Robo dogs and bouncing bots: Inside the Toronto Robotics Conference at UTM

Robotic dogs that carefully explored an area, micro-robots that bounced on a single leg and sophisticated self-driving vehicles were among an array of advanced technology on display at the University of Toronto Mississauga for the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference.

The two-day event, co-hosted by UTM and the U of T Robotics Institute, drew nearly 400 attendees and featured talks from AI-robotics experts, demonstrations of the latest innovations and opportunities for students to showcase their work.

Some of the breakthroughs presented included robot-assisted surgical tools, robotic dogs – known as dobots – that could be used to inspect areas or act as guides, bouncing robots that could help survey terrain and computers that could train machines to interpret digital images and videos.

The conference also featured a pitch competition, where student teams had three minutes to share their visions for how intelligent machines could solve real-world problems.

Concepts pitched included fish-shaped water monitoring robots for hard-to-reach locations, an articulating surgical tool designed to reduce blood loss during infant surgery and advanced drone swarms for search-and-rescue missions.

Participants received feedback from industry experts, including a partner at Two Small Fish, the venture capital firm supporting the competition. Albert Chen urged teams to take advantage of networking opportunities to learn about potential partnerships, recruit talent or attract investors.

“Build a relationship as early as you can,” said Chen. “Get to know ‘the money.’”

Here are some highlights from the conference.

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A conference participant prepares to demonstrate the Hopcopter bouncing robot during the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

The Hopcopter, a robot that bounces on a single flexible leg, launches into the air at the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference. The robot can be used to explore complex terrain.

A robotic dog, known as a dobot, is seen on display during the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference at UTM. Dobots can be used to inspect areas or act as guides, among other applications. 

A conference participant demonstrates a dobot at the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference at UTM. 

An articulating robot arm that can be used for robot-assisted surgery is displayed at the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference. The robotic arm has been developed by the Medical Computer Vision and Robotics Lab at UTM.

UTM student Khushi Malik explains how the Medical Computer Vision and Robotics Lab is helping to train a surgical simulator to perform complicated fetal surgery.

A conference participant displays robot technology for Nolan Quinn, Ontario's minister of colleges, universities, research excellence and security, at the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference.

Robot components from the U of T Robotics Association are seen on display at the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference at UTM. The association runs several ‘battle bot’ teams as well as robosoccer and autonomous rover events.

A competitor presents at the Two Small Fish Pitch Competition during the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference at UTM. 

An award-winning self-driving car worked on by U of T’s self-driving team is seen on display at the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference.

Two rovers from the Autonomous Space Robotics Lab at U of T are seen at the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference held at UTM.

Attendees are seen mingling at the 2026 Toronto Robotics Conference held at the University of Toronto Mississauga.