The Automate Theater
June 6–9, 2022 · Detroit, Michigan, USA
Hear game-changing insights and ideas from industry leaders at our show theater. We’ll be featuring exciting speakers and sessions including the IFR CEO Roundtable, The Cowen Startup Challenge, Cutting Edge Robotics Research and more. The Theater is right on the show floor and free to attend.
THEATER SPOTLIGHTS
Agenda Subject to Change
Monday, June 6, 2022 |
|
10:30 AM - NOON | Vision Systems Design Innovators Awards Chris Mc Loone, Editor-in-Chief, Vision Systems Design |
NOON - 12:30 PM | Mobility Trends and Impact on Manufacturing Carla Bailo, President & CEO, Center for Automotive Research |
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM | Automation Industry Statistics, Trends & Outlook Alex Shikany, Vice President - Membership & Business Intelligence, Association for Advancing Automation |
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM | The Workforce Crisis: Strategies for Cultivating Talent Mike Cicco, President and CEO, FANUC America Bill Beistline, Vice President – Procurement, Flex-n-Gate Dr. Bryan Albrecht, President, Gateway Technical College Michael Chichester Jr., Co-Chair, Robotics, AI and Automation Practice Group, Littler |
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM | Digital Twin Panel Discussion: Revolutionizing Logistics and Manufacturing with AI and Virtual Environments Hosted by NVIDIA This panel will bring together technology providers, leading manufacturers, and distribution companies to discuss how they are leveraging AI and simulation environments to optimize their operations. Notwithstanding the hype around the metaverse, the panelists will discuss real applications of 3D virtual environments that are being leveraged today to improve productivity. Gerard Andrews, Product Marketing, Robotics, NVIDIA Kel Guerin, Chief Innovation Officer, READY Robotics Mikko Urho, CEO, Visual Components Victoria Uti, Director, Principal Research Engineer, Kroger |
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Advances in Home Robotics Mike Dooley, Co-Founder/CEO, Labrador Systems |
|
|
Tuesday, June 7, 2022 |
|
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM | How Robotics and Automation Are Transforming the North American Economy Co-sponsored by the International Federation of Robotics Mike Cicco, President and CEO, FANUC America Greg Smith, President - Industrial Automation Group, Teradyne Greg Brown, Vice President - Global Advanced Technology Group, UPS Melonee Wise, Vice President Robotics Automation, Zebra Technologies Deepu Talla, VP and GM - Embedded & Edge Computing, NVIDIA |
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM | How to Jump Start Your Automation Strategy Oli Qirko, President - North America, Cambridge Consultants Marc Segura, President Robotics Division, ABB Thomas Evans, CTO-Robotics, Honeywell Eric Anderson, General Manager – Robotics, Amazon Web Services |
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM | The Cowen Startup Challenge: Automate to Outperform Hosted by Cowen Don’t miss your chance to see today’s hottest new companies in robotics and automation—all in one place. The ten finalists below will go head-to-head at the Automate Show Theater, pitching their technology solution and vying for a $10,000 cash prize! Finalists include: Aivero, Covision Quality, FLX Solutions, INNOCISE GmbH, InOrbit, Neurocle Inc., NINOX 360, Quotebeam Inc., Scalable Robotics Inc., and Voiage. |
|
|
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 |
|
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | What’s Next: The Cutting-Edge Research Driving Automation Ken Goldberg, Professor, UC Berkley Seth Hutchinson, Executive Director, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines; Professor and KUKA Chair for Robotics, School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Tech Jing Xiao, Professor and Head, Department of Robotics Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Melonee Wise, Vice President Robotics Automation, Zebra Technologies |
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM | Robot Safety Standards Update Roberta Nelson Shea, Global Technical Compliance Officer, Universal Robots Carole Franklin, Director of Robotics Standards Development, Association for Advancing Automation |
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Modernizing the US Army: Implications of Ukraine on the Next Generation of Ground Combat Vehicles Michael Cadieux, Director, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center Jim Schirmer, Deputy Program Executive Officer, Ground Combat Systems Warren Sponsler, Chief of Staff, Next Generation Ground Combat Vehicles Cross Functional Team |
2:45PM - 3:45 PM | The Opportunities for Automation in México & Latin America Evan Haley, Director of Global Sales, ATI Industrial Automation Pablo Minjares, Director of Robotics Mexico, Staubli Leonardo Arturo Febo Romero, General Manager, Helmut Fisher Ruben Rodriguez, Sales Manager Mexico, ATI Industrial Automation Manuel A. Sordo, CCO, Apera AI |
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM | Leveraging Public and Private Partnerships to Propel the Future of Manufacturing Hosted by Michigan Economic Development Center (MEDC) Emerging technologies are being introduced on today’s factory floors and it’s critical that manufacturing companies – and their talent – are prepared. As high-tech solutions are integrated into traditional manufacturing processes, the impact stretches far beyond public and private sectors. This panel, comprised of cutting-edge thinkers in smart manufacturing, will focus on the vital partnerships between industry, academia, startups and government necessary to ensure small- and medium-sized manufacturers are not only ready to adopt I4.0 technologies – but to lead the way into the future of manufacturing. |
|
|
Thursday, June 9, 2022 |
|
ALL DAY | Automate 2022 Workforce Development Day (see full details) |
Thursday at the Automate 2022 show will focus on career opportunities enabled by robotics & automation in automotive, warehousing & logistics, food & beverage, medical, construction, agriculture, retail and other leading industries. Students from throughout Michigan and nearby states will be invited to tour the show in order to see all of the latest automation technologies on display as well as listen to speakers specifically addressing how students can take advantage of career opportunities today and in the future. Students can visit the show and attend a session in the show floor theater on Why to Choose a Career in Automation. |
|
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM | THEATER KEYNOTE: The Skills of Tomorrow Melonee Wise, Vice President Robotics Automation, Zebra Technologies |
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM | Panel: Automation Career Pathways Paul Aiello, Executive Director, CERT Education Group, FANUC Don Hutchison, Dean of Engineering, Manufacturing and Industrial Technologies, Macomb Community College Neil Reddy, CEO, Manufacturing Skills Standards Council Lori Baukus, Manager of Training Projects, Industry 4.0, Lorain County Community College DeVan K. Peters, Controls Engineer, APT Manufacturing Solutions Sarah Keefer, Electrical Technician, Autotool Inc. |
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM | Panel: How to Cultivate a Culture for Innovation inside the Classroom that leads to Employability Ted Rozier, Director Of Engineering, FESTO Steven Kahla, Dean of Engineering, Lonestar Community College Yuri Hovanski, Department Chair, Brigham Young University Peter Zink, Director of Advanced Technology, PTC Anne Gielczyk, Vice President, Nocti Business Solutions |

THE COWEN STARTUP CHALLENGE: AUTOMATE TO OUTPERFORM
Emerging ideas. Next-generation companies. Endless opportunities. This competition spotlights up-and-coming entrepreneurs and their young companies in robotics and automation. Ten finalists will vie for the top $10,000 cash prize by pitching their technology solution to a panel of industry expert judges.
.png)
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DAY
Thursday, June 9, 2022, will include a focus on robotics and automation career opportunities across leading industries including automotive, warehousing and logistics, food and beverage and more. Students will tour the show floor to see the latest automation technologies and hear from industry experts on how they can build their careers today—and in the future.