Energy Drone & Robotics Forum: AI & Automation in Energy
/November 12, 2025 | The Ion | Houston, TX
The future of energy isn’t running on fuel. It’s running on intelligence.
Next month, the Energy Drone & Robotics Forum “AI & Automation in Energy,” hosted by the Energy Drone & Robotics Coalition, will bring together the brightest minds and boldest innovators shaping how AI and automation are redefining industrial operations.
On November 12, 2025, at The Ion in Houston, more than 200 leaders from energy, utilities, and robotics will gather for a day of groundbreaking insights, practical takeaways, and real-world stories from the front lines of digital transformation.
This one-day forum is where strategy meets implementation—where the promise of AI-driven automation becomes an operational reality.
Why AI & Automation in Energy, Why Now
The energy industry is deep into an automation revolution. From refineries and renewables to pipelines and offshore platforms, drones, robotics, and intelligent systems are driving efficiency, safety, and sustainability at scale.
But the big question isn’t whether or not to adopt these technologies—it’s how to integrate and scale them effectively.
That’s exactly what the Energy Drone & Robotics Forum is designed to answer.
What to Expect
This year’s forum features a packed agenda of keynotes, panels, and case studies from organizations leading the charge in AI, robotics, and autonomous systems.
Expect discussions that go beyond theory to drill in on deployment, ROI, and scaling intelligent automation in the energy sector.
Key Topics Include:
Robotics for Operations, Maintenance, and Inspection
Facility and Plant Automation
Physical AI and AI-powered Robots
Data Analytics, Visualization, and Digital Twins
Spotlight on Speakers
This year’s lineup includes some of the most forward-thinking voices in industrial innovation:
Nic Radford, CEO & Co-Founder of Persona AI and former NASA robotics lead, will deliver the keynote, “Where Are We Going With Embodied AI?” With over $500M raised to advance intelligent robotic systems, Nic brings decades of experience shaping the frontier of humanoid and autonomous technology.
Jonathan Alexander, Global Manufacturing AI & Advanced Analytics Manager at Albemarle, will share how his team is using enterprise AI and machine learning to enhance efficiency, quality, and reliability across global operations.
Nitin Gupta, Founder & CEO of FlytBase, will discuss the evolution of fully autonomous drone operations and how energy and utility companies are realizing true ROI from AI-powered aerial missions.
Dr. Matthew Alberts, Manager of Innovation and Emerging Technologies, Southern Company, is sharing the newest insights on building the foundation: data & ROI strategies for AI in energy.
Steven Treviño, Deepwater Robotics Engineer at Shell, will dive into the next generation of subsea and offshore robotics—where automation meets extreme environments.
Tim Dykstra and Chris McCasky of Nascent Scale will explore practical steps to guide organizations through the “Automation Age,” from pilot projects to enterprise integration.
Industry panels will review the key best practices and top trends for the hottest topics, including;
From Reactive to Proactive: The AI Playbook for Zero Downtime
Speakers:
Jonathan Alexander, Manufacturing AI & Advanced Analytics Manager, Albermarle
Dhiraj Dhule, Director of Products, Flytbase
Michael Hull, Technology Services, Vistra
What’s Now & Next in BVLOS for Energy: Preparing for FAA Part 108
Speakers:
Kellen Kirk, Manager Aerial Survey, PG&E
Nate Ernst, Founder & President, Tactien
Will Wheeler, Principal UAS, Southern Company
Who You’ll Meet
Whether you’re leading digital transformation at a global energy company or launching new automation initiatives in the field, this is where you’ll connect with the people doing it best.
Join peers from across the energy ecosystem:
Oil & Gas Operators
Utility and Renewable Energy Leaders
Robotics and Drone Innovators
AI and Data Analytics Experts
Automation Solution Providers
This is a place to exchange real-world lessons, discover what’s next, and see how AI and automation are reshaping energy operations from the ground up.
Why Attend
Whether you’re experimenting with your first automation pilot or scaling AI across multiple facilities, the Energy Drone & Robotics Forum is designed to help you accelerate what’s next. This event is focused on sharing stories of real deployment, measurable ROI, and lessons learned directly from the people doing the work.
Here are just some of what you can expect from attending:
Learn from proven deployments—what works, what doesn’t, and how to scale
See the latest in autonomous systems and intelligent operations
Network with top minds in energy, robotics, and AI
Leave with actionable insights to bring automation to life in your organization
Expect a full day of candid insights, practical frameworks, and face-to-face conversations that will move your program forward.
Solutions Showcased
The latest technology, hardware and software solutions for robotics, drones, data & AI will be showcased at the Forum, including;
Impac Systems Engineering
Frontier Precision Unmanned
Hibot
Pyxis Group
DroneDeploy
FlytBase
BKO Services
Don’t Miss Out
The 2025 Energy Drone & Robotics Forum will be a global crossroads of automation in energy. If your organization touches asset inspection, maintenance, data collection, safety, or operations in any way, this event will reshape how you think about what’s possible.
