Automate 2026: VisionNav Robotics to showcase autonomous material handling and intelligent vision technologies

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Autonomous industrial vehicle and logistics automation supplier VisionNav Robotics will showcase a range of advanced autonomous material handling equipment and intelligent warehouse technologies at Automate 2026 in Chicago.

The company said that Automate attendees will have the opportunity to see the company’s VNE40-66 autonomous precision stacking technology, VNE20-07 autonomous counterbalance truck and BrightEye vision platform, each designed to help manufacturers and warehouse operators improve efficiency, safety and operational visibility across increasingly complex logistics environments.

A robust autonomous precision stacker 

VisionNav said that its new VNE40-66 autonomous precision stacking offering can stack 8.8-foot-wide cages weighing up to 6,150 pounds at heights of up to 22 feet. The company said that this is the market’s first such offering to achieve such robust capabilities.

To achieve this level of performance with total stability and accuracy, the unit utilizes VisionNav's proprietary sensor fusion technology that provides millimeter-level precision compatible with various post types, ensuring each placement is exact despite differing container sizes or environmental conditions. The company said that the system carries a rated payload of 6,150 pounds, making it suitable for the exceptionally heavy, wide containers that are common in automotive and other heavy-duty settings. 

VisionNav said that one of the VNE40-66’s most attractive features is its smart retry functionality, which continuously monitors for misalignments and anomalies in real time; if misaligned containers, incorrect position posts or other adverse issues are identified, the system aborts and retries without requiring operator input. The company said that this dramatically reduces downtime, minimizes risk of product damage and supports fully autonomous operation in high-throughput environments where human intervention would create untenable bottlenecks. 

Autonomous counterbalance truck to demonstrate mixed load trailer loading and unloading

VisionNav said that it will showcase its VNE20-07 autonomous counterbalance truck performing mixed load trailer loading and unloading with different-sized carriers. Designed for dynamic warehouse and manufacturing environments, the company said that the VNE20-07 demonstrates how autonomous forklifts can efficiently handle varying load types and dimensions while maintaining smooth material flow between trailers and facility operations.

The company said that the live demonstrations at Automate highlight the system's ability to identify, transport and position diverse carriers with precision, supporting automated trailer operations that improve throughput and reduce manual handling requirements. By accommodating mixed loads within a single workflow, VisionNav said that the VNE20-07 provides greater flexibility for facilities managing a variety of products, containers and material handling processes.

VisionNav said that the VNE20-07 is capable of loading a trailer in under one hour on average and helps facilities increase dock productivity while maintaining consistent operational performance.

Intelligent vision platform for smarter autonomous operations

Also on display will be VisionNav’s BrightEye vision platform, an intelligent warehouse visibility system designed to recognize and monitor the real-time status of inventory placement, products, people and equipment throughout warehouse environments. Utilizing extensive data and intelligent algorithms, the company said that the platform helps improve logistics visibility, operational awareness, and coordination across industrial facilities. 

VisionNav said that the BrightEye platform includes HawkEye and SwanEye systems tailored for different warehouse environments. HawkEye is designed for high-top flat warehouses and can simultaneously monitor the real-time status of all racks, while SwanEye is intended for lower-top flat warehouses and focuses on monitoring racks closest to the camera.

The company said that the platform supports applications including ground-to-ground transportation, line-side material flow visibility, and human-robot interaction monitoring, along with capabilities such as rack monitoring, safety monitoring, visual sorting, and visual inventory management.