From Boston: cobots, humanoids, and AI-powered automation at the Robotics Summit & Expo
Humanoids, collaborative robots (cobots), and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technologies were featured at WTWH Media’s annual Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston.
The event was held on May 27 and 28, 2026, at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, and thousands of attendees saw the latest developments in robotics and automation.
Packaging OEM was on the ground, capturing more than two dozen images throughout the event.
Robotics Summit & Expo photos
Steve Crowe, chair of the Robotics Summit and executive editor of The Robot Report, delivers welcome remarks to open the conference at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnWTWH Media’s Robotics Summit & Expo brought together more than 70 speakers focused on robotics and automation, taking place May 27 and 28, 2026, in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnThe opening keynote at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston featured speakers from WTWH Media, Locus Robotics, QNX, Amazon Robotics, and Universal Robots. Source: Sarah WynnA wide view of the show floor at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston captured the scale of exhibits and demonstrations across robotics and automation technologies. Source: Sarah Wynn.R+W America showcased an elastomer coupling designed for industrial applications at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnA variety of couplings from R+W America were on display at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnJan Hennecke, business unit manager for robotics and automation at igus Inc., stands next to a Fairino FR20 cobot used for end-of-line palletizing and precise stacking through integrated controls at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnChris Morgan, senior director of R&D at Bastian Solutions, poses at the podium after presenting “Where AI Delivers in Material Handling” at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnThe warehouse automation tracks at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston featured sessions on artificial intelligence, robotics adoption, and warehouse sustainability, including presentations from Chris Morgan of Bastian Solutions, Omar Asali of Ranpak, and Anthony Jules of Robust AI. Source: Sarah WynnChris Morgan, senior director of R&D at Bastian Solutions, presents a session on Toyota Automated Logistics focused on physical AI and edge intelligence for material handling in warehouse environments at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnA Hot Wheels van sits atop Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot on the show floor at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnBoston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot was on display on the show floor at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnSarah Wynn, senior editor at Packaging OEM (left side of image), and Omar Asali, chairman and CEO of Ranpak (right side of image), speak on stage following their session on the promise and reality of physical AI in warehouse automation at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sheri KasprzakRanpak CEO and chairman Omar Asali (right side of image) and Sarah Wynn, senior editor at Packaging OEM (left side of image), pose in front of signage for their session on how physical AI is driving profitable sustainability in the warehouse at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sheri KasprzakThe 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo show floor in Boston featured a range of robotics and automation systems, from industrial equipment to collaborative technologies on display. Source: Sarah Wynn.Anthony Jules, co-founder and CEO of Robust.AI, speaks during his session “Building Warehouse Robots People Actually Want to Work With” at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah Wynn.Anthony Jules’ presentation covers generations of mobile robots, including guided, fiducial-based, lidar-based, and camera-based systems, with Robust.AI’s Carter AI-powered collaborative mobile robot positioned as a camera-based solution at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah Wynn.KHK USA showcased a range of its stock metric gearing configurations for OEM applications at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah Wynn.KHK USA displayed a variety of racks and gears, including helical gears and brass racks, as part of its metric gearing lineup designed for machine builders at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnThe R+W America team poses at their booth at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, from left to right: Jake Larson, regional sales manager; Maurice Collins, marketing manager; and Andy Lechner, vice president of sales and marketing. The company showcased a variety of couplings for industrial applications. Source: Sarah Wynn.Sheri Kasprzak, executive editor of Control Engineering and Plant Engineering, interviews Stephania Holland, president of Howland Technology, and Carolina Kelly, sales engineer at Howland Technology, on the show floor at the Robotics Summit & Expo. Source: Sarah Wynn Howland Technology showcased a variety of integrated drive solutions at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Pictured from left to right are Sheri Kasprzak, executive editor at Control Engineering and Plant Engineering; Stephania Holland, president of Howland Technology; Carolina Kelly, sales engineer at Howland Technology; and Sarah Wynn, senior editor at Packaging OEM. Source: Sarah WynnBOGEN Magnetics GmbH showcased its portfolio of customized linear magnetic scales for robotics and industrial automation applications at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnBOGEN Magnetics GmbH displayed its linear and rotary encoder technologies at its booth during the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Sarah WynnAttendees pose with WTWH Media editors from left to right: Stephanie Neil, VP editorial director; Sarah Wynn, senior editor for Packaging OEM; and Sheri Kasprzak, executive editor for Plant Engineering and Control Engineering, at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. Source: Scott Kelliher
Robotics in packaging: a deeper look
From cobots to humanoids, the Robotics Summit & Expo highlighted the latest advancements in automation.
The report examines how robotic suppliers are lowering the barrier to adoption, simplifying deployment through modular systems, and accelerating implementation through service-based models. Click here to download.
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