Robotics Surges Mid-2026 as Automate Draws 50,000 and ABB, NVIDIA Expand AI Tools
Updated
Updated · marketscale.com · Jul 15
Robotics Surges Mid-2026 as Automate Draws 50,000 and ABB, NVIDIA Expand AI Tools
3 articles · Updated · marketscale.com · Jul 15
Summary
Automate 2026 closed with more than 50,000 registrants and 1,230 exhibitors, underscoring a mid-2026 robotics upswing driven by launches in AMRs, physical AI and lab automation.
ABB pushed that shift toward multi-site deployment with its Flexley Stack F712 AI forklift and said its shared AMR Studio platform can cut commissioning time by up to 20%.
ABB also partnered with Roche on lab robotics, while NVIDIA and Hugging Face opened LeRobot to Isaac GR00T 1.7, Teleop and curated datasets, lowering model-layer costs for developers.
Newer entrants widened the push: Logic unveiled an autonomous pallet for multi-facility logistics, and a drilling robot now sold commercially has cut project timelines by 190 weeks across 26 data-center builds.
Capital and infrastructure are catching up as well, with Hippo Harvest raising $30 million, InDro shipping its first Axiom units, and new OS and battery platforms targeting 24/7 robot fleets.
As software becomes key to managing robot fleets, who will win the race to build the operating system for Physical AI?
As AI regulations tighten, can the robotics industry's rapid innovation keep pace with complex global compliance demands?
Physical AI's success depends on data, but how will the industry solve the 'robotics data gap' for real-world training?
Automate 2026: Record-Breaking Growth, $26B in Robotics Investment, and the Race to Close North America’s Automation Gap
Overview
Automate 2026, held from June 22-25, 2026, marked a major milestone for the robotics and automation industry in North America. The event highlighted the sector’s rapid growth and its vital role in shaping future productivity and workforce solutions. A key feature was the first-ever A3 Humanoid Robot Forum, which drew over 1,100 registrants and reflected the rising interest in humanoid robotics. This integration of new forums and record participation signaled a significant turning point for technological advancement and market expansion, underscoring the industry’s robust momentum and growing influence.