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Understand what is real
Separate viable factory applications from expensive experiments and marketing claims.
Live global broadcast from Charlotte
IEX 2026 — Physical AI in ManufacturingThe Next Five Years Start Today.
Humanoids are entering factories. Robots are becoming more flexible. AI is beginning to work with real production data. Join manufacturing leaders, technology providers, integrators and researchers for five practical conversations about the factory of 2030.
Register for the complete broadcast, Physical AI report, session recordings, presentations, checklists and implementation tools.
October 8, 2026Manufacturing Month
9:45 AM–3:15 PM ETOne focused broadcast day
Live from CharlotteGlobal studio conversation
Free online accessStudio audience by invitation
Five expert conversations
Global manufacturing speakers
Live questions and polls
Physical AI Report 2026
Free access and recordings
Built on real manufacturing challenges collected during six DBR77 workshops across North and South Carolina.
Why attend
Physical AI is moving from demonstration to deployment.
Manufacturers do not need another general debate about whether AI will change industry. They need to know what is ready, where measurable value exists and what must be prepared before implementation.
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Learn from global experts
Manufacturers, integrators, researchers and technology leaders from multiple countries.
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Ask your own questions
Submit questions before and during each session and join live audience polls.
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Access practical resources
Report, readiness tools, project templates, ROI calculators and all recordings.
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Find your next step
Data, process, Digital Twin, automation, pilot or implementation partner.
The program
Five conversations defining the factory of 2030.
Each 50-minute session tackles one critical manufacturing decision and combines factory experience, technology expertise, international perspective and live questions.
00 · Physical AI Report Premiere
Physical AI in American Manufacturing 2026
What the Carolinas tour and the latest market signals reveal about factory readiness.
- State of adoption in US manufacturing
- Findings from six regional workshops
- DBR77 Physical AI Readiness Model
- Five practical starting decisions
● Executive Report Preview
01 · Humanoid Robots
Humanoids Enter the Factory: Breakthrough or Expensive Experiment?
Are humanoids ready for production and logistics—or still primarily experimental?
- Brownfield applications and machine tending
- Safety, payload, reliability and battery life
- Comparison with robots, cobots and AMRs
- Pilot design and expected return
● Humanoid Readiness Checklist
02 · Industrial Robots & Cobots
Robots, Cobots or No Robot?
How should manufacturers choose the right automation architecture?
- High-mix, low-volume production
- Speed, flexibility, payload and safety
- Process readiness before automation
- Hidden integration cost and ROI validation
● Automation ROI Calculator
03 · AI & Manufacturing Data
Your Factory Has Data. Can AI Actually Use It?
Turn fragmented production data into reliable operational decisions.
- Legacy machines and real-time visibility
- OT, IT, ERP, MES and CMMS integration
- Maintenance, quality, energy and OEE
- Operator assistants, Vision AI and security
● Manufacturing AI Readiness Assessment
04 · System Integrators
The Automation Blame Game
Why projects fail before installation—and how both sides must change.
- Specifications, scope and responsibility
- Price versus total project cost
- Acceptance criteria and Digital Twin
- New integrator models and partner selection
● Automation Project Brief Template
05 · AI-Supported Factory Decisions
Test the Factory Before You Pay for It
Use data, AI and Digital Twin to improve capacity, layout, automation and CAPEX decisions.
- Flow, bottlenecks, capacity and throughput
- Workforce and machine utilization
- Automation comparison and disruption scenarios
- ROI, risk and implementation
● Factory Decision Canvas
Broadcast timeline
One day. Five critical manufacturing decisions.
Eastern Time remains the official event time.
Opening and Physical AI Report LaunchWelcome from Charlotte and findings from the Carolinas tour.
Humanoids Enter the Factory50-minute expert conversation.
Robots, Cobots or No Robot?50-minute expert conversation.
Can AI Actually Use Your Factory Data?50-minute expert conversation.
The Automation Blame Game50-minute expert conversation.
Test the Factory Before You Pay for It50-minute expert conversation.
The Physical AI Factory Starts with One DecisionClosing and next steps.
Report premiere
Physical AI in American Manufacturing 2026
Humanoids, industrial robotics, manufacturing data and the new factory decision model—plus findings from six Carolinas AI Tour workshops and five practical starting steps.
- State of adoption in US manufacturing
- Humanoid and automation readiness
- The changing role of system integrators
- DBR77 Physical AI Readiness Model
Physical AI in American ManufacturingExecutive preview · 2026
Five decisions for the factory of 2030DBR77 Industrial Intelligence
Live from Charlotte
Global expertise. Real studio energy.
IEX will connect a Charlotte host, manufacturing leaders, invited studio guests and international experts joining from around the world.
CONCEPTUAL STUDIO VISUALIZATION
A broadcast—not another grid of webcam boxes.
Professional cameras, directed conversations, remote expert screens and a small invited manufacturing audience.
Apply for a Studio InvitationSpeakers
Meet the people building the next factory.
Manufacturing credibility comes first. Every conversation will include a practitioner using or evaluating the technology. No unconfirmed name is presented as confirmed.
Speaker portrait after approval
Manufacturing practitioner
SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOONFactory deployment, operational value and implementation reality.
Speaker portrait after approval
Technology expert
INVITED EXPERTTechnology maturity, limitations, safety and roadmap.
Speaker portrait after approval
Integration expert
INVITED EXPERTProject definition, delivery, acceptance and lifecycle value.
Six workshops → one global broadcast
Built on real challenges from Carolina manufacturers.
Before IEX, DBR77 conducts six invitation-only AI for Manufacturing workshops across North and South Carolina. IEX presents aggregated findings, recurring problems and selected anonymized cases.
IEX Resource Hub
More than a live event.
Every registered participant receives the report, recordings and practical tools required to move from interest to a credible next step.
Physical AI
Report, Humanoid Readiness Checklist and session recordings.
Automation
ROI Calculator, Robot Application Guide and Project Brief Template.
Manufacturing data
AI and Data Readiness Assessment plus operator-use cases.
Integration
Integrator Partnership Guide and Marketplace application paths.
Factory decisions
Factory Decision Canvas and Digital Twin Business Case Template.
Ongoing access
AI Tour summary, Makers Network episodes and product demonstrations.
From conversation to the factory floor
One ecosystem. The right starting point.
DBR77 connects factory problems, production data, simulation, implementation partners and transformation management.
Industrial IoT
Connect machines and create reliable real-time data.
IRIS
Operate production, downtime, performance and events.
Digital Twin
Test layout, capacity and automation before CAPEX.
Marketplace
Find providers and qualified system integrators.
Consultify
Structure decisions, assessments and execution.
Build the Physical AI factory
Technology providers and integrators: join the ecosystem.
Present credible capabilities, receive relevant manufacturing challenges, meet manufacturers and contribute expertise to Makers Network and future IEX programs.
Free global access
Reserve your free access.
Start with four fields. Select sessions, submit questions and request studio or Marketplace access after confirmation.
FAQ
Everything you need before registering.
Is IEX 2026 free?
Yes. Online access, live questions, recordings and the resource package are free after registration.
Is IEX online or in person?
It is an online-first global broadcast produced from a professional studio in Charlotte. A small physical audience participates by invitation.
Can I attend only one session?
Yes. Registration covers the full day and you may join the sessions most relevant to you.
Will recordings be available?
Registered participants receive approved recordings of all five conversations.
How do I receive the Physical AI report?
An executive preview follows registration. The full report premieres during the opening broadcast.
Can I submit a factory challenge?
Yes. The confirmation journey will include written, audio, anonymous and confidential submission options.
Can international participants attend?
Yes. IEX is designed as a global manufacturing broadcast with Eastern Time as the official schedule.
Are the speakers confirmed?
Speaker and partner announcements will be published only after approval. Invited experts are never presented as confirmed speakers.
One report · Five conversations · Six workshops
The Next Five Years of Manufacturing Start Today.
October 8, 2026 · Live from Charlotte · Free Online Access
Register Free for IEX 2026