The September 2026 digital issue of The Robot Report looks at two of the more successful areas for automation: surgical robots and warehouse logistics. This free download shares real-world use cases to help guide commercial robotics developers, suppliers integrators, and end users.
The first article looks at how clinicians at El Camino Health and Heart Vascular Institute use the da Vinci system from Intuitive Surgical for coronary artery bypass grafting. Just because the robot-assisted procedure is relatively common doesn’t mean that it is easy — on the healthcare side or on the engineering side.
Precise motion control is needed to ensure that minimally invasive procedures, unlike many open surgeries, lead to faster healing with fewer complications for patients. Read how El Camino Health implemented robotic surgery to relieve the cognitive burden on its staffers and improve the consistency and accessibility of care.
Like surgical systems, AMRs also require smart controls
In the second half of this report, Automated Warehouse examines how to tie autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) into existing material handling operations. Unlike automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and some automated forklifts, AMRs are capable of more independent action, which still requires planning and coordination.
Warehouse operators should be able to answer questions like “Which AMRs are safe around workers?” and “Who is responsible for maintenance?” even before deploying fleets of mobile robots in their facilities. The freelance author also cites examples of successful deployments to glean lessons learned.
As AMRs scale within and across the third-party logistics providers (3PLs), retailers, and manufacturing supply chains, business can learn best practices from one another for improved efficiency and returns on their investments.
The common theme between both the surgical robot and mobile robot applications in this Design World insert is that robots need similar conditions for success. They include user understanding of their own processes, precise motion control, reliable software, and a clear plan for implementation and management.
Editor’s note: Enabling Technologies and Business & Deployment are among the session tracks at RoboBusiness 2026, which will be on Oct. 20 and 21 in Santa Clara, Calif. Register now to attend.
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