Experts to discuss the state of humanoid robots at RoboBusiness
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Humanoid robots have captured the world’s attention, attracting billions in investment and generating excitement about the future. But beyond the viral videos and ambitious promises, where does the technology really stand? At RoboBusiness, which will take place on Oct. 20 and 21 and in Santa Clara, Calif., humanoid robot experts will participate in the “State of Humanoids” panel.
During the keynote, industry leaders will examine the current state of humanoids through the lens of real-world deployment. The panel will include experts from Agility Robotics, Apptronik, Persona AI, and PSYONIC. Mike Oitzman, senior editor at The Robot Report, will moderate. The discussion will explore the capabilities that humanoids are delivering today, the technical and operational challenges that remain, and the lessons emerging from early industrial implementations.
The panelists will address key topics including safety, standards, and economics. They will also describe the milestones that must be reached before humanoid robots can achieve widespread adoption across manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics. Attendees will leave with a clear, practical understanding of where humanoids create value today and what it will take for the technology to scale.
Meet the experts in humanoid robots Pras Velagapudi Chief technology officer at Agility, Pras Velagapudi has decades of experience in robotics planning and control, as well as with creating and deploying robots into home, industrial, and outdoor environments. He most recently was a vice president of engineering and chief architect of mobile robotics at Berkshire Grey. There, Velagapudi helped deploy fleets of hundreds of robots in logistics applications.
At Agility, Velagapudi is focused on pragmatic product-relevant innovations, driven by the vision and strategy for Agility’s bipedal robot Digit, operationalizing the company’s research and development efforts, and continually exploring what’s new. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University. Parker Conroy Parker Conroy is head of product management at Apptronik.
He has worked in robotics for more than a decade, guiding product management teams to design and deploy thousands of autonomous mobile robots, robotic arms, drones, and now, humanoid robots. More broadly, Conroy is focused on how new autonomous technologies can be developed in a way that benefits both the developers and a workforce increasingly augmented by robots. Michael Patrick Perry At Persona AI, Patrick Perry is head of commercial strategy.
He is building the commercial engine for deploying humanoid robots in heavy industrial environments, including shipbuilding, steel manufacturing, and offshore operations. Perry leads structured engagement models that help the world’s largest industrial companies assess, plan for, and adopt humanoid automation at scale. Previously, he led commercial strategy, business development, and marketing at robotics and automation leaders including Dexterity, Boston Dynamics, and DJI.
Perry worked to transform cutting-edge R&D into enterprise-ready solutions adopted by Fortune 500 customers around the globe. With deep experience in customer discovery, go-to-market design, and ecosystem growth, Perry builds high-performing teams that turn breakthrough technology into lasting commercial impact. Aadeel Akhtar CEO Aadeel Akhtar launched PSYONIC to develop advanced bionic limbs that are accessible to humans and robots. He received his Ph.D.
in neuroscience and M.S. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016. Akhtar received a B.S. in Biology in 2007 and M.S. in Computer Science in 2008 at Loyola University Chicago. In 2021, he was named as one of MIT Technology Review’s Top 35 Innovators Under 35 and one of America’s Top 50 Disruptors in Newsweek.
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- therobotreport.com (2026-08-13) - Original article: Experts to discuss the state of humanoid robots at RoboBusiness - The Robot Report