Manifest 2026 Recap

The latest episode of the Robot Report recaps Manifest 2026, the flagship supply‑chain and robotics expo that swelled to roughly 6,000 participants. Attendees experienced Zoox’s free autonomous‑vehicle service in Las Vegas, a four‑seat pod that doubles as a mobile meeting room, highlighting the shift from traditional ride‑hailing to collaborative robot‑driven transport. The show also promoted the upcoming Robotics Summit in Boston, slated for May 27‑28, with over 250 exhibitors and keynote speakers from TRI, GM, and the world’s first Neuralink user. These gatherings underscore how industry leaders are converging to shape the next decade of automation.

Funding momentum and strategic consolidation dominated the news segment. Austin‑based Aptronic closed a $520 million round, pushing total Series A capital toward $935 million to scale its Apollo humanoid platform—an indicator that investors still back long‑term, high‑risk robot development despite lengthy commercialization timelines. Meanwhile, Symbotic’s acquisition of Fox Robotics merges autonomous forklift capabilities with a broader mobile‑robot portfolio, reflecting a market trend toward integrated material‑handling solutions. Such moves signal that warehouse robotics is maturing from niche pilots to full‑scale, multi‑product offerings, prompting supply‑chain executives to reassess vendor strategies and fleet orchestration.

Leadership changes at Boston Dynamics added another layer of intrigue. CEO Robert Platt’s retirement hands interim control to CFO Amanda McMaster, as the company pushes its legged robots—Spot, Stretch, and the newly electrified Atlas—towards commercial viability. The episode also highlighted breakthrough demos from startups like Ultra’s bimodal arm, AutoPallet’s magnetic AMR, Piaggio Fast Forward’s Kilo follow‑me robot, and CreateMe’s adhesive clothing assembler, illustrating the breadth of innovation on the floor. Finally, the hosts reminded listeners to download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report, a vital resource for executives navigating investment, adoption, and competitive dynamics in the rapidly evolving robotics landscape.