XPONENTIAL 2026 Day Three Brings Scaling Autonomy, Trusted Supply Chains, and Global Collaboration into Focus as a Landmark Week in Detroit Nears Its Close
May 14, 2026
Day three at XPONENTIAL 2026 kept the momentum at full throttle as thousands of attendees packed Huntington Place for another day of high-impact conversations shaping the future of robotics and autonomous systems across air, ground, and maritime domains.
The morning keynote program focused heavily on the realities of scaling autonomy from innovation to operational deployment. Michael Robbins, President & CEO of AUVSI, joined Travis Metz, Deputy Director and COO of the Defense Innovation Unit, Paul Fermo, President of Robinson Unmanned, Doug Reed, Director of Business Development of Auterion, and Evan Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of Altana, for a discussion on trusted supply chains, commercial-first acquisition, and rapidly fielding autonomous systems at scale.
Additional keynote conversations throughout the morning examined semiconductor access, advanced manufacturing, industrial resilience, and the growing urgency behind deploying scalable counter-UAS systems to protect critical infrastructure and national security environments. Speakers included Chris Miller, author of Chip War and Professor at Tufts University, John Corrigan, Vice President of Policy for Trade and Industrial Strategy of Silverado Policy Accelerator, Eben Frankenberg, CEO of Echodyne, Mary Rupert, Program Manager, Program Executive Office for UAS and C-UAS of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Brett Feddersen, Vice President of Strategy and Government Affairs of D-Fend Solutions.
Beyond the keynote theater, the energy across the show floor and conference programming remained exceptionally high. Government roundtables continued drawing packed rooms as leaders from defense, federal agencies, public safety, and industry engaged in direct discussions around procurement, operational scaling, policy modernization, and trusted technology deployment. Drone Dominance Industry Day sessions also drew strong attendance, including a live Q&A with the Drone Dominance team, and a session with DCMA leaders focused on the evolving Blue UAS ecosystem and trusted acquisition pathways.
International engagement also remained a major theme throughout the day, highlighted by a highly attended International Networking Event, facilitated by the Department of Commerce, that brought together global delegations, manufacturers, operators, investors, and policymakers to strengthen collaboration across allied autonomy ecosystems.
The sold-out XPO Hall show floor also featured the XPO+ Launcher Award Pitch, where emerging startups showcased breakthrough autonomy, robotics, and AI technologies live in front of investors and industry leaders. The competition highlighted some of the most promising early-stage companies in the industry, and attendees are encouraged to stop by the XPO+ Launcher area to see this year’s winner and finalists firsthand.
The day also celebrated the broader AUVSI community during the annual Chapter Awards, where the New England Chapter was recognized as Chapter of the Year for its leadership, member engagement, and continued efforts advancing robotics and autonomous systems innovation at the regional level.
With one full day still ahead, XPONENTIAL 2026 continues to reinforce why Detroit has become the center of the global autonomy conversation this week.
