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Honda Explores Robotics Solution to Support Research Aboard Future Commercial Space Stations

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Honda multi-fingered robotic hand combined with Redwire STAARK robotic arm could automate experiment handling and other research operations in orbitRobotics solution aims to increase research capacity while reducing crew time for lab tasks Honda and Redwire to meet with commercial station developers and prospective partners at the 2026 International Astronautical Congress

TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Honda today announced efforts to develop a robotics solution for future commercial space stations that could reduce the time needed for astronauts to conduct experiments and laboratory operations in space. To advance its space station robotics concept, the U.S.-based Honda space development team is engaging with experts at Redwire (NYSE:RDW), a global leader in space and defense technology solutions. The concept would combine the Honda multi-fingered robotic hand with Redwire’s STAARK robotic arm and experiment locker technology into an integrated system for research operations in orbit.

As NASA transitions from the International Space Station (ISS) to commercially operated stations in low Earth orbit, station developers are evaluating how research and routine laboratory activities will be performed in this new operating environment. Future commercial stations are being designed around smaller crews and shorter astronaut stays, increasing the need for automation to support station operations and scientific investigations while reducing demands on crew time.

Dexterous Robotics for In-Orbit Research

Many research activities conducted in orbit require astronauts to retrieve experiments, transfer samples, operate laboratory equipment, and move materials between workstations. These routine tasks consume valuable crew time aboard today’s space stations. A robotic system capable of performing these activities could help reduce operational costs while enabling greater use of research facilities and supporting more scientific and commercial research.

Over decades of development, Honda has advanced robotics technologies capable of performing tasks that require human-like dexterity and is now exploring their applications for future space operations. The Honda multi-fingered robotic hand combines actively controlled joints with force and tactile sensing throughout the fingertips and palm, enabling precise contact detection and delicate manipulation. Its design is flexible enough for precise laboratory work, including handling research samples, manipulating small objects, and operating laboratory equipment. The Honda multi-fingered robotic hand has also completed extensive durability testing under varied fingertip loads, demonstrating a practical combination of dexterity, power and durability.

“Honda space initiatives, including our robotic hand, are focused on enabling practical operations in orbit,” said Tom Sladek, chief engineer, Space Development Division, Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC. “Working with Redwire, Honda is evaluating how robotics with human-like dexterity could support research activities aboard the next generation of commercial space stations, helping crews accomplish more in an environment with fewer personnel while improving operational efficiency.”

With eight facilities currently on the ISS, Redwire has decades of experience on the ISS developing facilities hardware, as well as operating science and technology experiments. Additionally, Redwire has extensive space robotics expertise with STAARK, an affordable, modular, and easily customized robotic system designed for various on-orbit robotics applications. Recent testing successfully demonstrated that the STAARK robotic arm is capable of autonomously tracking and grasping dynamic objects, providing the reach and positioning capability needed to move equipment and access work throughout a station.

“Redwire is excited to explore opportunities with Honda that leverage our proven track record and expertise in robotics and in-space manufacturing technology development to advance the next generation of commercial research in orbit,” said Shawn Buckley, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Redwire Space. “Commercial space stations will transform Low-Earth orbit, and advanced space robotics are critical in enabling technologies that will help us unlock the value for our customers.”

Together, the technologies could support the full experiment workflow, combining Redwire’s robotic reach and station infrastructure with the Honda multi-fingered robotic hand, capable of precise manipulation and adaptable grasping across a wide range of objects and tasks. Such an integrated system has the potential to automate portions of the research workflow, ranging from sample handling and materials transfer to equipment operation and laboratory support tasks. Additional applications may include inventory management, cargo movement, inspection activities, and other station support functions.

Partner Discussions at IAC 2026

Honda and Redwire representatives will attend the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), October 5-9, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye to discuss potential applications for the combined robotics solution with commercial station developers and prospective industry partners. Organizations interested in learning more about the concept or scheduling a meeting at IAC may contact Space@na.honda.com.

About Honda Research & Development in America
Honda has been conducting research & development operations in America for 50 years, beginning with the establishment of a research facility in California in 1975. Today, Honda conducts R&D activities at 23 facilities across the country responsible for creating advanced products and technologies that provide new value to Honda and Acura customers.

Honda conducts all facets of product development in the U.S., including market and technology research, product styling, engineering design, prototype fabrication and testing, collaboration with parts suppliers, and support for mass production. With major R&D facilities in California, Ohio, and North Carolina, U.S. Honda associates are engaged in the development and testing of Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda powersports and power equipment products, and also play a lead role in the development of leading-edge safety, driver-assistive and environmental technologies.

Explore more of Honda in the Digital FactBook.

Notice: Although the information included in this press release is accurate as of the date of publication, this information is subject to change at any time without notice. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. assumes no responsibility for updating this information.

 

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SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

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Comparent Launches The Comparent 100, the Second Annual Ranking of the Largest Vacation Rental Management Companies in the U.S.

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BALTIMORE, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Comparent, the leading platform helping vacation rental owners compare and choose the right management partner, is proud to announce the release of The Comparent 100, the second annual ranking of the 100 largest vacation rental management companies in the United States.

Modeled after iconic business rankings like the Inc. 5000 and the Fortune 500, The Comparent 100 shines a spotlight on the companies shaping the future of vacation rental management. The ranking is built from hundreds of hours of research, data collection, and verification, resulting in a definitive snapshot of the industry’s biggest players.

“Vacation rental management has grown into one of the most dynamic segments of hospitality, and last year’s inaugural Comparent 100 established the first definitive benchmark for who the largest operators are,” said Brooke Pfautz, Founder & CEO of Comparent. “With this second annual edition, we are building on that foundation and continuing to set a new standard for visibility, credibility, and recognition within our industry.”

The list offers vacation rental managers, property owners, and investors a unique view into which companies are leading the way in scale, innovation, and impact. With two editions now published, it also allows readers to track how the industry evolves year over year.

The Comparent 100 is published every October, providing an annual opportunity to reflect on growth, consolidation, and emerging trends across the vacation rental sector.

The full list of The Comparent 100 companies can be viewed here: https://comparent.com/top-100-vacation-rental-management-companies

About Comparent

Comparent is the go-to platform for vacation homeowners seeking the right property manager for their short-term rental. The company’s cutting-edge platform enables homeowners to compare trusted property managers and brings transparency to the process by showcasing reviews, performance statistics, and accolades from across the industry. Comparent aims to be the ultimate resource for homeowners researching property managers and a premier platform for managers to showcase their expertise. Learn more at Comparent.com.

Media Contact:

Rob Holderness
423878@email4pr.com 
(208) 219-7038

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SOURCE Comparent

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Parks Associates: Managed Connectivity Is Becoming Essential Infrastructure For The Modern Multifamily Experience

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New Parks Associates white paper, developed in partnership with Calix, examines the role of reliable connectivity, cybersecurity, smart home services, and stronger resident experiences

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — New research from Parks Associates, released in partnership with Calix, highlights how resident expectations and the influx of connected devices are pushing broadband in multifamily properties from a basic utility into a platform supporting the entire resident experience. Beyond Connectivity: Securing the Modern Resident Experience examines how multifamily properties can build a resident-centered managed connectivity experience that supports connected devices, bandwidth-intensive applications, property operations, and future services.

“Managed connectivity gives multifamily properties an opportunity to think beyond simply providing internet access,” said Elizabeth Parks, President and CMO, Parks Associates. “The network is the foundation for a broader resident experience, supporting work, entertainment, smart home devices, security, and new digital services. Reliability, simplicity, and security are critical as these environments become more connected.”

Today’s residents expect internet that is available at move-in, performs consistently across a growing number of devices, works well throughout the property, and protects their personal information and connected home. The research highlights several trends driving investment in managed connectivity:

The average US household has approximately 17 connected devices, increasing demands on the home network.49% of US internet households own at least one smart home device, creating additional opportunities for properties to support connected services.29% of consumers ages 65-74 and 25% of those 75+ are interested in smart amenity packages, including video doorbells, smart locks, thermostats, and safety and monitoring devices.Residents with in-unit routers or gateways report fewer technical issues and higher internet NPS than residents relying on shared gateways.Whole-home cybersecurity is associated with higher provider satisfaction, with users of these services reporting an NPS of 46 for their home internet provider.

“As digital experiences continue to be an essential part of everyday life, connectivity and cybersecurity will increasingly influence resident satisfaction, retention, and property value,” said Jess Parsons, Area Vice President, Marketing, Calix. “The multifamily opportunity is no longer simply to connect residents. It’s to help property owners create trusted, connected experiences for a more digital, AI-driven world while reducing operational friction and strengthening the value of their communities.”

Managed networks can also simplify one of the most important moments in the resident journey: move-in. Instant-on connectivity eliminates installation appointments and equipment delays and allows residents to connect their devices immediately.

The research recommends that properties design for reliability, prioritize the in-unit network experience, simplify activation, provide visible support, and build trust through transparency and cybersecurity. Together, these capabilities position managed connectivity as an increasingly important foundation for the connected multifamily property and the next generation of resident services.

Beyond Connectivity: Securing the Modern Resident Experience is published by Parks Associates in partnership with Calix.

About Parks Associates

Parks Associates helps companies identify new opportunities, refine strategy, and accelerate growth in connected technology markets through data-driven insights and industry expertise. With more than 40 years of experience, the firm delivers proprietary consumer and industry research, market forecasts, and strategic analysis that guide business decisions across personal, connected home, small business, and commercial technology ecosystems.

About Calix

Calix, Inc. is an AI platform company that enables service providers to transform their operations and accelerate delivery of differentiated experiences—so they can compete and win in the markets and communities they serve.

Through the AI-native Calix One platform, service providers can securely and privately activate agentic-AI alongside their human teams to acquire new subscribers, grow existing subscriber revenue, and build loyalty across residential, business, municipal, and MDU markets. More than 1,200 customers of all sizes leverage the Calix One platform, which has evolved over 15 years at an investment of more than $2 billion.

Calix innovation cycles are underpinned by a strong financial balance sheet and a people first culture that routinely earns broad industry recognition—winning 81 culture and innovation awards since 2025 alone, as well as Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2026.

Media Contact:
Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein
Parks Associates
972.490.1113
423893@email4pr.com

 

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SaponiQ Launches Vertically Integrated Botanical Body Care to Fill the Space Between Soap and Skincare

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Made from scratch in SaponiQ’s own U.S.-based cold-process production facility, SaponiQ introduces six botanical cleansing bars that bring skincare-inspired ingredient thoughtfulness, sensory experience, and effortless choice to everyday cleansing without the complexity of a multi-step regimen.

RICHARDSON, Texas, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SaponiQ, a new premium botanical body-care brand and Go Texan Product Partner, announces the launch of six cold-process botanical cleansing bars created to fill a growing gap in personal care: between traditional soap designed primarily to cleanse and increasingly complex body-care routines that borrow multiple products and steps from facial skincare.

Instead of asking consumers to add another serum, treatment, or post-shower step, SaponiQ brings organic plant-based ingredients, botanicals (such as aloe and turmeric), activated charcoal, essential oils, and sensory experience into the cleansing bar itself. Its debut collection, Awake, Balance, Restore, Purify, Radiance, and Natural, lets customers choose a bar based on the experience someone wants from their shower, rather than only by fragrance, ingredient, or skin concern.

The launch comes as body care undergoes its own “skinification,” with facial-skincare ingredients and targeted treatments increasingly moving below the neck. At the same time, consumers are looking to simplify their routines. According to the 2026 Beauty Reset from NielsenIQ and CEW UK, 52% of global consumers and 62% of Gen Z are willing to pay more for products that make tasks easier or less time-consuming.

Rather than adding another step, SaponiQ puts the ingredients and sensory experience into the cleansing step itself while controlling how those products are made. Unlike brands that outsource manufacturing, SaponiQ makes every bar from scratch in its own U.S.-based cold-process production facility, with no pre-made soap bases. Its formulas are vegan, cruelty-free, non-GMO, paraben-free, and made without synthetic fragrance.

Using the cold-process method, ingredients are blended before each batch is poured, unmolded, cut, and cured for four weeks for hardness, longevity, and quality.

“My engineering background taught me to question every part of a system: why it’s there, what it’s doing, and whether there’s a better way to do it,” said Sandy Palisch, founder of SaponiQ. “When I looked at body care, I saw innovation becoming synonymous with adding more products and more steps. I wanted to apply that same engineering mindset to something much simpler: how much better can we make the cleansing step itself?”

Palisch brings an unconventional background to beauty. An electrical engineer and former fighter jet designer, she discovered handcrafted soap in 2013 and became fascinated by its chemistry, eventually building her own bath-and-body manufacturing operation. The name SaponiQ reflects that intersection. “Sapon” comes from sapo, the Latin root for soap, while “IQ” represents the brand’s engineering-minded approach to formulation.

The collection applies that same thinking to product selection, with bars starting at $22 each. Awake with fresh mint, Balance with aloe, Restore with mineral spa salts, Purify with activated charcoal, Radiance with turmeric, and Natural for uncomplicated simplicity.

Together, the six bars offer a new proposition for one of personal care’s oldest formats: more than basic soap without turning body care into another multi-step skincare routine.

Launching ahead of the holiday season, SaponiQ also offers gift-ready ways to discover the collection for everyone on your list. Individual full-size botanical cleansing bars are $22 each, a five-bar Botanical Discovery Set is $26, and two curated collections featuring three full-size bars are $62 each. All are available at SaponiQ.com.

About SaponiQ

SaponiQ is a vertically integrated botanical body-care brand founded by electrical engineer, former fighter jet designer, and soapmaker Sandy Palisch. A proud GO TEXAN Product Partner, SaponiQ manufactures its products from scratch at its cold-process production facility in Richardson, Texas.

Their small-batch cleansing bars combine plant-based ingredients, botanicals, essential oils, and a four-week cure with an experience-led approach to everyday cleansing. For more information, visit SaponiQ.com.

Media Contact

Sandy Palisch
Founder, SaponiQ
423762@email4pr.com 
+1 469-500-9013

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SOURCE SaponiQ

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