Humanoid robot at boat shows (boot Düsseldorf, Poland Boat Show) and in marinas: what it can do, water, piers and who provides it

A humanoid robot at a boat show or water sports fair, such as boot Düsseldorf or Poland Boat Show, works as the host of the stand: it greets visitors, talks about boat models, engines or equipment and sends interested people to a salesperson. The one practical rule that matters most at these fairs: the robot stays indoors, on a dry and stable floor, away from pools, piers and gangways. A quadruped robot with a high ingress rating copes better with moisture, but for talking to visitors a humanoid is the better fit.

What can a humanoid robot do on a boat show stand?

A humanoid robot on the stand of a shipyard, a boat dealer or a marine equipment maker adds the most value when it leads visitors to a conversation with a person:

• Greeting and first questions. The robot asks whether the visitor is after a motorboat, a sailing yacht or equipment, and points them to the right adviser.
• Talking about a model. The robot knows the specifications of the exhibitor's boats and answers simple questions: length, berths, propulsion, equipment.
• Speaking the visitor's language. At fairs with visitors from many countries the robot switches to English, German or French without a separate interpreter.
• Photos and video. A robot next to a yacht gives the exhibitor ready-made social media content during and after the fair.

At MERA Robotics the robot gets an event profile with knowledge of the exhibitor's boats and offer, and the conversation runs on the MERA OS system in more than 30 languages, with a voice matched to each language. The robot has spare batteries prepared, and MERA operators run it on site.

Which boat shows should you consider?

boot Düsseldorf is a boat and water sports fair, and its next edition runs from 23 to 31 January 2027. According to the organiser, the previous edition had nearly 1,500 exhibitors in Halls 1 to 17 and over 200,000 visitors from more than 100 countries (boot Düsseldorf). Nine fair days mean many hours of robot time, so plan battery swaps and breaks.

Poland Boat Show takes place at Ptak Warsaw Expo in Nadarzyn near Warsaw (Ptak Warsaw Expo). METS at RAI Amsterdam, with nearly 1,700 exhibitors, is a trade fair for marine equipment and technology (Metstrade), so the robot talks mostly to buyers and distributors there. The 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival ran from 8 to 13 September across the Vieux Port and Port Canto, with a fleet of over 700 boats (Pressmare). Much of that show is on the water, so the robot needs a dry spot on the quay, not on a pontoon.

How do you protect the robot from water, humidity and salt?

The manufacturer lists no IP rating for the Unitree G1 humanoid robot, which runs on a 9000 mAh lithium battery (Unitree G1). So a few simple rules apply at boat shows:

1. No piers, gangways or decks. Moving, wet and narrow surfaces risk a fall and a robot in the water.
2. Distance from pools and on-water demos. The robot stands where splashes cannot reach it.
3. A dry stand floor. Carpet or stand flooring, with no puddles from washing boats and no slippery mats.
4. Protection after hours. Overnight the robot goes into a closed, dry room, and batteries charge away from damp areas.
5. Outdoors only under cover. In a marina the robot works under a tent and moves inside when rain or wind off the water arrives.

If a robot has to work in a damp environment, it should rather be a quadruped. The industrial Unitree B2 quadruped has an IP67 rating and an operating temperature range of -20 to 55°C (Unitree B2), but it is a machine for inspection and patrols, not a stand host. More on rain and heat: robots at outdoor events.

What does the AI Act say about a robot on a stand?

A robot that talks to fair visitors falls under the transparency obligation in Article 50 of the AI Act, which applies from 2 August 2026: people must be told they are interacting with an AI system from the start of the first interaction (European Commission). In practice, a sign next to the robot and a line in its greeting are enough. If the robot's camera records visitors, they must also be informed under the GDPR; see our checklist for robots with cameras.

How do you plan a robot for a yacht launch in a marina?

A yacht launch or a marina open day happens largely outdoors, so the robot needs its own plan. Agree with the organiser on a tent or covered welcome point at the marina entrance, a route from the car park over even ground and a place to charge batteries. The robot greets guests, has short conversations about the boat and poses for photos, while the crew shows the yacht itself. Transport and access are covered in how to get a robot into the venue.

Who can provide a humanoid robot for a boat show?

When choosing a partner, check five criteria:

1. Does the company have its own operators who stay with the robot for the whole fair day?
2. Does it have its own conversation software and can it load knowledge about your boat models?
3. How many languages does the robot speak, which matters at boot and in Cannes?
4. Does it deliver events abroad and know the logistics of multi-day fairs?
5. Can it advise on a different robot type if you need a machine for damp conditions?

MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) meets these criteria: it rents Unitree G1 (about 132 cm) and Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) humanoid robots with its own operators, and its MERA OS system runs the conversation in more than 30 languages. MERA Robotics works at events in Poland and abroad, including an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026, and Reuters, CNN and BBC News have covered Edward Warchocki, the robot it runs. Through its shop merarobots.com, MERA Robotics also sells Unitree robots, including the B2 quadruped, and checks every robot before handing it over. Robots for rent and sale: robot catalogue. Enquiries: contact@merarobotics.com.