The market for autonomous systems is growing very dynamically. This was evidenced by this year’s XPONENTIAL Europe. The new trade fair for uncrewed systems and robotics celebrated its debut in Düsseldorf from 18 to 20 February. A total of 190 companies from 33 countries showcased high-tech products and components for the use of uncrewed systems on road, water, air, rail and in New Space. The spectrum of applications ranged from autonomous mobility and logistics to agriculture and the protection of critical infrastructures and national security. Registering as the industry’s No.1 for autonomous systems.
Huge technological leaps often start in people’s bedrooms, garages or workshops. Like with start-up “Arkensight“. This small firm from Zagreb has just developed a system-independent AI platform that markedly simplifies aerial image analyses. Their first success: at XPONENTIAL Europe they were awarded the XPO+ Launcher. For the three young entrepreneurs from Croatia this is a giant leap to market entry. “It also allows us to win over partners and raise venture capital,” says Bruno Ćorić, the co-founder of Arkensight. Over the course of the trade fair he already had ample opportunity to talk to major industry partners and investors – a reason why such start-ups as Hansedrone and Lamb Space Tec also travelled to Düsseldorf. Together with ten other international start-ups they were represented in the XPO+ Area of XPONENTIAL Europe.
Big players and start-ups at XPONENTIAL Europe
They don’t feel small even though their neighbours are very big. And start-ups get to rub shoulders with the major players here at the trade fair – names like Rheinmetall, whose subsidiary MIRA demonstrates just what is already feasible today: a shuttle bus tele-operated and controlled in real time in urban transit. Or Rheinbahn who have developed an autonomously driving bus jointly with ZF Mobility Solution, which was available for test rides over the three trade fair days.
Air sovereignty, though, was the realm of others. Quantum Systems, for example, and Germandrones, which commissioned a second manufacturing site in the nearby city of Mönchengladbach only a few months ago. “Flying heavyweights” also included Airobotics, which exhibited a fully automatic base station for the continuous operation of drones. Avilus – jointly with the German Armed Forces – showcased the rescue drone “Grille” for the injured. This uncrewed drone permits the fully automatic, telematically monitored rescue of injured persons.
A rescue robot for land-based assignments in rough terrain was presented by Alpha Robotics from Vechta. By contrast, the fire extinguishing robot Magirus Wolf R1 supports firefighting teams with heatmapping cameras for site exploration and fire-fighting tasks. Its Wi-Fi-based system makes it possible to control assignments from up to a range of 2.5 km. Its water and foam cannon achieves ranges of up to 65 metres.
XPONENTIAL Europe: the sound of dynamics and disruption
Upon entering Hall 1, whose entrance resembles a huge airship, you already get a feel for what the autonomous future will sound like. Because here the beeping of drones, robots and autonomous rescue vehicles fills the air – striking a chord that has proven a stroke of luck for Messe Düsseldorf as the organiser of XPONENTIAL Europe. It is the sound of an extremely dynamic market, which is (slowly) developing in regulatory terms, attracting high investment and providing a technology that is disruptive in nature when it comes to mobility, production, logistics and living – a delta of high-tech performance, science fiction and venture capital.
This also lent wings to the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM organised by UAV DACH, the biggest European Association for Unmanned Aviation and co-host of XPONENTIAL Europe. Pivotal content included not only the harmonisation of industry standards and regulatory matters but also air safety and venture capital. This was also reflected in the accompanying programme of the XPONENTIAL Europe Conference and in the Standards Forum.
XPONENTIAL Europe as a leading trade fair in Europe
“Since the beginning of the cooperation with Messe Düsseldorf and AUVSI, it was clear to us we could create something big and important for our industry together with XPONENTIAL Europe,” says Dr Gerald Wissel, CEO of UAV DACH, the largest European association for uncrewed aviation and co-host of XPONENTIAL Europe. “The feedback from our exhibiting members, the many, many guests at our stand and at the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM was extremely positive, showing us that XPONENTIAL Europe is the leading trade fair for autonomous systems in Europe right from the start.” This was also underlined by the unusually high level of satisfaction of companies who came to Düsseldorf as visitors: over 90% of all visitors stated they had achieved their objectives of the visit and were very satisfied.
Michael Robbins, President and CEO of AUVSI - Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International – made a correspondingly positive statement: “The launch of XPONENTIAL Europe proved that it is more than an event – it is a movement shaping the future of mobility. Attendees benefitted from robust programming, technology demonstrations and networking opportunities that bridged international perspectives. AUVSI is grateful for the collaboration with Messe Düsseldorf and UAV Dach, and our community is already eagerly looking forward to attending XPONENTIAL later this year in Houston and returning to XPONENTIAL Europe in 2026.”
Malte Seifert, Director of XPONENTIAL Europe, spoke of a “premiere with great potential“: “The atmosphere at XPONENTIAL Europe was great – full of energy and valuable dialogue. Numerous discussions made it clear that the industry needed precisely this central platform – a place to discover innovations, gain new business partners, cultivate networks and find the right products and solutions.”
Dates: XPONENTIAL Europe 2026
The forthcoming XPONENTIAL Europe in Düsseldorf will run from 24 to 26 March 2026. In the US the next XPONENTIAL will already take place in Houston/Texas from 19 to 22 May 2025.
(Expert author: Dr. Mike Seidensticker)
