New frontiers in robotics at CES 2026

The Shopper Electronics Present (CES) is one of the biggest commerce occasions on the earth. Yearly, 1000’s of corporations showcase their state-of-the-art applied sciences to over 100k attendees.  It brings collectively international business leaders, startups, and media, and is used to launch merchandise and sign future tech developments.  

Henry Hickson, a Analysis Affiliate on the Hauert Lab, attended CES 2026. On this article he studies on the highlights of the present, exploring how bodily AI is shifting from experimental labs into shopper expertise, and what this shift reveals about the way forward for robotics, autonomy, and real-world deployment. 

 All pictures and movies on this article are credited to Henry Hickson.

CES 2026: Shopper Electronics Meets Bodily AI 

It doesn’t take lengthy after touchdown in Las Vegas to see the indicators of CES 2026. Inside minutes, gleaming LED screens announce the present’s presence, and people ubiquitous two letters: AI. One flavour of AI dominated the present, from Jensen Huang’s keynote speech to even the smallest cubicles on the present flooring: bodily AI. 

Whereas I went there in search of robotics, the phrase ‘bodily AI’ was reaching the ears of even essentially the most informal customer. Manufacturers finest identified for televisions, laptops, and residential home equipment had been speaking confidently about embodied intelligence. At CES 2026, bodily AI – in observe, robots – was not area of interest.  

As a first-time CES attendee, the sheer scale of the occasion was overwhelming. Even with ruthless effectivity, it will have been inconceivable to talk to each robotics exhibitor on the Vegas mega-show. What follows, then, isn’t a complete survey, however a set of themes that emerged repeatedly over the week – bolstered by both repetition or hype surrounding the displays. Collectively, they provide a snapshot of the place consumer-facing robotics stands right this moment, and the place it seems to be heading subsequent. 

A fast caveat for seasoned roboticists: this shopper area is a far-cry from our day by day interactions with lab-based robotics. A lot of what’s on show isn’t state-of-the-art by educational requirements – however it’s revolutionary in a completely different manner, formed by shopper expectations and manufacturability. 

Outdoors CES on the Las Vegas Conference Middle. 

Theme 1: Humanoids 

It might be inconceivable to characteristic robotics at CES and never anticipate a wave of the largest development in current robotics historical past: the rise of the humanoid.   What as soon as felt like a sci-fi dream is now a critical business and analysis focus, attracting intense curiosity from traders, corporations, and the general public. In some circles, the talk is whether or not humanoids are mandatory in any respect, given the effectivity of different types. At CES, nevertheless, they had been probably the most widespread and mentioned illustration of bodily AI.   

The vary on show was huge. Booster showcased child-sized humanoids which ship an schooling program on robotics. These had been lined up in what resembled a classroom and had been that can be purchased then and there – many of the classroom robots had daring purple ‘SOLD’ indicators hooked up. One Booster would set you again $10k. 

Booster’s silicon class-bots wave in unison. 

Unitree drew crowds with a continuous present of boxing, dancing, and acrobatics. Whereas missing in real-world software and nonetheless largely distant managed, their fast progress in movement functionality is spectacular. Unitree has achieved this with improved actuators and reinforcement studying. Their crew acknowledged that they added instabilities to their simulations, which makes the system extra adaptable and provides confidence that every trick will run easily throughout demos.  These boxing bots retail for $6k+ and are customisable for person wants.  

Beijing-based Galaxea Dynamics are focusing on analysis labs with a high-precision platform for basis mannequin improvement. Starting with a easy robotic arm with a digital camera and pincer gripper, they now provide a humanoid with inbuilt peak adjustment for $70k. As well as, they’re growing an open-source VLA as a place to begin for customers growing their very own, task-specific setups. The result’s an out-the field VLA system, lowering the barrier to entry for universities or R&D corporations to develop their very own twin armed VLA techniques.  Galaxea are proving particularly standard with US establishments.  

Galaxea Dynamics’ humanoid with pincer grippers.

House robots had been some of the standard classes at CES. SwitchBot introduced H1, a wheeled humanoid with arms that slide up and down. At this stage it’s doubtless changing into clear that the definition of a humanoid is changing into considerably blurry – apart from the pleasant face and human-dimensioned arms, the H1 isn’t precisely a human type.  Skilled by observing people finishing family duties, the H1 has thus far mastered tidying round the home and loading the washer – if nonetheless at a slower tempo than a human.  Launch dates are unsure, however the firm is aiming to undercut the competitors by reaching a $10k value level. It’ll be fascinating to see how this develops.  

SwitchBot’s H1 Humanoid, able to do your chores (very slowly).

The GR-3 humanoid by Shanghai-based Fourier caught my eye – its turtle-neck styled torso, emotive LED eyes and automotive-upholstered gentle pores and skin makes for a standout aesthetic. Its dextrous palms had been proven off in shut interactions with guests by way of tic-tac-toe video games, the place it by no means misplaced. I used to be comfortable to drag off a tie. The rationale for these shut interactions is that GR-3 is focused for healthcare suppliers, for social interplay and bodily duties round care properties and hospitals. Retailing at $100k, the first prospects are nonetheless analysis labs. 

Fourier’s tic-tac-toe taking part in humanoid, GR3. 

An sudden improvement for a lot of was the doorway of huge shopper manufacturers into the humanoid area. LG’s CLOiD, built-in with its good dwelling ecosystem, embodied the thought of a “zero-labour dwelling.” The CLOiD is a wheeled humanoid with a pleasant LED face. Considerably tentative in its actions, it was capable of retrieve objects from the fridge and fold a towel. That is nonetheless very a lot in improvement, however watch this area. 

LG’s wheeled humanoid, CLOiD.

Paxini’s choices sit precisely within the standard intersection between humanoid and wheeled robots, with an adjustable wheeled base, a floating torso adjustable up and down by rotating joints, and a humanoid higher physique. Utilising VTLA fashions, they’re focused to maneuver crates in warehouses or components on manufacturing unit flooring, with a number of models already deployed.  

GalBot introduced one other wheeled, VLA-focused platform, with demonstrations of crate stacking in a warehouse-style surroundings and customer support duties in a mini comfort retailer setup. The platform options an adjustable torso with hooked up arms and head. The corporate has invested closely in VLA improvement for manipulation, navigation, following, and dancing. They highlighted the problem of tuning fashions for every platform, once more pointing to information assortment as a key bottleneck. Regardless of this, the crew is pushing towards near-term deployment. 

The aptly named firm Humanoid, representing the UK contingent of roboticists, showcased a deployment-focused wheeled system within the type of the HMND 01 Alpha Wheeled platform. The big rectangular industrial base clearly indicators a platform designed for real-world manufacturing unit work quite than show-floor demos. This focus was bolstered by Humanoid’s not too long ago introduced partnership with Schaeffler, with whom they had been exhibiting at CES. A easy demo confirmed the height-variable robotic shifting steel rings between bins. Whereas near-term efforts are firmly industrial, the crew acknowledged {that a} legged model higher suited to dwelling environments stays a part of their longer-term roadmap. 

Schaeffler’s second humanoid associate at CES, Agility Robotics, can be targeted on production-ready techniques for the manufacturing unit flooring – this time, with a completely legged platform. Their distinctive backward-knee design has been underneath improvement for a few years, and the full-height robotic on present was clearly constructed for industrial environments, with uncovered steel buildings and arduous casing. Agility has no plans to enter shopper dwelling robotics.  

Agility’s humanoid. 

Maybe most notable at CES was Boston Dynamic’s Atlas humanoid. It noticed 4-5 row deep crowds for your entire present, in addition to hitting international headlines. Atlas has been in improvement for over a decade and has change into broadly identified via movies brazenly exhibiting each successes and failures. The most recent model was unveiled through the opening day. It carried out an agile sequence of crouching, sweeping, and pointing motions. For the remainder of the present, it carried out common pick-and-place demonstrations in a mock manufacturing unit surroundings. The crew brazenly mentioned present limitations, noting that a lot of the system was teleoperated through the present, highlighting that the software program stack continues to be underneath improvement. 

Standing 1.9 metres tall with a lifting capability of fifty kg, it’s designed for heavy-duty work. Hyundai plans to focus manufacturing capability on inside deployments via 2026, with broader manufacturing prospects anticipated later. Lengthy-term plans embrace scaling manufacturing to tens of 1000’s of models per yr, signalling what could also be one of many first large-scale deployments of humanoid robots with actual industrial worth. 

The headline-grabbing Atlas humanoid demonstrates its spectacular vary of mobility.

Theme 2: Companion Robots 

Being shopper targeted, it is maybe unsurprising {that a} standout theme was so shopper oriented, however I used to be stunned by the sheer variety of newly launched robots on this area. The energy of this theme lies in human–robotic interplay, and in how shopper expertise is being reshaped by robotics and AI. 

One instance was Loona, constructed by Beijing-based KEYi Tech. This pint-sized, four-wheeled robotic pet was surprisingly insistent, figuring out potential playmates via an onboard digital camera and bumping clumsily into their toes to ask for consideration. Designed for all ages, the crew reported sturdy curiosity from adults shopping for Loona as firm for aged dad and mom. With some life-like qualities, Loona manages to evoke a number of the emotional response of a family pet. 

Loona’s lovable robotic pet.

KEYi additionally previewed a desktop robotic idea that integrates with a smartphone, which gives entry to cloud instruments like ChatGPT and acts as a display screen for expressive robotic eyes. Positioned as an assistant, the demo confirmed agentic capabilities, corresponding to reserving conferences and analysing screenshots. Its long-term usefulness stays unclear, however the slick interface was enjoyable to work together with. 

Subsequent up was an unreleased robotic pet from OlloBot – two-wheeled, dog-sized robotic pets with tablet-based faces that jogged my memory of Sid the Sloth from Ice Age. These child-friendly bots had ChatGPT integration in addition to digital camera modes and studying packages. 

Ollobots – your youngster’s new playmate or favorite toy?

Fourier introduced a small, customisable desktop robotic with large digital eyes and head monitoring that gave an eerie, Labubu-esque aesthetic. 

Fourier’s cute desktop robotic is watching you. Picture credit score: Henry Hickson

Ludens AI provided INU, a fluffy desk robotic. Marketed as a ‘desktop alien’, INU has come to Earth to remind customers to take breaks and never work too arduous. How may you say no to that? Alongside the lovable rocking actions and occasional squeak, it was arduous to not really feel some attachment to this little robotic being.    

The INU desktop alien robots waving whats up. Credit score: Henry Hickson

Rounding out the class was Sentigent’s DuoRover, a rugged, follow-me robotic for out of doors adventures. Utilizing a two-wheeled balancing design and vision-based following, it’s meant to offer dialog, pictures, and video recording on household outings. 

Companion robotics is clearly a quickly rising area. The open query is longevity: will these robots stay companions, or be relegated to folks’s cabinets as soon as the novelty wears off? Firms are betting that continuous characteristic growth, fuelled by LLMs, will assist them endure – however solely time will inform. 

Theme 3: Activity-Pushed, Non-Humanoid Robotics  

Whereas much less prevalent at a consumer-focused present like CES, task-driven robots nonetheless made a powerful impression. Usually discovered at commerce exhibits, these extra business targeted robots are used for warehouse / manufacturing unit automation, or in hospitality. Nonetheless, there was an fascinating sprinkling at CES too and a few nice improvements on this area. 

One of the crucial notable examples was from the Hyundai Motor Group, whose acquisition of Boston Dynamics made them some of the standard exhibitors. Their MobED robotic is a modular wheeled platform with 4 independently managed wheels that may carry out tight manoeuvres and may traverse assorted terrain while sustaining a wonderfully stage loading mattress.   The modular method means this can be utilized for quite a lot of makes use of instances, from supply carts to ride-on autos. What stood out most was the construct high quality, which felt extra akin to a luxurious automobile than a typical robotics module. It will likely be fascinating to see how this does towards its decrease price competitors – is there an urge for food for luxurious robotics platforms but? 

Hyundai’s 4-wheeled modular platforms greet the gang by waving their wheels. 

On the different finish of the spectrum was Nexus Patio Tech from Bolivia, showcasing supply robots designed for simplicity and fast route-to-market. With 20+ robots already operating on Bolivian streets, and plenty of extra in malls and eating places, it was nice to see a deployment first method – though this will likely partly be because of a distinct regulatory panorama. 

China’s Neolix demonstrated logistics at scale, with over 15,000 autonomous autos deployed throughout three sizes. By focusing completely on logistics, the crew has simplified decision-making and accelerated deployment. For instance, if there’s a alternative between crashing right into a wall or a pedestrian, in logistics solely you all the time select the wall, as there isn’t any passenger onboard to account for. This makes for a singular method in comparison with a number of the different, albeit extremely refined choices on present at CES, corresponding to passenger targeted Waymo, Zoox, and NVIDIA. Pilots in Portugal are scheduled for the primary half of 2026, which is a promising step – with the ability to comply with stringent EU rules would unlock deployments in a number of different areas. 

Neolix’s autonomous robotic. 

Building logistics had been addressed by Gole Robotics from South Korea, who’re tackling point-to-point materials transport on building websites – a use case thus far comparatively untouched by autonomous robotics as a result of its complexity. Their massive material-carrying robotic is designed to maneuver pallets in a single day in condominium buildings, permitting human employees to give attention to expert labour through the day. Right here, the innovation lies as a lot within the redesigned workflow as within the robotic itself. 

Lastly, USX Robotics showcased a modular indoor supply platform for resorts and occasions, notable for having been developed from idea to production-ready system in simply over a yr. 

This was not the one robotic to be market-ready in lightning-fast time. With the provision of reasonably priced and particular robotics targeted parts, open-source baseline libraries and simpler entry to manufacturing companies from overseas, each the associated fee and complexity of constructing a brand new robotic system appears to be lowering, enabling a number of new gamers into the business. This raises fascinating questions on how the market will evolve sooner or later. Differentiation could more and more lie in figuring out the suitable use instances and routes to market. 

Abstract 

CES 2026 confirmed that humanoid and embodied AI techniques nonetheless have an extended technique to go earlier than delivering real-world worth, significantly in properties. On the similar time, there’s a rising sense that the trail to deployment is changing into clearer. A consensus has emerged throughout platforms:  multi-camera notion, typically wrist-mounted, paired with VLA fashions, is ample for many duties. More and more, tactile palms and VTLA software program are added. 

There was a transparent cut up between industrial and home-care humanoids. Essentially the most convincing choices with essentially the most deployments had been in business, with the agency favorite being logistics duties within the manufacturing sector.  With extremely developed platforms like Atlas main the cost, this industrial humanoid push feels nearer than ever. One other basic development right here was reaching the market by way of business, adopted by a longer-term purpose of reaching folks’s properties in some unspecified time-frame. It was typically arduous to inform whether or not that home-ready purpose is real or to please the likes of traders and the excitable basic public. 

One fascinating query for me is functionality – at what level is a humanoid thought-about helpful sufficient for the time-constrained shopper to purchase it, not only for an early adopter? At present, these platforms really feel too sluggish to be helpful sufficient for the common purchaser. As improvement continues, I hope we start to see extra adaptive techniques that present real worth.  

What has modified is momentum. A spark of pleasure has captured the creativeness of so many at CES, now that what as soon as appeared inconceivable is on the market, proper in entrance of you.  With better entry to compute, the event of basis fashions like VLAS and VTLAs, a roadmap is rising. The race now’s for information, information, and extra information –it’ll be an enchanting one to comply with over the approaching years. I left CES with the sense that the long run is going on now.