Automate 2026: Electrification, Humanoid Robots and AI to be Key Trends of Interest
There are a wide range of technological developments taking place within the industrial automation industry to help meet requirements for efficient and productive operations.
The annual Automate Show – a large robotics and automation event – is usually a good place to see these developments as well as the various trends shaping the automation industry.
Ahead of Automate 2026, I spoke with three of Bosch Rexroth’s industrial automation industry experts about what they’re looking forward to seeing at this year’s show:
- Richard Vaughn, Head of Product Management – Linear Technologies
- Joaquin Ocampo, Product Manager – Automation & Electrification
- Bill LeAnna, Sales Product Manager – Transfer Systems.
Full electrification, humanoid robots and artificial intelligence (AI) topped the list for them.
LeAnna noted Bosch Rexroth continues to be approached by customers who want to move away from pneumatics to fully electric systems, and knows other companies are likely experiencing the same. And so he is looking forward to seeing what advancements are taking place in this area at Automate 2026.
While AI is commonly used with the vision systems employed in many automation solutions, Ocampo said he is looking forward to seeing other use cases for it at the show as well as how the data associated with AI is being collected and managed. The latter is an especially important factor he sees going forward.
In addition to what they’re looking forward to seeing at Automate 2026, we also spoke about the potential benefits they see AI bringing to industrial automation applications.
Watch "Industrial Automation: Current Opportunities and Challenges" for more of my discussion with Vaughn, Ocampo and LeAnna in which we focus on the long-term outlook for industrial automation and the design challenges still faced by the industry.
Or read the articles below for my full interview with them to learn about the trends shaping the industrial automation sector, the continued role they see hydraulics playing and more.
Automation Remains an Investment Priority for Industrial Applications
Industrial Automation Requires Faster and Easier to Use Solutions
About the Author
Sara Jensen
Executive Editor, Power & Motion
Sara Jensen is executive editor of Power & Motion, directing expanded coverage into the modern fluid power space, as well as mechatronic and smart technologies. She has over 15 years of publishing experience. Prior to Power & Motion she spent 11 years with a trade publication for engineers of heavy-duty equipment, the last 3 of which were as the editor and brand lead. Over the course of her time in the B2B industry, Sara has gained an extensive knowledge of various heavy-duty equipment industries — including construction, agriculture, mining and on-road trucks —along with the systems and market trends which impact them such as fluid power and electronic motion control technologies.
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