate for missions that required reasoning about robot capabilities and updating subtasks with feedback. That result applies to the described work; the roundup does not give full methodology, so it should not be read as a general success rate for multi-robot deployments. Read IEEE Spectrum’s account of the result.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Other clips in the roundup
The selection also includes demonstrations and research on several distinct kinds of robots and tasks:
- Astribot at IROS 2025.
- Magnetic, self-propelling oil droplets for microrobotics.
- A Unitree platform for full-body teleoperation and data acquisition.
- Naver Labs’ service robot.
- Quadrupedal jumping research.
- KUKA’s KR TITAN ultra industrial robot.
- A DEEP Robotics robot moving in sand.
- A Carnegie Mellon seminar on generalist humanoids.
How to interpret the reported performance figures
Three numbers in the roundup are especially easy to overgeneralize. Each belongs to a specific research result or vendor claim, not to robots as a category.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
| Figure | What it refers to | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 87 percent success rate | SPINE-HT missions involving robot-capability reasoning and online subtask updates. | Reported by IEEE Spectrum in 2025; the roundup does not provide full methodology. Source. |
| 1.25 m horizontal jumps with centimeter accuracy; 1.0 m vertical jumps | Results attributed to the Olympus quadruped research. | Experimental results reported by IEEE Spectrum in 2025, not general quadruped benchmarks. Source. |
| Up to 1,500 kg payload | KUKA’s KR TITAN ultra. | A KUKA vendor claim reproduced by IEEE Spectrum in 2025; the roundup does not establish the model configuration or current specification. Source. |
What this selection can—and cannot—tell you
The clips span ground, aerial, legged, and industrial systems, along with research that varies in task, environment, and human involvement. A teleoperated platform, a laboratory experiment, and a vendor demonstration do not provide the same kind of evidence. The roundup is useful for seeing the range of work underway, but it does not rank the robots, compare them under shared conditions, or establish broad real-world adoption.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
