RoboBusiness 2026 registration is officially open, and this year's event marks a significant milestone: 20 years of gathering the commercial robotics community. Scheduled for October 20-21 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, the conference is produced by The Robot Report and its parent company Arrowfly. For founders and operators building in robotics, this is a rare opportunity to benchmark against two decades of industry evolution and network with peers who have weathered multiple hype cycles.
The event offers five conference tracks covering physical AI, enabling technologies, humanoids, field robotics, and business and deployment. An Engineering Theater on the show floor will host additional presentations from industry experts. The breadth of tracks signals that the organizers are betting on a wide spectrum of commercial applications rather than a single vertical — a sensible approach given the fragmented nature of robotics adoption today.
Notable confirmed speakers include Rodney Brooks, co-founder and CTO of Robust AI, who brings over 50 years of AI and robotics experience. Brooks previously founded MIT CSAIL and is now deploying human-centered intelligent powered carts in fulfillment centers and factories. Ken Goldberg, UC Berkeley professor and director of AUTOLab, will share insights from his work at the intersection of robotics and art. Jonathan Hurst, chief robot officer and co-founder of Agility Robotics, will discuss legged locomotion and human-robot interaction. Bhavna Chandrashekhar, senior manager of applied science at Amazon Robotics, represents the massive scale of warehouse automation. Morgan Pope, creative director at Familiar Machines & Magic, adds a consumer-robot perspective.
Other confirmed presenters come from AGIBOT, Autonomous Solutions Inc. (ASI), Burro, Chef Robotics, Cobot, PSYONIC, and Teradyne Robotics. The mix spans agricultural robots (Burro), kitchen automation (Chef Robotics), prosthetic devices (PSYONIC), and industrial testing (Teradyne Robotics). This diversity reflects the reality that commercial robotics is not a single market but a collection of verticals with distinct go-to-market challenges.
For startups, the early-bird pricing is a practical consideration: full conference passes purchased before August 31 save $200. Discounts are also available for academia, associations, and corporate groups — details via [email protected]. Given that many robotics startups operate on tight budgets, the savings can meaningfully offset travel costs for a small team.
MassRobotics, the world's largest independent robotics hub, returns as strategic partner. This relationship adds credibility and ensures that the event connects with the broader innovation ecosystem, from early-stage startups to established players.
The full agenda is forthcoming, but the speaker lineup already suggests a focus on real-world deployment rather than academic theory. For operators, the key value will be in the hallway conversations and side meetings — the kind of signal that helps decide which partnerships to pursue and which technology bets to double down on.
Source: The Robot Report.