MODEX 2026 brought together a broad cross-section of technologies shaping today’s material handling and factory automation landscape. I spent most of my time on the show floor meeting with vendors and suppliers across Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), drones, fleet management software, inventory systems, and simulation tools. All these areas were well represented and very active. But what stood out wasn’t disruption – it was refinement.
Robotics and Automation: Better, But Not Different
Across the board, vendors are improving their systems in meaningful but incremental ways. What I consistently saw was better system stability, improved error recovery, and more robust reporting and analytics. These are important improvements that make systems easier to operate and more reliable in production environments. But fundamentally, the core capabilities haven’t changed. We’re not seeing a major shift in how these systems operate; just better execution of what already exists.
An Industry That’s Maturing
MODEX 2026 reinforced the idea that this market is entering a more mature phase. For companies adopting automation, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Technologies are more proven, risk is lower, and deployments are becoming more predictable.
At the same time, it also means fewer breakthrough innovations and less step-change impact from hardware alone. The real gains going forward will come from how these systems are designed, integrated, and optimized not just from the devices themselves.
Simulation: Still the Weak Link
One area where I was hoping to see more progress and didn’t is simulation. If anything, the event reinforced my existing perspective: many simulation approaches today are still too far removed from reality to be fully trusted.
The core issue is straightforward. Most simulation tools require rebuilding or approximating control logic, and modeling something like an AMR fleet manager often means recreating the control system itself. At that point, accuracy becomes highly dependent on how well that logic is replicated. In practice, even small gaps between the model and real-world behavior can have a major impact.
I’ve seen cases where a single misrepresentation significantly skews results, with model accuracy dropping by as much as 50%. That’s not a small margin, it fundamentally limits the value of the simulation.
Why This Matters Now
As automation systems become more complex, simulation becomes more critical—not less. Companies rely on it to design material handling systems, validate throughput and performance, and reduce risk before implementation. But if the model doesn’t reflect real system behavior, it becomes a source of uncertainty instead of clarity. That gap between simulation and reality remains one of the biggest challenges in this space.
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The Real Value of MODEX: Conversations
Beyond the technology, MODEX continues to deliver where it matters most on the floor. This year was especially valuable for reconnecting with companies I’ve worked with in the past, meeting new vendors entering the U.S. market, and having deeper discussions with experts, particularly around simulation. Those conversations often reveal more than the demos.
What This Means for camLine
From a camLine perspective, a few things stood out. There are new opportunities to partner with robotics vendors expanding into the U.S., and there’s growing demand for integration, support, and real-world implementation expertise. Most importantly, there is still a clear gap in simulation accuracy and that’s where I see the biggest opportunity.
Looking Ahead: A Different Approach to Simulation
Industries outside of semiconductor are accelerating their adoption of automation, but many are still relying on simulation approaches that don’t reflect actual control system behavior, require heavy model development effort, and produce results that are difficult to trust.
There is a clear need for something better: higher accuracy, closer alignment with real-world systems, and faster, more efficient modeling. This isn’t just about improving simulation it’s about rethinking how it’s done.
Final Thought
MODEX 2026 showed steady progress in robotics and automation. Systems are becoming more stable, more capable, and easier to deploy. But simulation; one of the most critical tools in system design has not kept pace. As systems scale, that gap will only become more visible. “The time is right for a new way of running material movement simulations.”
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About the Author
Rory Gagon has over 40 years of factory automation experience, including 36 years in semiconductors. As former CEO of camLine USA and founder of Romaric, he led the development of the RACE platform and now supports product strategy, partnerships, and advanced simulation initiatives as RACE Brand Ambassador.
