Robotics Challenge 2026: Automation of wire harness production takes shape

Automation in wire harness manufacturing has long been considered a key challenge for the industry. With the Robotics Challenge , the Transformation Hub Wire Harness has established a format that addresses this very issue: Instead of theoretical discussions, concrete, actionable solutions are developed under realistic conditions.

The Robotics Challenge is part of the funded "Transformations-Hub Wire Harness " project Wire Harness brings together companies and research institutions to develop and test automated solutions along the wire harness value chain. The goal is to showcase the state of the art in automation and robotics while providing new impetus for industrial implementation.

A wide range of solutions from industry and research

In the current edition as well, several teams are working in parallel and independently of one another on different approaches. Participants include companies such as Analog Devices, Dream Machines, LR-Automation GmbH, Mowito, Mambo Technologies GmbH, and wemonte AG, as well as research institutions such as Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAPS Chair), Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences, and the Technical University of Munich (iwb).

The spectrum ranges from systems for complete process chains to specialized gripper systems, autonomous robots, and innovative concepts. Initial insights into the current work being done as part of the ongoing challenge show that the approaches are becoming increasingly concrete and are evolving toward real-world applications.

Live demonstrations at the Wire Harness Innovation Forum

The results of the Robotics Challenge will be presented to the public for the first time at the Wire Harness Innovation Forum Wire Harness June 17, 2026, at ARENA2036 in Stuttgart. The focus will be on real-world applications: The teams will demonstrate their solutions directly on prototypes, providing immediate insight into the current state of automation. The format deliberately follows a clear principle: “show and feel” rather than purely theoretical presentations. The program is complemented by selected keynote speeches, including one from Audi, and also offers ample opportunity for professional exchange.

In parallel with the challenge, the approaches developed will be further refined as part of the accompanying research on digitalization. The goal is to integrate the solutions into digital process chains. This includes, among other things, the modeling of robotic processes and the implementation of the Digital Product Passport. Within this framework, a demonstrator for generating administrative templates based on KBL and VEC models is being developed; it will be presented at the Innovation Forum and will subsequently be made available online.

Through the Robotics Challenge and the Wire Harness Innovation Forum, the Wire Harness Transformation Hub Wire Harness Wire Harness platform that not only showcases technological developments but also places them in a direct application context. By setting a central challenge and featuring live demonstrations, the event enables a direct comparison of solutions. This helps the industry assess performance levels and identify next steps for implementing automation solutions.

Participation in the Wire Harness Innovation Forum Wire Harness free of charge. For more information and to register, please visit:
Wire Harness.Wire Harness

About the Wire Harness Transformation Hub

As part of the German government’s “Automotive Industry Future Fund,” funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Wire Harness Transformation Hub serves as a link between industry and academia. The consortium comprising ARENA2036, Bayern Innovativ, and the Open Hybrid LabFactory is thus contributing to the transformation of the wire harness industry.