In The News

Rise of the AI Soldiers

The Phantom MK-1 looks the part of an AI soldier. Encased in jet black steel with a tinted glass visor, it conjures a visceral dread far beyond what may be evoked by your typical humanoid robot.

Program Polymath: Catching Up With Tech Founder, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, and Debut Author Mike LeBlanc (A09)

On a chilly day in early December, inside a converted industrial building in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood—a rapidly growing hub of artificial intelligence start-ups—Mike LeBlanc’s (A09) colleagues at Foundation Robotics were hard at work dissecting a human hand.

Could This Humanoid Robot Become the Army’s Ultimate Warrior?

Meet Phantom MK1: an imposing humanoid robot designed to transform battlefields, the moon and even Mars—and it may already be taking jobs near you.

An SF startup is pitching Trump on militarizing humanoid robots

The year-old robotics firm Foundation thinks its competitors are alarmingly pacifist, leaving money and American exceptionalism on the table.

Company Testing Humanoid Robot Soldiers on Frontlines of Ukraine

"We think there’s a moral imperative to put these robots into war instead of soldiers."

From combat to space: Foundation Robotics’ Mike LeBlanc talks humanoids

In Episode 224 of The Robot Report Podcast, hosts Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre recap the major robotics news of the week. Our guest this week is Michael LeBlanc, co-founder of Foundation Robotics.

San Francisco's hottest new DJ is a literal war machine

Phantom, a robot designed by the San Francisco-based Foundation Robotics Labs, made its public debut as a DJ.

Military Robot Deployed as Nightclub DJ

"We are not trying to apologize for the strength of robots."

No Sleeping, No Days Off: Cobalt Robotics Aims to Replace Humans at Front Desks

A friendly human face that greets you when you enter an office building and keeps a close eye on the surroundings may one day be replaced by a computerized robot made by Cobalt Robotics.

Marine veteran turned business owner hires fellow vets to help with groundbreaking OC tech company

Mike LeBlanc, owner of Cobalt Robotics in Irvine, said 30% of his workforce are former military members.

4 reasons veterans make excellent startup hires (and prove hard skills aren’t everything)

After serving 13 years in the Marine Corps as an infantry officer and intelligence officer, he was looking to enter the corporate world. But more than 50 applications later, he still hadn’t landed a job.

Major Michael J. LeBlanc

Our nineteenth recipient, (Major) Michael J. LeBlanc graduated from Harvard Business School in 2019 with an MBA.

These 5-foot-1 security robots made by Cobalt are patrolling workplace hallways.

Here's how companies are using them to protect offices and employees.