Robotics Sector Outlook 2026 - Memo

The robotics sector in 2026 is poised for significant growth and transformative advances, with major developments occurring across humanoid robotics, AI integration, and industrial automation. The companies tracked by America 2030 align well with these trends.

Figure continues to lead in humanoid robotics with over $1 billion raised recently, planning to scale production to 100,000 units over four years. Their Helix AI platform and BotQ manufacturing facility position them well for household and commercial deployments leveraging advanced vision-language-action models.

Apptronik has secured a $403 million Series A and focuses on human-centered AI-powered humanoids. Their Apollo robot is progressing in manufacturing and logistics trials, with expansion plans into retail, healthcare, and home markets—a strong strategic emphasis on collaborative, flexible robotics.

Skild.ai launched a foundational AI model, Skild Brain, designed to impart human-like spatial reasoning and adaptability to a wide spectrum of robots, from factory floors to humanoids. Their safety features and data-driven training approach could drive substantial sector disruption if successfully commercialized at scale.

1X recently launched its NEO consumer-ready humanoid robot and is preparing a beta testing program in homes to gather critical AI training data. Their differentiated tendon-driven architecture emphasizes safety and real-world interaction to accelerate adoption. 1X is also pursuing large funding rounds for scale-up.

Market and Technology Trends

• Robotics installations globally are increasing 6-7% annually, with Asia leading volumes but America growing steadily in industrial and commercial segments.

• AI is moving from software into embodied physical robotics, with enhanced perception, reasoning, and dexterity enabling new use cases and efficiencies.

• Geopolitical factors and supply chain dynamics will continue shaping robotics investments and technology sourcing.

• The humanoid robotics sector is transitioning from prototypes to scaled commercial deployment, driven by falling production costs and large VC investments.