UAS Summit & Expo
- Date
- 2026-10-13
- Location
- Grand Forks, United States
- Host
- Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)
About this event
The UAS Summit & Expo brings the unmanned aerial, robotics, and defense communities together in one room for focused, in-person conversation about where the industry is heading next. If your work touches aircraft systems, autonomy, sensing, operations, policy, or mission-driven technology, this is the kind of event where useful introductions, market context, and practical ideas happen quickly. About the Event At its core, the UAS Summit & Expo is built for people who want more than broad industry headlines. It creates space to explore how unmanned systems and robotics are being developed, deployed, regulated, and scaled across real-world environments, with particular relevance for organizations operating in defense and adjacent sectors. Because this is an in-person event in Grand Forks, United States, the value goes beyond sitting through presentations. You get the face-to-face access that matters in technical industries: direct conversations with peers, the ability to ask detailed questions, and the chance to see how others are thinking about capability, integration, operations, and future demand. The format suggested by the title includes both a summit and an expo, which means attendees can expect a blend of higher-level discussion and more hands-on discovery. That combination is especially useful in a field like UAS, where strategy, policy, engineering, and deployment decisions are tightly connected. Whether you come to understand the current state of unmanned aerial systems, evaluate emerging robotics applications, or build relationships across the defense technology ecosystem, this event is positioned as a practical meeting point for the people shaping and adopting these systems. What to Expect You should expect a mix of conference-style programming and expo-floor interaction. The summit side is where attendees can dig into the big questions affecting unmanned aerial and robotic systems: technology maturity, operational use cases, integration challenges, workforce needs, infrastructure, and the broader market direction. The expo side gives the event a different kind of energy. Instead of only hearing about ideas, attendees can move through exhibits, compare approaches, and talk directly with organizations working on platforms, components, software, autonomy, sensing, support services, and mission applications. Across the day, the experience will likely center on a few core activities: Industry discussions focused on unmanned aerial systems, robotics, and defense-related priorities Expo browsing and product discovery to help attendees understand the current solution landscape Networking conversations with operators, builders, decision-makers, and ecosystem partners Informal knowledge exchange that often happens between scheduled sessions and on the show floor This kind of event is especially valuable because the best insights do not always come from the main stage. They also come from hallway conversations, follow-up questions after a session, and side discussions where people speak more candidly about implementation, procurement, testing, compliance, and deployment realities. If you are evaluating technology, tracking industry shifts, or looking for partners, expect the day to be information-dense. Come prepared to move between strategic conversations and detailed technical or operational discussions. Why Attend The biggest reason to attend is simple: the unmanned systems landscape is evolving fast, and being in the room helps you understand not just what is being built, but what is actually gaining traction. In sectors like UAS, robotics, and defense, timing matters. Seeing where attention, investment, and practical interest are converging can help you make sharper decisions. This event is also a strong fit for people who need a cross-section view of the ecosystem. Rather than looking at one narrow slice of the market, you can engage with the broader network around unmanned aerial systems, from technology and operations to commercialization and mission-driven adoption. Attendees can expect value in several forms: Better market awareness of current priorities, challenges, and areas of momentum Direct access to peers and providers without the friction of remote outreach A clearer understanding of the ecosystem around UAS, robotics, and defense applications Potential partnerships and business development opportunities that start with in-person credibility Practical insight you can bring back to your team, program, or organization There is also a regional advantage to events like this. Grand Forks is a meaningful setting for conversations around unmanned systems, making the event a strong place to meet people already active in the space and to connect with others who are paying close attention to the future of autonomous and aerial technologies. For founders, engineers, program leaders, public-sector stakeholders, and business teams alike, the value is not abstract. It is about getting clearer faster: clearer on the technology, clearer on the stakeholders, and clearer on where the best opportunities may be. Practical Details The UAS Summit & Expo is an in-person event taking place in Grand Forks, United States. If your goal is to build stronger industry relationships or have more substantive conversations than you can usually get online, the in-person format is a major advantage. The listed time is Tuesday, October 13 at 12:00 AM UTC. If you are traveling or coordinating across time zones, make sure to convert the event time carefully and plan your arrival with enough buffer for on-site check-in, navigating the venue area, and making the most of the expo and networking opportunities. To get the most out of the event, it helps to arrive with a plan. A few useful ways to prepare: Review your goals in advance: learning, networking, partnerships, hiring, or vendor evaluation Identify the people or organization types you most want to meet Bring concise talking points about your work, team, or current priorities Leave room in your schedule for spontaneous conversations, which are often where the best opportunities begin If you work in unmanned aerial systems, robotics, or defense-related technology, this is the kind of event that can justify the trip. It offers concentrated access to the people, ideas, and conversations that matter when industries are moving quickly and practical alignment matters.
Who should attend
If you want a clearer view of where unmanned systems, robotics, and defense-related technology are going, this event is built for you. - **You work in UAS or autonomy** and want direct exposure to industry conversations, new approaches, and the broader ecosystem around unmanned aerial systems. - **You are in robotics, engineering, or technical product development** and want to understand how your work connects to real operational needs, deployments, and adjacent defense applications. - **You lead strategy, partnerships, or business development** and need in-person access to potential customers, collaborators, suppliers, or ecosystem partners. - **You are part of a defense, public-sector, or mission-focused organization** looking to track capabilities, evaluate relevant technologies, and meet the companies and professionals active in the space. - **You are an operator, program manager, or decision-maker** who wants practical context, not just headlines, before making adoption, procurement, or planning decisions. - **You are building a company or expanding into the UAS market** and want to test your assumptions, sharpen your positioning, and have the kinds of conversations that only happen face to face.