Now Available: Issue 3 | Automation News
Automation News has published Issue 3 for 2026, examining how advances in robotics, artificial intelligence and industrial automation are changing the way manufacturers, farmers and other industries operate.
The latest edition explores the growing move towards autonomous systems, from precision agriculture and Physical AI to increasingly sophisticated industrial robots and intelligent machines. It considers not only what the technology can do, but how manufacturers can put it to work in real-world environments.
The issue’s cover story looks at the growing role of automation in agriculture, as autonomous machinery, robotics and AI begin to reshape farming. With labour shortages, rising costs and pressure to improve productivity, the technology is creating new possibilities for more automated approaches to agricultural production.
Elsewhere, Automation News visits WAGO’s UK headquarters in Rugby to look at how the company is applying automation and digitalisation within its own manufacturing operations. The feature examines the technologies being used inside the plant and the wider role of industrial connectivity in modern production.
The edition also explores the evolution of human-machine interfaces, including the emergence of tactile HMIs designed to make interactions with industrial equipment more intuitive. As automation systems become more capable, the way people interact with them is becoming an increasingly important part of industrial system design.
Physical AI is another focus, examining the convergence of artificial intelligence, robotics and the physical world. As AI moves beyond software and into machines that can perceive and act in real-world environments, the technology could have significant implications for industrial automation.
The issue also considers the emerging Digital Product Passport and what it could mean for manufacturers as Europe moves towards greater transparency around products, materials and supply chains.
Elsewhere, readers can explore the role of industrial AI in motor control, as well as the technologies helping manufacturers make better use of data from increasingly connected production environments.
The latest issue also asks a fundamental question about the safety of increasingly autonomous machines: as robots become more capable of making decisions and operating with less direct human intervention, who is responsible for watching the robots?
Issue 3, 2026 of Automation News is now available to read below.
