NestGen ’26 has announced a lineup of more than 50 speakers for its September 29, 2026 virtual event focused on drone autonomy and Physical AI. The event is expected to include participants from more than 70 countries, with sessions examining how NestGen 26 autonomous drones and related systems are being deployed across oil and gas, public safety, mining, ports, utilities and security operations.
Speakers from Shell, Texas Instruments, LA Metro, Dutch Railways, SQM, MPA Singapore and Skyports will discuss operational experiences involving autonomous systems.
NestGen 26 Autonomous Drones Take Focus
NestGen ’26 will examine how autonomous systems are being incorporated into operational environments and what organizations are learning as these technologies become part of routine workflows.
According to organizers, discussions will address:
- Autonomous drone deployments
- Drone-in-a-box operations
- BVLOS approvals
- Return-on-investment models
- System integrations
- One-to-many operations
- Artificial intelligence
- Physical AI
The event is structured around operational decisions and experiences from organizations already using autonomous systems.
Shell to Discuss Offshore Autonomous Drone Operations
Shell will present its experience developing an autonomous drone program aboard a floating offshore facility.
The discussion will examine how the system is being used for inspection and operational visibility in remote and high-risk environments.
The session is one of several focused on how autonomous drones are being adapted to different industrial operating conditions.
Texas Instruments Deploys Drones and Robot Dogs
Texas Instruments will discuss its use of drones and robot dogs in parallel for security operations within semiconductor manufacturing environments.
The session will focus on how multiple autonomous technologies are being incorporated into security workflows.
LA Metro and Dutch Railways Address Rail Security
LA Metro and Dutch Railways will discuss the use of autonomous drones for protecting rail corridors.
Their presentation will focus on perimeter security across large and geographically distributed transit infrastructure.
According to NestGen organizers, rail operations present different workflow and risk requirements than autonomous deployments in industrial facilities or offshore environments.
SQM Connects Drone Operations with Production
SQM will present its experience using autonomous drones in Atacama.
According to the event announcement, the company will discuss how autonomous drone operations were used to increase iodine yield and how drone programs can be connected with measurable production outcomes.
MPA Singapore and Skyports Discuss Maritime Operations
MPA Singapore and Skyports will share lessons from autonomous drone operations in port and maritime environments.
The session will add maritime operations to the event’s range of industrial use cases, which also includes energy, mining, infrastructure, public safety and security.
Event Focuses on Real-World UAS Deployment
NestGen organizers said the different operating environments represented at the event require distinct workflows, risk models and measures of success.
Sessions will focus on the decisions behind operational deployments and the requirements for making autonomous drone systems function consistently in the field.
“We’ve reached a point where there is an incredible amount of operating knowledge within this ecosystem,” said Nitin Gupta, Founder and CEO of FlytBase. “People have experiences to share, decisions they’ve made, and things they’ve learned the hard way. NestGen brings those perspectives together so the wider community can learn from them.”
NestGen ’26 Scheduled for September 29
NestGen ’26 will take place online September 29, 2026, with sessions scheduled across APAC, EMEA and the Americas.
NestGen has held annual events focused on autonomous drone operations and Physical AI since 2022. According to organizers, previous editions have featured more than 250 speakers and participants from more than 87 countries.
The 2026 event will bring together more than 50 speakers to discuss NestGen 26 autonomous drones, BVLOS operations, AI, one-to-many operations and the deployment of autonomous systems across multiple industries.
Source: Press release from NestGen
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