Pensacola-based Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition’s “next generation humanoid robot” is in development thanks to a multi-million dollar investment by the Office of Naval Research.
Named Alex, the robot is an offspring of Nadia, the IHMC’s first ping-pong-playing robot that gave researchers the insight and science needed to build Alex.
“We’re really excited about what we’ll be able to do with this,” says Robert Griffin, the senior research scientist leading IHMC’s Alex team.
Nadia gave researchers insight not only into the structural specifications of the humanoid but also into the software that drives behavior capabilities, perception sensing, virtual reality and “how do we humans do these amazing things we do,” says Griffin.
“It’s not just about how I can design and make a robot do these tasks, but also understanding how humans do that and how it translates to robotics,” Griffin adds.
One of the key differences in the evolution from Nadia to Alex is what fuels their mobility. Nadia’s mobility was propelled by hydraulics, while Alex relies on electrical power which at this stage of robotic development is much more efficient, says Griffin.
The switch to electricity not only means Alex will be lighter than Nadia but will also allow the robot to one day safely navigate natural and man-made terrain including stairs, hills and outdoor terrain. The IHMC team is also working on software that one day will enable Alex to handle “complex structures” like ladders.
“The goal is for Alex and its successors to be hardy and nimble enough ultimately to operate in extreme environments where the risk to human responders is high, from military scenarios to disaster response,” Griffin says.
HIGHER EDUCATION
- The University of West Florida won approval of a $32-million Triumph Gulf Coast grant to help fund its $130-million Research for Tomorrow initiative. The college expects to spend $21 million to add space within its Institute for Analytics and Industry Advancement for the Center for Cybersecurity and new Center for Computational Intelligence. Interim UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. was hopeful that work on the program would get underway by early 2026. Triumph also approved a $3.25-million grant to help fund Pensacola State College’s renovation of a building to be used for comprehensive workforce training.
MANUFACTURING
- Bay County commissioners recently approved a lease agreement with Global Impact Products (GIP) for a building in the Bay County Industrial Park. A manufacturer of hurricane-resistant windows, GIP plans to create about 150 jobs with a $14-million capital investment.
- The Bay Economic Development Alliance has also recently announced projects with Oxford Technologies Corp., Amazon and IAG Aero Group.
RESEARCH
- A miniature superconducting magnet developed by FAMUFSU College of Engineering professors has shattered the previous world record for magnetic field strength. The team of researchers reported they had generated an unprecedented 48.7 tesla at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, more than 3 tesla beyond the previous global benchmark. A tesla is a unit that measures the strength of a magnetic field. For example, a powerful MRI medical devise machine develops a magnetic field of 1.5 tesla. Professors David Larbalestier and Seungyong Hahn led the team that pioneered the breakthrough technology.
TRANSPORTATION
- Construction is underway on a $152-million expansion of Pensacola International Airport. The project, years in the making, will address the airport’s recent record-breaking growth by adding five new loading gates, an expanded security area, new dining and retail offerings and a major modernization of the concourse. Construction began in October, and the expansion is expected to be operational by fall 2027. Over the past five years, the airport has experienced significant growth, handling a record 3.1 million passengers last year, far exceeding the original design capacity of around 1 million. Airport Director Matt Coughlin says the expansion is designed to accommodate future growth that is expected to reach some 5 million passengers by 2040.
- JetBlue will begin new nonstop service between Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport and both Boston and New York City starting March 5.
- The airline will operate five seasonal flights per week on these new routes. This year, JetBlue has announced more than 30 new routes in Florida, including resumed service in Daytona Beach.
IN MEMORIAM
“It’s been a good career. Journalism sure beats working.” — Bill Cotterell, a legendary Tallahassee Democrat reporter and columnist whose decades of political coverage made him a fixture in Sunshine State journalism. He died in November at the age of 82.
Major milestone
ST Engineering reached a milestone recently, passing the 650-job mark and more than $2 million in monthly payroll late last year at its Pensacola aircraft maintenance operations on Pensacola International Airport property. The city released the company’s latest headcount report, which showed the company reported an average headcount of 657 for the third quarter of 2025 and a current average annual wage of $87,575. “When you look at the trendlines of average pay and how many people are there, they are at an unprecedented level at this point, both in volume and in salary,” says Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves.