Industrial robots are a key driver of modern manufacturing – yet today’s systems are often costly, rigid, and highly complex. Equipped with numerous sensors and extensive cabling, conventional robots lack the flexibility required for truly dynamic and collaborative production environments.

At HANNOVER MESSE 2026, a new approach is being presented that addresses these challenges head-on: robots that are driven by their environment and connected via next-generation 6G communication. By shifting intelligence from the robot itself into the surrounding infrastructure, robotic systems can become significantly lighter, more flexible, and easier to deploy. This concept enables robots to work collaboratively on shared tasks and, most importantly, to operate safely alongside humans. Instead of being isolated in cages, future robots will be integrated directly into human-centered production processes.

A key enabler of this vision is data. Modern production relies on numerous data sources—materials, machines, capacities, availability, and more—often stored in separate databases with proprietary identifiers. To orchestrate this complexity, a data curation layer is essential. It harmonizes heterogeneous data and establishes a shared language that all machines and systems can understand and use simultaneously. Artificial intelligence plays a central role in this architecture. AI systems can support and complement human workers, especially in times of growing skills shortages. Rather than replacing people, AI assists them in decision-making, coordination, and execution of complex tasks.

The message is clear: the time to invest in intelligent, flexible, and human-compatible automation is now. Step by step, this approach paves the way toward the smart factory of the future—scalable, collaborative, and ready for the next era of industrial production.

Watch Prof. Andreas Dengel, Head of DFKI Kaiserslautern, explain the concept in this video.