# RoboBusiness 2026: A Landmark Celebration of Two Decades of Robotics Innovation
The robotics industry is gearing up for a historic event as RoboBusiness 2026 kicks off at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Marking its 20th anniversary, this year’s conference brings together engineers, investors, startup founders, and industry leaders to reflect on two decades of breakthroughs and to chart the course for the next twenty years of innovation.
## Opening Keynote: Looking Back and Forward
The day begins at 9:15 a.m. PT with an opening keynote titled “The Next 20 Years of Robotics.” This special session features three prominent figures in the robotics world: Rodney Brooks, co-founder and CTO of Robust AI; Jonathan Hurst, co-founder and chief robot officer at Agility Robotics; and Ken Goldberg, a distinguished engineering chair at UC Berkeley. Together, they will examine the milestones that shaped the robotics industry and discuss the emerging technologies, markets, and challenges that will define the next era.
## The Show Floor Opens at 10:00 a.m.
Once the morning keynote wraps up, the show floor opens its doors. Attendees will have the chance to explore hands-on robotics demonstrations, catch talks in the Engineering Theater, and browse the Startup Alley where new and innovative companies showcase their latest creations.
## Morning Breakout Sessions: Deep Dives into Key Topics
Starting at 10:30 a.m., a series of breakout sessions dive into specialized areas of robotics and artificial intelligence. Topics on the agenda include:
– **Capturing usable data from real-world work environments** — a talk on designing data programs that actually work for human workers in commercial settings.
– **Startup best practices** — sessions covering everything from foundational strategies to navigating partnerships with large corporations.
– **Outdoor autonomy** — exploring how autonomous vehicles and advanced robotics are converging to transform field operations.
– **Humanoid supply chains** — a session that cuts through the hype to examine the economic and geopolitical realities behind building humanoid robots at scale.
– **Integrated actuator design** — learning how combining gearheads, motors, drives, and sensors into one system can speed up development and reduce complexity.
Later sessions at 11:30 a.m. tackle food robotics as a benchmark for physical AI, deploying foundation models in safety-critical environments, evaluating motion partners for humanoids, and the rapidly evolving world of tactile sensing.
## Afternoon Sessions: From Prototypes to Production
The afternoon lineup kicks off at 12:15 p.m. with the Women in Robotics Luncheon, a ticketed event featuring a fireside chat between two leading women in the industry. The gathering is designed to foster connections and advocate for greater female leadership in robotics.
Afternoon breakout sessions starting at 1:15 p.m. cover a wide range of timely subjects:
– Building the open infrastructure needed to move physical AI from labs to real-world systems.
– The latest trends in robotics investments and funding.
– Scaling field robotics beyond the pilot phase and into production.
– Deploying humanoids in manufacturing environments.
– Using robotics and modular construction to meet the growing demand for data center capacity.
At 2:15 p.m., talks shift to deployment challenges, the economics of robotics businesses, reliability in outdoor robots, force and torque sensing for humanoids, and functional safety for actuator design.
The final round of sessions at 3:30 p.m. explores agentic coding for robotics development, building sustainable robotics-as-a-service businesses, dexterous robots for outdoor labor, safety considerations for humanoid machines, and AI-defined automation in production settings.
## Engineering Theater: Hands-On Talks on the Show Floor
Throughout the day, the Engineering Theater hosts a series of focused talks on the show floor. Highlights include discussions on humanoid sensing solutions, certifiable safety architectures for real-world robot deployments, remote servicing and maintenance techniques, ensuring robots meet their requirements in the age of AI, and solving navigation challenges for robots operating in shared indoor spaces.
## Evening Networking Reception
The day closes with a Networking Reception presented by Harmonic Drive. The event features drinks, light appetizers, and plenty of time to connect with fellow attendees, speakers, and exhibitors. It is a great opportunity to build relationships and continue conversations that started during the day’s sessions.
## Registration
On-site registration is available for those who haven’t signed up yet. Whether you are a seasoned robotics professional or just getting started in the field, the event offers something for everyone.
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## Frequently Asked Questions
**What is RoboBusiness 2026?**
RoboBusiness 2026 is the 20th-anniversary edition of a leading robotics industry conference. It features keynotes, breakout sessions, show floor demonstrations, and networking events focused on the latest advances in robotics and physical AI.
**Where and when is it taking place?**
The event is held at the Santa Clara Convention Center and begins at 9:15 a.m. PT on its opening day.
**Who is speaking at the event?**
The conference features a roster of industry leaders, researchers, startup founders, and executives from companies including Amazon Robotics, ABB Robotics, Agility Robotics, Robust AI, and many more.
**Is registration required?**
Yes, but registration is available on-site for those who have not yet signed up in advance.
**What topics will be covered?**
Topics range from humanoid robotics and outdoor autonomy to supply chain challenges, food robotics, safety standards, investment trends, and AI-defined automation.
**Is there an evening event?**
Yes, the day concludes with a Networking Reception featuring drinks, appetizers, and opportunities to connect with other professionals in the robotics community.
**Can startups attend?**
Absolutely. There is a dedicated Startup Alley and sessions tailored specifically for robotics startups looking to grow and collaborate.
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## Conclusion
RoboBusiness 2026 represents a milestone moment for the robotics industry. With two decades of innovation behind it and a packed agenda of cutting-edge sessions, the conference offers a unique opportunity to learn from the brightest minds in robotics, discover new technologies, and connect with a passionate community of professionals. Whether your interest lies in humanoids, outdoor autonomy, manufacturing automation, or the business side of robotics, there is no shortage of insights and inspiration to be found. Mark your calendar, register today, and join the celebration of twenty years of robotics excellence.
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