High-Speed Physical AI in Action: Mantis Robotics Unveils MR-X Dual-Arm Platform at Automate 2026
CHICAGO, IL — At Automate 2026, held at McCormick Place, Mantis Robotics centered its presence in South Hall around a direct invitation to attendees: walk right into the path of an industrial robot moving at 10.6 m/s.
At Booth 1261, the MR-1 executed vision-enabled kitting operations at full industrial speed while visitors walked straight into its operating envelope—demonstrating proximity operation without physical fences, light curtains, or optical barriers.
For over fifteen years, industrial automation has forced a rigid trade-off: high-speed productivity locked behind heavy cages, or safe human proximity bought at the cost of slow collaborative motion. Operating at up to six times the velocity of a conventional cobot, MR-1 eliminates that compromise by running at 100% rated speed right next to human operators.
Powered by Mantis SafetyCore
The open-cell capability rests on Mantis SafetyCore, an onboard spatial perception platform that tracks human motion vectors and dynamically modulates path trajectory in real time. Rather than relying on external perimeter sensors bolted around a cell, SafetyCore delivers complete situational awareness on the arm itself.
The demonstration reflected true line conditions rather than a trade-show stunt: MR-1 is fully certified to ISO 10218 and ISO 13849 standards for fenceless, high-speed industrial operation.
Public Debut of the MR-X Dual-Arm Platform
Automate 2026 also marked the official unveiling of MR-X, a dual-arm robotic system engineered to take cage-free execution into heavy material handling and complex assembly tasks.
MR-X Specifications & Capabilities
Payload: 70 lb (30 kg) total lifting capacity
Speed: 10.6 m/s cage-free operating velocity
Target Workflows: Bimanual assembly, package sorting, and goods-to-person picking
Integration: Compact form factor compatible with fixed production lines and mobile AMR platforms
“Automate 2026 is the ideal stage to showcase the new MR-X robot and the patented Mantis SafetyCore platform, which works in combination with Physical AI to deliver cage-free operation with zero external sensors,” stated company management during the product launch.
Overcoming Layout Constraints and Deployment Delays
Conversations with plant managers at the booth focused less on theoretical specs and more on immediate operational realities: severe staffing shortages, repetitive strain injuries from manual heavy lifting, and aggressive production targets.
Eliminating physical guarding removes the real estate and integration penalties that traditionally turn automation into lengthy civil engineering projects. Combined with no-code programming and digital twin simulation tools, deployment cycles shrink from weeks to hours.
Watch the Automate 2026 video: YouTube