The Robot Report Podcast · 2 Jul 2026 · 1h 02m
Steve Crowe, Mike Oitzman, and Sarah Wynn recap Automate 2026, noting the industry's pivot from humanoid hype to practical Physical AI and edge computing. They highlight ABB's collaboration with Nvidia on sim-to-real training, Rockwell Automation's FactoryTalk Orchestration, and Sereact's zero-shot picking for e-grocery logistics. The hosts also critique the lack of moving industrial humanoids at the show, contrasting stationary displays from Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics with real-world deployments by Figure AI.
Where this conversation describes AI being used to build or deliver a product. Part of the AI in practice tracker.
Engineering & simulationVention
Vention used agentic coding and text prompts to allow users to simulate and modify modular robotic work cells in real-time, automatically updating the simulation based on natural language instructions.
“They showed a way for you to use just text prompts in their software to make changes to what the work cell would look like. … their software goes back and automatically makes those updates to what the simulation looks like.”
Steve Crowe · Hear it at 26:53
Engineering & simulationSolomon AI
Solomon AI used a custom vision stack on Unitree humanoids to enable natural language control, allowing the robot to identify and pick specific items from a table based on text prompts.
“they had their custom vision stack on top of the Unitree robot, and they were using text and language prompts to show, uh, the robot could walk up to a table, pick a couple different … you know, you could literally say, hey, go pick up the natures, vitamins, D3 bottle…”
Steve Crowe · Hear it at 26:53
Engineering & simulationTrenor Robotics
Trenor Robotics demonstrated machine tending controlled via natural language, allowing users to set up and control robot tasks using voice commands rather than traditional programming.
“Trenor robotics was a company in the Universal Robots booth. They showed a machine tending demo that was set up and controlled using natural language…”
Steve Crowe · Hear it at 26:53
companies scaling up
Other shows on the same ground, closest first.
Ryan Prosser, CEO of Very Technology, reports from Automate 2024, interviewing leaders from Machine Metrics, Unit X, Sensory Robotics, On Logic, Light Guide, Elementary, Snowbottics, Acme Manufacturing, Happily, Kongitech, MyTech, Lincode, Wheel Me, and Orbit 3D. The conversation covers AI-driven vision platforms, robotic safety sensors, rugged edge computing, and autonomous mobile robots, highlighting the shift toward edge AI and human-centric automation. Key technical discussions include point cloud generation for safety, modular industrial PCs, and AI-based defect detection for high-speed manufacturing lines.
Chris Luecke interviews Milton Guerry of Schunk, Mike Cicco of FANUC America, and Søren Peters of HowToRobot at Automate LIVE, discussing the robust state of the robotics industry, the shift toward EV manufacturing, and the role of AI in automation. Mike Cicco highlights FANUC's educational CERT program and the importance of mentorship in retaining talent, while Søren Peters describes HowToRobot as an 'Airbnb for robotics' that connects SMEs with integrators globally. Milton Guerry emphasizes Schunk's focus on end-of-arm tooling and sensing technologies, predicting continued industry strength through incremental innovation and labor solutioning.
Alex Shikany, VP of Membership & Business Intelligence at A3 - The Association for Advancing Automation, joins host Chris Luecke and co-host Jake Hall to preview Automate 2022 in Detroit. They discuss the event's scale, featuring over 500 exhibitors and 20,000 attendees, and highlight new initiatives like Automate LIVE, a hybrid digital component modeled after ESPN's College GameDay. The episode emphasizes the show's focus on democratizing automation for small and medium-sized businesses through technologies like robotics, vision systems, and AI, alongside keynotes from industry leaders such as Damon John and Douglas Stanguini.
Brett Phillips of Hellbender, David Griffin of Seegrid, and Mike Smocer of Mine Vision Systems discuss scaling autonomy in manufacturing, logistics, and mining. They explain how advances in perception, control systems, and on-edge AI hardware are shrinking development timelines and enabling complex material moves. The panel highlights Pittsburgh's unique ecosystem, combining high-level engineering with 'gritty' blue-collar pragmatism, as a key driver for physical AI innovation. They also emphasize the importance of community organizations like the Pittsburgh Robotics Network in fostering talent and business growth.
Host Chris Luecke interviews economists and industry leaders at the A3 Business Forum about the 2026 automation outlook. Economist Alex Chausovsky argues that manufacturing is transitioning from uncertainty to complexity, urging companies to rely on hard CapEx data rather than sentiment. Bob Little of Novanta and Alex Shikany of A3 discuss the $1+ trillion investment boom in US manufacturing and the critical role of smart automation in addressing labor shortages. Faye Goldstein of Barden and Stu Shepherd of Shepherd Solutions explore practical AI implementation in sales and the rigorous safety standards developed through theme park robotics.
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