Aerial photo of "AI & Tech Zone", attendees, and booths at Pittsburgh's Robotics and AI Discovery Day at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Group of men talking under "AI & Tech Zone" banner at Pittsburgh RADD 2025
Demonstration of Agility Robotics humanoid robot at Pittsburgh RADD 2025
Pittsburgh mayor Corey O'Connor talking to local robotics company, Hellbender at RADD 2025
Advanced Construction Robotics automation and robotics exhibition
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and attendees listening to presenter at Pittsburgh RADD 2025
"Robotics Zone" at Pittsburgh Robotics and AI Discovery Day including attendees and an autonomous driving semi-truck
Panoramic aerial photo of crowd of people and booths during Pittsburgh's Robotics and AI Discovery Day at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Group of attendees at Pittsburgh Robotics and AI Discovery Day learning about HEBI Robotics
Robotics & AI Discovery Day
September 16th, 2026
9am - 6pm • Pittsburgh, PA
Register To Attend

2026 Programming Schedule

Main Stage Programming

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM

Welcome to Robotics & AI Discovery Day

Opening remarks and welcome to Robotics & AI Discovery Day.

Speaker:
‍Jenn Apicella, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Robotics Network

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM

The Future of Employment in Deep Tech

The future of work is changing faster than ever. Will fractional careers become the norm? Are stackable credentials replacing traditional degrees? Join industry leaders for a conversation about what's working today, what's just hype, and how work, learning, and careers could evolve over the next decade.

Speakers

10:05 AM – 10:35 AM

Moving Industry Forward: The Future of Autonomous Material Handling

Explore how autonomous mobile robots are reshaping material movement across manufacturing, warehousing, and industrial operations. Brian Heater of A3 joins Seegrid CEO Chris Baker to discuss adoption, ROI, workforce impact, and what it takes to scale autonomous systems in real-world environments.

Speaker

10:40 AM – 11:10 AM

Panel 1: Partnerships as a GTM Strategy

For robotics companies, the right partnerships can accelerate customer access, product development, manufacturing, and market expansion. Leaders from Uber AI, FORT Robotics, Fictiv, and Hellbender will discuss how strategic partnerships can become a powerful go-to-market advantage for scaling emerging technologies.

Speakers

11:15 AM – 11:55 AM

Panel 2: Hard Tech, Hard Lessons: Growing a Robotics Company

Building a robotics company requires more than breakthrough technology. Robotics executive leaders from Gather AI, Aethon, Hellbender, and Titan Robotics share lessons from launching, commercializing, growing and scaling hard-tech businesses in complex markets.

Speakers

12:00 PM – 12:55 PM

Innovation Works 2026 Robotics Factory Startup Pitches

Meet emerging companies from the Robotics Factory and hear directly from founders building the next generation of robotics and automation technologies.

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM

Beyond the AI Hype: Where Robotics Capital Is Really Going

As physical AI gains momentum, investors are becoming more selective about where capital can create durable value. Leaders from J.P. Morgan and Cybernetix Ventures will discuss robotics investment trends, what makes companies fundable, and how market adoption, talent, business models, and commercialization influence investment decisions.

Speaker

1:50 PM – 2:30 PM

Building the Human Touch: Honda’s Humanoid Robotics Journey

Honda has spent decades advancing humanoid robotics, developing technologies that push the boundaries of mobility, manipulation, and human interaction. Leaders from Honda Innovations will explore that journey, including advances in humanoid hands and how Honda sees robotics evolving in the years ahead.

Speakers

2:40 PM – 3:15 PM

Panel 3: Building the Intelligent Machine: The Technologies Powering Physical AI

Physical AI depends on a rapidly evolving stack of compute, edge intelligence, connectivity, and hardware capable of bringing AI into the physical world. Leaders from Intel, Advantech, and NVIDIA will discuss the technologies enabling the next generation of robotics and what they mean for product development, commercialization, and industrial adoption.

Speakers

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Awards

Join us on the Main Stage as we celebrate outstanding achievements from the FIRST Robotics Scrimmage, presented by Stack AV, and the Student Research Poster Session, presented by Duquesne University. From competitive robotics to cutting-edge research, these awards recognize technical excellence, creativity, collaboration, and the bold ideas shaping the future of robotics and artificial intelligence.