20 - 22 January 2026
San Francisco, California, US

Vision Tech Forum

From pixels to perception: Advancing vision technologies

Two days of informative and thought-provoking presentations and panel discussions

The informative and educational sessions combine cutting-edge technologies and expert insights from across the vision ecosystem — from photonic components and embedded vision cameras to 3D sensing, high-speed imaging, and intelligent vision platforms.

Industrial robotic arms assembling electronic components on a production line inside a modern factory with bright overhead lighting and automated machinery.
Jump to:
Vision Tech Morning Market Session: Growing your Vision Tech Business in 2026 and Beyond
20 January 2026 • 8:45 AM - 9:45 AM PST | Career Hub Stage (Moscone West, Level 2) 
Learn how to grow and future-proof your machine vision business with data-driven strategies, real-world insights, and proven approaches to resilience, expansion, and value creation.
Vision Tech Expo - Tuesday
20 January 2026 • 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM PST | West Hall (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Opening Day! Stop by Moscone West to discover cutting-edge vision technologies and forge valuable partnerships at this new exhibition.
Vision Tech: Scaling Vision for the AI-Driven Robotic Revolution
20 January 2026 • 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Discover how programmable optical semiconductors and Light Control Metasurfaces enable adaptive, software-defined vision for AI-driven robotics—boosting speed, reliability, and scalability in automation.
Vision Tech: Vision and AI-Enabled Drones for Public Safety: Real-World Deployments and Technical Frontiers
20 January 2026 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Vision Tech: Advanced CMOS-Based SWIR Image Sensors Drive New Machine Vision Solutions
20 January 2026 • 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Explore how advanced CMOS-based SWIR sensors (1000–1600nm) are transforming machine vision and AI by enabling reliable imaging in all conditions, driving innovation in robotics, automation, agriculture, and more.
Vision Tech AI Session: Vision-AI in 2026 - from Promise to Ubiquity?
20 January 2026 • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Experts discuss the state of Vision AI in industry—its successes, limitations, and future. Topics include robot guidance, inspection, predictive maintenance, data scarcity, and whether 2026 marks true ubiquity.
Vision Tech: Wafer-Level Spectral Image Sensors: Turning Spectral Imaging into a Viable Option for Industrial Scale
20 January 2026 • 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Discover how CMOS-based hyperspectral sensors enable compact, scalable, real-time imaging for industrial vision—overcoming cost and complexity to unlock broader adoption in dynamic environments.
Vision Tech: Metasurfaces Beyond Metasurface Lenses
20 January 2026 • 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Learn how metasurface lenses and new metafilter technology are set to revolutionize image sensors—offering thinner, high-quality alternatives to traditional color filter arrays for next-gen imaging.
Vision Tech Agriculture Session: Agriculture Machine Vision Applications in Farm Automation and Precision Agriculture
20 January 2026 • 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This panel explores machine vision in agriculture—covering crop and weed detection, disease monitoring, yield estimation, and robotic harvesting—plus challenges in scaling and advances in AI and spectral imaging.
Vision Tech: Hyperspectral Imaging at Short Wavelengths: Harnessing the Power of UV LEDs
20 January 2026 • 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Discover how UV LEDs enable compact, tunable hyperspectral imaging in UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C ranges—unlocking new applications in materials analysis, biomedical diagnostics, and semiconductor inspection.
Vision Tech Manufacturing Session: RBG Vision in Food Processing: Classical to Deep Learning
20 January 2026 • 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This session highlights how RGB camera–based computer vision is transforming operations on the factory floor.
Vision Tech Manufacturing Session: How to Successfully Deploy Machine Vision Systems
20 January 2026 • 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Vista Solutions shares lessons from deploying AI-driven machine vision across industries. Learn the Image-Analyze-Automate framework, common pitfalls, and strategies for building scalable, reliable vision systems.
Vision Tech Agriculture Session: From Field to Market: Building Custom Vision AI for Harvest Optimization, Yield Prediction, and Quality Grading
20 January 2026 • 2:30 PM - 2:50 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Learn how custom-trained vision AI models built on your data deliver 95%+ accuracy in harvest timing, yield estimation, and grading—plus how no-code platforms enable fast deployment for precision agriculture.
Vision Tech Agriculture Session: Real-Time Per-Plant Perception and Vision-Guided Actuation for Precision Thermal Weed Control
20 January 2026 • 2:50 PM - 3:10 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This talk explores a real-time per-plant vision and control system for selective thermal weed control in vegetable crops, detailing imaging architecture and insights from early field deployments.
Vision Tech Manufacturing Session: Recent AI Advances in Manufacturing Vision and the Technical Trade-Offs of Deployability
20 January 2026 • 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This talk surveys AI-powered visual inspection in manufacturing, covering practical trade-offs for scaling deep learning from demos to production lines, and lessons learned from real deployments.
Vision Tech Agriculture Session: Artificial Intelligence in Imaging and Robotics for Next Generation Precision Agriculture
20 January 2026 • 3:10 PM - 3:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This talk highlights AI-driven imaging and robotics for precision agriculture, including hyperspectral and fluorescence-based plant health monitoring, nutrient assessment, contamination detection, and automated weed control.
Vision Tech Manufacturing Session: Video Analytics for Manual Manufacturing Process Monitoring and Defect Inspection
20 January 2026 • 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Explore how video-based machine learning is transforming manufacturing inspection and traceability. Learn when video outperforms still images, where it falls short, and how to quantify its advantages for real-world use cases.
Vision Tech Agriculture Session: Transforming Agriculture with Robotics and Deep Learning
20 January 2026 • 3:30 PM - 3:50 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
AI and robotics are transforming agriculture by enabling crop/weed detection for targeted spraying and autonomous tractors. Blue River shares deep learning solutions, challenges, and tech stack insights for smarter, sustainable farming.
Vision Tech Agriculture Session: From Farm to Market: Integrating Hyperspectral Imaging for End‐to‐End Agricultural Systems
20 January 2026 • 3:50 PM - 4:10 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This talk explores how hyperspectral imaging is evolving from isolated use to an integrated ‘farm-to-market’ solution, enabling seed phenotyping, disease detection, bruise grading, and package inspection for scalable agriculture.
Vision Tech Manufacturing Session: Scalable AI Image Analytics Frameworks for High-Variety Manufacturing
20 January 2026 • 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This talk introduces an AI-driven image analytics framework for high-variety manufacturing, using deep learning and MLOps to transform inspection into scalable, predictive process analytics across global production lines.
Vision Tech Agriculture Session: AI-Driven Machine Vision for Ultra-Precise Weed Detection and Targeted Spraying in Turfgrass Systems
20 January 2026 • 4:10 PM - 4:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Vision Tech Expo - Wednesday
21 January 2026 • 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM PST | West Hall (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
It's Day Two!
Vision Tech: Enhancing Machine Vision with Optical Filters: Practical Techniques for Real-World Applications
21 January 2026 • 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Learn how optical filters boost machine vision by improving contrast, reducing noise, and enabling multispectral imaging for agriculture, semiconductor, and manufacturing—without costly hardware.
Vision Tech 3D Session: Shaping the Future of 3D Sensing: Photonics, Semiconductors, and the Drive for Intelligent Perception
21 January 2026 • 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This session explores 3D sensing’s rapid growth across industries, driven by LiDAR, AR/VR, and automation. It highlights market leaders, emerging tech like SWIR and metasurfaces, and key innovations shaping the future of depth-sensing solutions.
Vision Tech 3D Session: Stereo Vision in Industrial Robotics: Techniques, Use Cases, and Challenges
21 January 2026 • 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This session explores 3D vision technologies in industrial robotics, focusing on stereo vision, its design, deep learning advances, deployment strategies, and real-world use cases to boost autonomy, safety, and efficiency.
Vision Tech: Evaluating Multispectral and Hyperspectral Imaging: Fundamentals, Benefits and Deployment
21 January 2026 • 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Learn how multispectral and hyperspectral imaging drive real-time defect detection and classification. Explore principles, applications, and cost-optimized solutions for industries from recycling to food security
Vision Tech AI Session: Sensor-Optics Co-Design for AI Vision Systems: A Systems-Level Approach to Application-Tuned Imaging Performance
21 January 2026 • 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Explore why sensor-optics co-design is critical for next-gen AI vision systems. Learn how jointly optimizing optical and sensor parameters closes the gap between lab performance and real-world deployment.
Vision Tech 3D Session: Dynamic Robot Guidance: Navigating the Challenges of Moving Parts in Real-Time Manufacturing
21 January 2026 • 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This panel explores real-time robot guidance in dynamic manufacturing, covering sensor fusion, motion prediction, control algorithms, and case studies to enhance intelligent robotic response.
Vision Tech: The Latest Advancements Around Liquid Lenses
21 January 2026 • 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Explore advancements in liquid lens technology and electrical lens modules (ELMs) that deliver faster settling, better resolution, and lower costs—plus GenICam standardization for seamless integration across camera platforms.
Vision Tech 3D Session: Let's Build an Embodied AI Robotics Demo Together
21 January 2026 • 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
See how embodied AI is transforming robotics with LLMs, VLMs, and VLAs. Learn how robots stream sensor data to AI for autonomous decision-making—and watch a live build of an embodied AI experience on stage!
Vision Tech 3D Session: Improving Stereo Camera Accuracy Through Enhanced Calibration and Depth Map Quality Metrics
21 January 2026 • 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Learn how enhanced calibration and benchmarking improve stereovision depth accuracy for ADAS, robotics, and automation. Explore optimized methods, metrics, and real-world results for reliable 3D sensing in embedded systems.
Vision Tech Event-Based Session: Neuromorphic Sensing in Motion: From Event-Based Vision to Adaptive Intelligence
21 January 2026 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This panel explores neuromorphic sensors' rise from lab to industry, current adoption hurdles, and future potential for real-time, adaptive edge intelligence across robotics, defense, and spatial computing.
Vision Tech Event-Based Session: Biology-Inspired Sensors for Space - Why a Biological Approach Makes Sense
21 January 2026 • 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This session explores neuromorphic sensors for space imaging, highlighting low-power, high-speed tracking of satellites and debris, with successful ISS deployments and a biological approach suited for space environments.
Vision Tech AI Session: Beyond the Real World: Building High-Fidelity Industrial Vision with Synthetic Images
21 January 2026 • 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Learn how synthetic, physically-accurate datasets can overcome data gaps in industrial vision. Explore techniques for simulating materials, sensor noise, and domain randomization to build robust AI models at scale.
Vision Tech Funding Session: Eyes on the Army: Funding Opportunities in Vision Tech
21 January 2026 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Vision Tech AI Session: Overcoming Data Scarcity and Micro-Defect Challenges in AI Vision Inspection
21 January 2026 • 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This talk explores AI vision strategies for rare and micro-scale defect detection in manufacturing, using synthetic defect generation and patch-based classification to boost data efficiency and precision.
Vision Tech: Enhancing Vision Systems with Intelligent Industrial Cameras
21 January 2026 • 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Discover how intelligent cameras with onboard pre-processing can boost image quality, speed, and bandwidth efficiency—optimizing vision systems without costly downstream hardware.
Vision Tech Funding Session: Funding Vision Tech Innovation: Perspectives from Venture Capital
21 January 2026 • 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Vision Tech: Delivering a Constant Field-of-View Focusing Solution that Meets AI-based Imaging Requirements in Industrial and Machine Vision Application
21 January 2026 • 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This session shares live recalibration data for handheld and fixed devices, methods to handle system drift, and details on tunable optics—enabling rapid, flexible focus adjustments for high-performance industrial vision.
Vision Tech: Seawater-Optimized Lens Systems for Robotics, Aquaculture, and Machine Vision.
21 January 2026 • 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
This talk compares underwater imaging port designs—flat, domed, Ivanoff-Rebikoff, custom wet ports—and a bespoke seawater-optimized lens, highlighting optical performance gains for robotics and marine vision applications.
Vision Tech: Happy Hour
21 January 2026 • 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 1 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Join us for a 30-minute happy hour at the close of the Vision Tech program on Wednesday!
Vision Tech Expo - Thursday
22 January 2026 • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM PST | West Hall (Moscone West, Exhibit Level) 
Final day!