New frontiers in robotics at CES 2026

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of the biggest profession occasions worldwide. Annually, hundreds of firms display their advanced modern technologies to over 100k participants. It unites international sector leaders, start-ups, and media, and is made use of to release items and signal future technology fads.

Henry Hickson, a Research Study Affiliate at the Hauert Lab, participated in CES 2026. In this post he reports on the highlights of the program, discovering exactly how physical AI is relocating from speculative laboratories right into customer modern technology, and what this change discloses concerning the future of robotics, freedom, and real-world release.

All images and video clips in this post are attributed to Henry Hickson.

CES 2026: Customer Electronic Devices Satisfies Physical AI

It does not take long after touchdown in Las Las vega to see the indicators of CES 2026. Within mins, beaming LED displays introduce the program’s existence, and those common 2 letters: AI. One flavour of AI controlled the program, from Jensen Huang’s keynote speech to also the tiniest cubicles on the program flooring: physical AI.

While I went there searching for robotics, the expression ‘physical AI’ was getting to the ears of also one of the most informal site visitor. Brands best understood for tvs, laptop computers, and home devices were chatting with confidence concerning symbolized knowledge. At CES 2026, physical AI– in method, robotics– was no more particular niche.

As a novice CES guest, the large range of the occasion was frustrating. Despite having fierce effectiveness, it would certainly have actually been difficult to talk to every robotics exhibitor at the Las vega mega-show. What complies with, after that, is not an extensive study, however a collection of motifs that arised consistently over the week– enhanced by either repeating or buzz bordering the exhibitions. With each other, they use a picture of where consumer-facing robotics stands today, and where it seems heading following.

A fast caution for skilled roboticists: this customer room is a far-cry from our everyday communications with lab-based robotics. Much of what’s on display screen is not modern by scholastic requirements– however it is cutting-edge in a various means, formed by customer assumptions and manufacturability.

Outdoors CES at the Las Las Vega Convention Facility.

Style 1: Humanoids

It would certainly be difficult to include robotics at CES and not anticipate a wave of the most significant pattern in current robotics background: the surge of the humanoid. What when seemed like a sci-fi desire is currently a severe industrial and research study emphasis, drawing in extreme rate of interest from financiers, firms, and the general public. In some circles, the dispute is whether humanoids are essential in any way, provided the effectiveness of various other types. At CES, nonetheless, they were perhaps the most prevalent and reviewed depiction of physical AI.

The array on display screen was huge. Booster showcased child-sized humanoids which supply an education and learning program on robotics. These were aligned in what appeared like a class and were readily available to get after that and there — several of the class robotics had vibrant red ‘SOLD’ indicators connected. One Booster would certainly establish you back $10k.

Booster’s silicon class-bots wave together.

Unitree attracted groups with a continuous program of boxing, dance, and balancings. While doing not have in real-world application and still mostly push-button control, their quick progression moving capacity goes over. Unitree has actually accomplished this with boosted actuators and support discovering. Their group specified that they included instabilities to their simulations, that makes the system a lot more versatile and reassures that each method will certainly run efficiently throughout trials. These boxing crawlers retail for $6k+ and are customisable for customer requirements.

Beijing-based Galaxea Characteristics are targeting research study laboratories with a high-precision system for structure version growth. Starting with a basic robotic arm with a cam and pincer gripper, they currently use a humanoid with inbuild elevation change for $70k. Furthermore, they are creating an open-source VLA as a beginning factor for customers creating their very own, task-specific configurations. The outcome is an out-the box VLA system, lowering the obstacle to access for colleges or R&D firms to create their very own twin armed VLA systems. Galaxea are showing specifically prominent with United States organizations.

Galaxea Characteristics’ humanoid with pincer grippers.

Home robotics was among one of the most prominent groups at CES. SwitchBot offered H1, a rolled humanoid with arms that glide backwards and forwards. At this phase it is most likely ending up being clear that the meaning of a humanoid is ending up being rather fuzzy — apart from the pleasant face and human-dimensioned arms, the H1 isn’t precisely a human type. Educated by observing people finishing house jobs, the H1 has actually until now grasped cleaning around your home and filling the cleaning equipment– if still at a slower rate than a human. Launch days doubt, however the firm is intending to damage the competitors by getting to a $10k cost factor. It’ll interest see exactly how this creates.

SwitchBot’s H1 Humanoid, all set to do your tasks (extremely gradually).

The GR-3 humanoid by Shanghai-based Fourier captured my eye– its turtle-neck styled upper body, stirring LED eyes and automotive-upholstered soft skin creates a standout visual. Its dextrous hands were flaunted in close communications with site visitors using tic-tac-toe video games, where it never ever shed. I enjoyed to carry out a connection. The factor for these close communications is that GR-3 is targeted for doctor, for social communication and physical jobs around treatment homes and medical facilities. Selling at $100k, the main clients are still research study laboratories.

Fourier’s tic-tac-toe having fun humanoid, GR3.

An unforeseen growth for several was the entryway of big customer brand names right into the humanoid room. LG’s CLOiD, incorporated with its clever home environment, symbolized the concept of a “zero-labour home.” The CLOiD is a rolled humanoid with a pleasant LED face. Rather tentative in its motions, it had the ability to obtain products from the refrigerator and fold up a towel. This is still significantly in growth, however view this room.

LG’s rolled humanoid, CLOiD.

Paxini’s offerings rest precisely in the prominent crossway in between humanoid and rolled robotics, with a flexible rolled base, a drifting upper body flexible backwards and forwards by revolving joints, and a humanoid top body. Using VTLA versions, they are targeted to relocate cages in stockrooms or components on , with numerous systems currently released.

GalBot offered an additional rolled, VLA-focused system, with presentations of cage piling in a warehouse-style setting and client service jobs in a miniature corner store configuration. The system includes a flexible upper body with connected arms and head. The firm has actually spent greatly in VLA growth for control, navigating, complying with, and dance. They highlighted the difficulty of adjusting versions for every system, once more indicating information collection as an essential traffic jam. In spite of this, the group is pressing towards near-term release.

The appropriately called firm Humanoid, standing for the UK section of roboticists, showcased a deployment-focused rolled system in the type of the HMND 01 Alpha Wheeled system. The big rectangle-shaped commercial base plainly indicates a system made for real-world manufacturing facility job instead of show-floor trials. This emphasis was enhanced by Humanoid’s just recently revealed collaboration with Schaeffler, with whom they were displaying at CES. A smooth demonstration revealed the height-variable robotic relocating steel rings in between containers. While near-term initiatives are strongly commercial, the group specified that a legged variation much better fit to home atmospheres continues to be component of their longer-term roadmap.

Schaeffler’s 2nd humanoid companion at CES, Dexterity Robotics, is additionally concentrated on production-ready systems for the — this time around, to a completely legged system. Their distinct backward-knee style has actually been under growth for years, and the full-height robotic on program was plainly developed for commercial atmospheres, with revealed steel frameworks and difficult covering. Dexterity has no strategies to get in customer home robotics.

Dexterity’s humanoid.

Maybe most significant at CES was Boston Dynamic’s Atlas humanoid. It saw 4-5 row deep groups for the whole program, in addition to striking international headings. Atlas has actually remained in growth for over a years and has actually ended up being extensively understood via video clips freely revealing both successes and failings. The current variation was introduced throughout the opening day. It executed a nimble series of crouching, sweeping, and aiming activities. For the remainder of the program, it executed normal pick-and-place presentations in a simulated manufacturing facility setting. The group freely reviewed existing restrictions, keeping in mind that much of the system was teleoperated throughout the program, highlighting that the software application pile is still under growth.

Standing 1.9 metres high with a training ability of 50 kg, it is made for durable job. Hyundai intends to concentrate manufacturing ability on inner releases via 2026, with wider production clients anticipated later on. Lasting strategies consist of scaling manufacturing to 10s of hundreds of systems each year, signalling what might be among the initial massive releases of humanoid robotics with actual commercial worth.

The headline-grabbing Atlas humanoid shows its outstanding series of flexibility.

Style 2: Friend Robots

Being customer concentrated, it is probably unsurprising that a standout motif was so customer oriented, however I was stunned by the large variety of recently launched robotics in this room. The stamina of this motif hinges on human– robotic communication, and in exactly how customer modern technology is being improved by robotics and AI.

One instance was Loona, developed by Beijing-based KEYi Technology. This pint-sized, four-wheeled robotic animal was remarkably persistent, recognizing possible buddies via an onboard cam and bumping awkwardly right into their feet to request for interest. Created for any ages, the group reported solid rate of interest from grownups purchasing Loona as firm for senior moms and dads. With some life-like top qualities, Loona takes care of to stimulate a few of the psychological feedback of a family animal.

Loona’s charming robot animal.

KEYi additionally previewed a desktop computer robotic idea that incorporates with a mobile phone, which supplies accessibility to cloud devices like ChatGPT and serves as a display for meaningful robot eyes. Placed as an aide, the demonstration revealed agentic capacities, such as reserving conferences and evaluating screenshots. Its long-lasting efficiency continues to be uncertain, however the glossy user interface was enjoyable to communicate with.

Successive was an unreleased robot animal from OlloBot — two-wheeled, dog-sized robotic animals with tablet-based faces that advised me of Sid the Sloth from Glacial Epoch. These child-friendly crawlers had ChatGPT assimilation in addition to cam settings and discovering programs.

Ollobots– your youngster’s brand-new buddy or preferred plaything?

Fourier offered a tiny, customisable desktop computer robotic with vast electronic eyes and head monitoring that provided a spooky, Labubu-esque visual.

Fourier’s charming desktop computer robotic is seeing you. Image debt: Henry Hickson

Ludens AI used INU, a cosy workdesk robotic. Marketed as a ‘desktop computer alien’, INU has actually involved Planet to advise customers to take breaks and not function also difficult. Exactly how could you state no to that? Along with the charming shaking motions and periodic squeak, it was difficult not to really feel some add-on to this little robot being.

The INU desktop computer unusual robotics swing hello there. Credit Report: Henry Hickson

Completing the group was Sentigent’s DuoRover, a sturdy, follow-me robotic for exterior journeys. Utilizing a two-wheeled harmonizing style and vision-based following, it is planned to supply discussion, images, and video clip recording on household getaways.

Friend robotics is plainly a swiftly expanding room. The open concern is long life: will these robotics continue to be buddies, or be delegated to individuals’s cabinets once the uniqueness subsides? Business are wagering that consistent function development, sustained by LLMs, will certainly aid them sustain– however just time will certainly inform.

Style 3: Task-Driven, Non-Humanoid Robotics

While much less common at a consumer-focused program like CES, task-driven robotics still made a solid impact. Normally located at trade convention, these even more sector concentrated robotics are made use of for stockroom/ manufacturing facility automation, or in friendliness. Nevertheless, there was an intriguing scattering at CES also and some terrific advancements in this room.

Among one of the most significant instances was from the Hyundai Electric Motor Team, whose procurement of Boston Characteristics made them among one of the most prominent exhibitors. Their MobED robotic is a modular rolled system with 4 individually managed wheels that can execute limited manoeuvres and can go across diverse surface whilst preserving a completely level filling bed. The modular technique implies this can be made use of for a range of usages situations, from shipment carts to ride-on automobiles. What attracted attention most was the develop top quality, which really felt a lot more similar to a high-end auto than a regular robotics component. It will interest see exactly how this does versus its reduced price competitors– exists a hunger for high-end robotics systems yet?

Hyundai’s 4-wheeled modular systems welcome the group by swing their wheels.

At the various other end of the range was Nexus Outdoor Patio Technology from Bolivia, showcasing shipment robotics made for simpleness and quick route-to-market. With 20+ robotics currently o perating on Bolivian roads, and a lot more in shopping malls and dining establishments, it was terrific to see a release initial technique — although this might partially be many thanks to a various regulative landscape.

China’s Neolix showed logistics at range, with over 15,000 independent automobiles released throughout 3 dimensions. By concentrating specifically on logistics, the group has actually streamlined decision-making and sped up release. As an example, if there is an option in between collapsing right into a wall surface or a pedestrian, in logistics just you constantly select the wall surface, as there is no guest onboard to represent. This creates a special technique contrasted to a few of the various other, albeit very advanced offerings on program at CES, such as guest concentrated Waymo, Zoox, and NVIDIA. Pilots in Portugal are arranged for the initial fifty percent of 2026, which is an encouraging action– having the ability to conform with rigid EU laws would certainly open releases in numerous various other areas.

Neolix’s independent robotic.

Building logistics were dealt with by Gole Robotics from South Korea, that are dealing with point-to-point product transportation on building websites — an usage instance until now reasonably unblemished by independent robotics because of its intricacy. Their big material-carrying robotic is made to relocate pallets over night in apartment, enabling human employees to concentrate on knowledgeable work throughout the day. Right here, the development exists as much in the revamped operations as in the robotic itself.

Lastly, USX Robotics showcased a modular interior shipment system for resorts and occasions, significant for having actually been established from idea to production-ready system in simply over a year.

This was not the only robotic to be market-ready in lightning-fast time. With the accessibility of cost effective and certain robotics concentrated parts, open-source standard collections and less complicated accessibility to making solutions from abroad, both the price and intricacy of constructing a brand-new robot system appears to be lowering, allowing a host of brand-new gamers right into the sector. This elevates fascinating inquiries concerning exactly how the marketplace will certainly develop in the future. Distinction might progressively hinge on recognizing the ideal usage situations and courses to market.

Recap

CES 2026 revealed that humanoid and symbolized AI systems still have a lengthy means to precede supplying real-world worth, especially in homes. At the exact same time, there is an expanding feeling that the course to release is ending up being more clear. An agreement has actually arised throughout systems: multi-camera assumption, frequently wrist-mounted, combined with VLA versions, suffices for the majority of jobs. Progressively, responsive hands and VTLA software application are included.

There was a clear split in between commercial and home-care humanoids. One of the most persuading offerings with one of the most releases were in sector, with the company preferred being logistics jobs in the production field. With very established systems like Atlas leading the cost, this commercial humanoid press really feels closer than ever before. An additional basic pattern right here was getting to the marketplace using sector, adhered to by a longer-term objective of getting to individuals’s homes in some undefined period. It was in some cases difficult to inform whether that home-ready objective is real or to please the similarity financiers and the restless public.

One fascinating concern for me is capacity– at what factor is a humanoid taken into consideration valuable sufficient for the time-constrained customer to get it, not simply for a very early adopter? Presently, these systems really feel also slow-moving to be valuable sufficient for the typical purchaser. As growth proceeds, I wish we start to see even more flexible systems that supply real worth.

What has actually altered is energy. A stimulate of enjoyment has actually caught the creative imagination of a lot of at CES, since what when appeared difficult is to buy, right ahead of you. With higher accessibility to calculate, the growth of structure versions like VLAS and VTLAs, a roadmap is arising. The race currently is for information, information, and a lot more information– it’ll be a remarkable one to comply with over the coming years. I left CES with the feeling that the future is taking place currently.