21/04/2026 | Press release

This year’s Hannover Messe will take place in Hanover from 20 to 24 April. Under the theme “Industrial Transformation,” the fair will showcase the latest products and solutions for industrial automation, digitalization, and electrification. Once again this year, Rheinmetall will present innovations in the fields of robotics and autonomous systems and demonstrate how these can be integrated into new data ecosystems.

The subsidiaries Rheinmetall Technology Centre and Yardstick Robotics will be showcasing the following at the Industry 4.0 joint booth:

• a control station for the live teleoperation of a vehicle in Düsseldorf and a logistics vehicle on the exhibition grounds, the control centre as the digital centre piece of the teleoperation, and other digital solutions,
• the collaborative robot: “YARO Cobot” – a specially designed and extremely robust robot for reliable use in harsh, unstructured outdoor environments.
  
  

Teleoperation offers greater safety and flexibility precisely where automated systems come to their limits, such as in challenging traffic situations or complex environments. It is precisely in these moments that humans can intervene safely, even from a distance. The solution developed by the Rheinmetall Technology Centre and MIRA GmbH can be used in logistics, urban public transportation, and special applications, and complements automation with human control.

As part of the “POQUASIA – Post-quantum secure generic IoT application” project, a scalable, real-time-capable, and generic Internet of Things (IoT) platform was developed and successfully tested. At the booth, visitors will see how vehicles in Düsseldorf are remotely controlled from Hanover, and in the outdoor area of the trade show, Rheinmetall will operate a MAFI truck in cooperation with Götting KG. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and supports the European IPCEI-CIS initiative to realize a unique multi-provider cloud-edge continuum. 

YardStick Robotics GmbH is a manufacturer of AI-powered robotic solutions designed for extreme, unstructured, and unpredictable environments. Its specialized robotic systems, the “YARO Cobot,” are engineered for the toughest applications—robots built for “dull, dirty, and dangerous” tasks. YardStick Robotics is currently working on solutions ranging from deep-sea applications to future extraterrestrial missions. Following the motto, “Robots for the World’s Toughest Jobs”, the company focuses on the safe automation of industries that have not previously had access to such robotic solutions.

As part of the BMWE-funded RoX project, YardStick Robotics is demonstrating, using the example of AI-assisted workpiece inspection, how a path planning service can be integrated using simple teach-in algorithms. This allows end users to have taught robot paths optimized and then reintegrated into their applications, making robots usable even for non-experts. At the heart of the RoX research project is a federated ecosystem in which data, services, and components can be digitally described, exchanged, and combined in order to offer end users more affordable and flexible solutions.

The basis for this is a trustworthy, secure infrastructure. It transparently determines which partner has access to which information and when. This makes data available that was previously difficult to share. The spectrum ranges from system information (such as robots, end-effectors, and sensors) to workpiece data and live data from the manufacturing process. Software components are also integrated—from simple drivers and AI capabilities to complete solutions. On this basis, AI-supported robotics applications can be easily developed, expanded, and intelligently operated.

The Industry 4.0 Platform’s joint booth showcases a wide range of industrial solutions that can make a significant contribution to digital transformation. The joint booth brings together three thematic areas: Manufacturing-X highlights concrete applications that make value chains more competitive, resilient, and sustainable. The 8ra initiative, which emerged from the IPCEI Cloud, presents concepts and technologies that will realize a unique multi-provider cloud-edge continuum. And in the area of future mobility, visionary projects demonstrate how the blueprint for data ecosystems from the manufacturing industry is also transforming mobility. The data-driven industry of the future promises virtually unlimited new opportunities.

The Hannover Messe will be open from 20 to 24 April 2026 daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you at our booth (Hall 13, booth C24).