2026 ENERGY DRONE & ROBOTICS SUMMIT
Join us for the ultimate event in the world for UAVs, Robotics & Data/AI, 3D Reality Capture, Geospatial and Digital Twins focused on the business and technology in energy & industrial operations, inspections, maintenance, surveying & mapping.
Event at a glance
Dates: June 22, 2026 – June 24, 2026
Duration: 3 Days
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Event status: PAST
Main themes
Drones and aerial systems
Industrial automation
Intelligent robotics and research
Why this event matters
The 2026 Energy Drone & Robotics Summit is the 10th annual and largest global event focused exclusively on UAVs, robotics, data/AI, 3D reality capture, geospatial technology, and digital twins in energy and industrial operations. The summit addresses critical business and technology challenges in inspections, maintenance, surveying, and mapping for industrial, energy, and engineering asset owners worldwide. The event is part of InnovateEnergy Week, converging with the Industrial Digital Reality Summit and Industrial AI Nexus Summit into an unprecedented mega-event where robotics, data, and AI meet under one roof. Over three days, the summit connects over 1,500 global energy and industrial leaders during a period of rapid growth, featuring real-world use cases, sessions, panels, live demonstrations, exhibits, and extensive networking opportunities. Key tracks include UAV operations, robotics inspection and maintenance, marine robotics, industrial cargo drones, energy security forums, and data visualization, making it essential for organizations deploying unmanned systems and automation.
Speakers and community
The summit attracts senior-level speakers and participants from leading global energy and industrial organizations. Previous speakers have represented major companies including Shell, ExxonMobil, Microsoft, Chevron, Dow, Southern Company, ConocoPhillips, BP America, Duke Energy, and government agencies like the FAA. Typical presenters include UAV program managers, robotics systems engineers, operations excellence directors, senior technology executives, and automation specialists from oil and gas, power utilities, renewable energy, chemical, and petrochemical sectors. The speaker roster also includes technology providers, regulators, service providers, and innovation leaders sharing case studies, best practices, and lessons learned.
Venue and setting
The summit takes place at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in The Woodlands, Texas, located approximately 30 miles north of downtown Houston and 20 miles from George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The venue features over 100,000 square feet of flexible event space with 27 versatile meeting rooms, making it ideal for large-scale conferences. The Woodlands is an upscale master-planned community offering convenient access to Market Street shopping, waterfront dining, and entertainment venues.
Previous editions
The 9th Annual Energy Drone & Robotics Summit took place in June 2025 in Houston, Texas, continuing the event's trajectory as the most influential gathering of industrial and energy professionals in the robotics and drone sector. The 2025 edition featured keynote presentations from industry leaders at major energy companies including Dow, Chevron, Devon Energy, Shell, and Pemex, along with sessions on AI-powered operations, humanoid robotics applications, and remote inspection technologies. Attendees praised the event for its high-quality networking opportunities, cutting-edge technology demonstrations, and actionable insights from pioneers deploying autonomous systems in real-world energy operations.
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