Teams competing in the 2026 Form & Function Challenge at the Robotics Summit & Expo. Source: MassRobotics
BOSTON — During last week’s Robotics Summit & Expo, MassRobotics revealed the winners of its fourth annual Form & Function Robotics Challenge. Fifteen university teams from across the world presented their robotics and automation innovations, vying for cash awards.
Participants in the competition included MIT, Purdue University Indiana, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Laval University Quebec, University of Pennsylvania, Manipal Academy Dubai, University of Waterloo, Ontario, UMass Boston, University of British Columbia, Boston University, Northeastern University, and Tufts University. The challenge tasked university teams with building a robot that excels in both appearance (form) and performance (function).
The Form & Function Challenge called on university teams to develop a robotics or automation project that features an appealing design tailored to its specific tasks while delivering practical functionality. Open to teams worldwide, the competition promotes collaboration between leading software and hardware companies, including MassRobotics’ strategic sponsors.
This year, MassRobotics sponsors AMD, Dassault Systèmes, Harmonic Drive, Maeden, maxon, Mitsubishi Electric, and Reynolds & Moore contributed components, services, and software to support the competing teams.
2026 Form & Function Robotics Challenge Winners
- First Place and Audience Choice: Boston University with AGROBOT T.O.M., a precision-harvesting robot mounted on a gantry system for indoor and vertical farming. The robot moves independently across a growbed, employs lidar along with a vision and machine learning system to locate fruit, evaluates ripeness and damage based on color and size, and carefully picks only the best produce using a soft robotic gripper.
- Second Place: Northeastern University with its Planar Mechanism for Metrology
- Third Place: WPI with its Centrifuge Loader for Lab Automation
- Honorable Mention: Purdue University and Columbia University for their collaborative partnership and positive competitive spirit
“The Form & Function Challenge continues to give visibility to student projects, whether they represent a step toward a commercial application or simply inspire the creation of a new startup,” said MassRobotics.
The nonprofit organization promotes and supports STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and robotics innovation through a variety of initiatives.
The Form & Function Challenge is MassRobotics’ flagship global competition, designed to celebrate university students and connect them with valuable sponsor resources to present standout projects each year at the Robotics Summit & Expo. Each participating team receives booth space at the event, and a panel of robotics industry experts evaluates the entries.
Boston University’s AGROBOT T.O.M. took home First Place in the 2026 Form & Function Robotics Challenge. Source: MassRobotics
MassRobotics highlights startups, physical AI, and healthcare
Boston-based MassRobotics also organized a Startup Alley featuring 13 of its resident startups: Algorized | ATDev | Ava Robotics | Canvair | Endox AI | General Robotics | LabyrinthAI | Nexterity Inc. | RealBotics Inc. | Retail Robotic Solutions Inc. | SYNTHIUM | TP7 AI Robotics | XYZ Robotics
MassRobotics noted that the alley highlighted the wide range of innovation coming from its resident startup community and the expanding roster of companies pushing forward physical AI and automation technologies.
MassRobotics resident startups on display at the Robotics Summit & Expo. Source: MassRobotics
Additionally, MassRobotics, NVIDIA, and AWS spotlighted the second cohort of their Physical AI Fellowship: Burro | Config | Deltia | Haply Robotics | Luminous Robotics | Roboto AI | Telexistence | Terra Robotics | WIRobotics
The fellowship is an eight-week virtual program aimed at accelerating high-potential startups working at the crossroads of robotics and physical AI. Participants gain access to specialists from the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center (GenAIIC), AWS compute and cloud credits, NVIDIA hardware and software support, and connections throughout MassRobotics’ worldwide robotics network.
The Robotics Summit brought together
All nine companies in this worldwide group were given prime spots on the expo floor and presented their ideas to investors, developers, and business clients. The event offered fellows a strong stage to showcase their advanced technologies and build valuable relationships with potential partners and investors.
Burro showcased its Grande field robot at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo. Source: MassRobotics
The Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst program, supported by FESTO, Mitsubishi Electric, and Novanta, highlighted its fifth group of startups. These companies gave live demonstrations and shared the progress they made throughout this year’s mentorship program. The cohort included: Concerto Biosciences | Enchanted Tools | Hesy Tech | Humotech | HyperSpectral | Inception Robotics | Lupa Robotics | Ras Labs | Revolve Surgical | Whelix | Zeus Robotics
Visitors got a firsthand look at healthcare robotics breakthroughs, ranging from a patient-transfer system to tools for handling surgical instruments.
Enchanted Tools was one of the healthcare and educational startups present in Boston. Source: MassRobotics
Women in Robotics Breakfast and Technical Career Fair spotlight the robotics workforce
The Women in Robotics Breakfast was a sold-out event, gathering industry leaders, innovators, and advocates dedicated to promoting diversity within the robotics field. It included a discussion with Mikell Taylor, head of robotics strategy at General Motors, and Joyce Sidopoulos, co-founder and chief operating officer of MassRobotics.
The breakfast served as a space for conversations about leadership, innovation, and the future of robotics. It also gave attendees a chance to form new connections, deepen existing ones, and support greater representation of women in robotics leadership roles.
GM’s Mikell Taylor and MassRobotics’ Joyce Sidopoulos at the Women in Robotics Breakfast. Source: MassRobotics
The MassRobotics Technical Career Fair, sponsored by Würth Professional Solutions, connected more than 25 hiring companies from Boston with nearly 1,000 job seekers, highlighting the strength and ongoing expansion of the robotics talent pipeline.
Continuing this momentum, MassRobotics is set to hold its next career fair on September 25 as part of RoboBoston, its biggest public event that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and the wider robotics community.
Wurth Professional Solutions sponsored the Technical Career Fair. Source: MassRobotics
Strategic partners aim to expand the robotics ecosystem
As a strategic partner with WTWH Media for the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo, MassRobotics had a significant hand in shaping the event through its industry knowledge, strategic advice, and broad global robotics network. The summit gathered robotics leaders, innovators, investors, and end users from across the globe for engaging discussions about the future of robotics and automation.
Nearly 5,000 attendees picked up valuable insights from industry experts, while more
Over 200 exhibitors at this year’s event showcased a variety of advanced technologies and solutions, highlighting the ongoing expansion and energy within the robotics sector.
“We’re witnessing remarkable growth at the Robotics Summit & Expo, with increasing involvement from the worldwide robotics community,” noted Steve Crowe, chair of the Robotics Summit & Expo and executive editor of The Robot Report.
“MassRobotics has proven to be an exceptional strategic ally, uniting startups, established companies, investors, and creative minds from across the globe,” he continued. “Their guidance and active involvement in the robotics field are key factors in establishing Boston as a leading center for robotics advancement, and we look forward to furthering this collaborative success.”
Additional Updates from MassRobotics
The MassRobotics startup network is growing swiftly, with nearly 100 startups currently in residence. Since its establishment in 2017, the organization has assisted over 250 startups, demonstrating its consistent progress and increasing influence as a worldwide center for robotics innovation.
Upcoming MassRobotics events include:
- Robotics Founders & Funders Capital Forum on June 10: Register here.
- Early-stage robotics companies are invited: MassRobotics is coordinating the Robotics Startup Pitchfest at IROS 2026. Check eligibility requirements and prize information, and apply here.
- The MassRobotics 9th Annual Robot Block Party is scheduled for Sept. 26 in Boston’s Seaport area. Register to request exhibition space to display robotics technology or offer a demonstration here. For sponsorship opportunities, contact here.
