The Robot Report Podcast: Editors recap Modex palletizing, e-commerce, end-of-line automation 

Episode 240 of The Robot Report Podcast features a recap of the MODEX 2026 trade show with Eugene Demaitre, editorial director for The Robot Report and Automated Warehouse, and Sarah Wynn, senior editor (digital) for Packaging OEM.

Show timeline

• 6:10 – News of the week
• 15:48 – MODEX recap with Automated Warehouse‘s Gene Demaitre and Packaging OEM‘s Sarah Wynn
• 30:21 – Piab Group’s David Garcia highlights its upcoming BLFF vacuum suction cup, which can handle a variety of packaging formats
• 33:50 – Fanuc America’s Geoff Dawson discusses “rainbow” pallets and the rise of e-commerce
• 49:57 – Quicktron’s Iris Wren outlines how workstation design and double-presence totes help remove operator bottlenecks
• 57:49 – Delta Americas’ Bill Faber explains how the company is embedding its core technologies, including motion, drives, software, and vision into AMRs and collaborative robots (cobots)

Editors talk about trends at MODEX 2026

MODEX has continued to grow, with more than 1,000 exhibitors and about 50,000 attendees this year. Gene and Sarah share their observations from dozens of meetings, booth demonstrations, and networking events at the supply chain trade show in Atlanta.

The editors discuss the latest trends, including more partnerships, applications for AI and automation in the warehouse, and noteworthy robots and companies, such as Toyota Automated Logistics. From SICK sensors to “rainbow” pallets from FANUC and Angelini Technologies, this episode examines key technologies to follow.

Gene and Sarah talk about the increasingly competitive market for automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) such as those from AutoStore and Attabotics, the progress in mobile manipulators like those from Omron, and the changing state of humanoids and AI.

In addition, they cover truck-unloading systems from Boston Dynamics, Pickle Robot, and Slip Robotics, as well as rival approaches to storage and picking from Brightpick, Locus Robotics, and Ocado. Also featured are Sarah’s chats with Piab Group, FANUC, Delta Americas, Quicktron, and Boston Dynamics.

Concerns about throughput, safety, and interoperability remain, as does the need for suppliers to work closely with integrators and end-user customers. Follow Automated Warehouse and Packaging OEM for more in-depth and ongoing coverage.

News of the week

Skild acquires Fetch Robotics assets from Zebra

Skild AI has acquired the robotics division of Zebra Technologies, formerly Fetch Robotics. Skild said the acquisition will help it deploy its “omni-bodied” intelligence layer across the global logistics sector.

By integrating its hardware-agnostic AI “brain” with Zebra’s tested Symmetry warehouse orchestration platform, the company said it aims to transform task-specific automation into a unified, autonomous fulfillment ecosystem while fueling its proprietary data flywheel.

Deepak Pathak, co-founder and CEO of Skild AI, told The Robot Report that “the Fetch Team is the main reason for the acquisition, as they bring years of deployment experience.” Skild added that it expects to continue support of the Fetch/Zebra installed base, eliminate fulfillment bottlenecks, and develop new products for the warehouse.

Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind use Gemini to make Spot smarter

Boston Dynamics this week said it is partnering with Google Cloud and Google DeepMind to integrate Gemini and Gemini Robotics ER 1.6 into Orbit AIVI-Learning. The robotics developer said the integration will allow it to deliver a more sophisticated, intuitive, and powerful AI experience.

Spot and Orbit now continuously learn about the facilities they’re deployed in, allowing for higher-order reasoning and more complex visual analysis, according to Boston Dynamics. DeepMind’s new Gemini Robotics-ER 1.6 model specializes in robotics reasoning capabilities, including visual and spatial understanding, task planning, and success detection.

Register now for the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo

Registration is now open for the Robotics Summit & Expo, the world’s leading technical event for commercial robotics developers. The event is produced by The Robot Report and WTWH Media.

>> LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE FOR A DISCOUNT CODE TO REGISTER! <<

The show will have more than 50 sessions in tracks on artificial intelligence, design and development, enabling technologies, healthcare, and logistics. The Engineering Theater on the show floor will also feature presentations by industry experts.

More than 70 speakers are confirmed from companies such as AWS, Brain Corp, Fictiv, Harmonic Drive, maxon, PickNik Robotics, RealSense, the Robotics and AI Institute, Robust AI, Tesla, Toyota Research Institute, and more.

The Robotics Summit will also feature a number of networking opportunities. They include a Mix & Mingle Networking Reception after the first day of the show and the ticketed RBR50 Awards Dinner.

The Robotics Summit & Expo is co-located with DeviceTalks Boston, which focuses on medical devices.

Written by Mike Oitzman, senior editor, WTWH Media, for Automated Warehouse and Packaging OEM.