# Humanoid robot at ISE Barcelona: stand demonstration, control levels and Fira Gran Via rules (ISE 2027)

URL: https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-at-ise-barcelona-integrated-systems-europe-2027
Language: en
Publisher: MERA Robotics (https://merarobotics.com)
Updated: 2026-11-02

> A humanoid robot at ISE in Barcelona works as a live interface for the stand: it greets guests in their languages, talks about the offer and stops passers-by. A panel at ISE 2026 showed that robots at trade shows are usually remote controlled, so the quality of the show depends on the operator. The exhibitor must also fit the robot into the Fira Gran Via rules, which restrict your own Wi-Fi networks and cap noise at 60 dB. The next edition runs on 2-5 February 2027.

## When is ISE in Barcelona and who attends?

ISE Barcelona 2027 takes place on 2-5 February at Fira de Barcelona, in the Gran Via venue, according to the [organiser's website](https://www.iseurope.org/). The organiser describes the last edition in numbers: [92,176 unique visitors and 212,512 in-person visits over four days](https://www.iseurope.org/become-exhibitor/ise-show-and-visitor-profile), guests from 181 countries, and more than 1,700 exhibitors across 101,000 sqm and eight halls. For a stand it also matters that, according to the organiser, 29.68% of visitors are senior leadership and C-suite decision makers, and 40.60% authorise purchases.

ISE is the show for audiovisual and systems integration, so on a stand you mainly talk to people who choose equipment and solutions for their own clients. The organiser lists robotics next to AI, cybersecurity and drones among the emerging technologies in its programme.

## Why does a humanoid robot suit an AV stand?

A humanoid robot suits an AV stand because it is itself an example of the interface between a person and a system, which is what this industry sells. At a panel on robots during ISE 2026, [described by the organiser](https://www.iseurope.org/news/humanoid-robots-robots-look-human-av), speakers said people read human traits into machines and that a familiar shape makes a machine easier to trust. In the write-up's words, a robot on a stand is judged as a performer first and a machine second.

The same text notes that visitors stop and take out their phones, so robots already work as a marketing tool. For an exhibitor that translates into concrete tasks:

1. **A greeting in the guest's language**: visitors come from 181 countries, so multilingual conversation is an advantage.
2. **A story about the solution**: screens, sound, control, software; the stand's knowledge delivered by voice.
3. **Recognising exhibits through the camera**: the robot sees a device on display and says what it is for.
4. **Announcing demonstrations**: the robot calls out the times of presentations on the stand.
5. **Photos and short clips** for the exhibitor's social media.

A MERA robot can act as a conference host: based on the event programme stored in the event profile, it announces the next items on the agenda, takes part in a panel and talks with the moderator and the audience. A robot can also recognise objects through its camera and react to them in conversation, for example recognising a product model on display and talking about it.

## Is a robot at a trade show autonomous, or does someone steer it?

Robots at trade shows are most often remote controlled rather than autonomous. At the ISE 2026 panel mentioned above, both robots on stage [were not autonomous and had no built-in artificial intelligence; two operators in the audience steered them](https://www.iseurope.org/news/humanoid-robots-robots-look-human-av). The speaker stressed that the limits of remote control are, in the end, the limits of the operator's skills. The control levels can be sorted like this:

| Level | How it works | Limitation | Question for the provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote controlled | An operator steers the robot live | The robot is only as good as the person steering it | Who operates it, and for how many hours a day? |
| Automated | Pre-programmed movements, such as a dance routine | Fast and precise, but cannot adapt when the space changes | How much room does the routine need? |
| Autonomous | The robot understands its surroundings and adapts to them | Needs processing power that, according to the panellists, is not there yet | Can we see it work in a space that changes? |

The conclusion for an exhibitor: do not ask whether the robot "thinks for itself", ask who steers it, for how long, and what happens when a guest asks an unexpected question.

A MERA operator stays with the robot at the event and can stop it at any moment.

## Which Fira Gran Via rules should you check before a robot demonstration?

Before a robot demonstration at ISE, read the [Fira Gran Via technical regulations](https://guestevents.firabarcelona.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Fira_Barcelona_Technical_Regulations_ENG_web-2.pdf), which apply to fairs in that venue, and ISE's exhibitor materials. Four items concern a robot directly:

- **Wi-Fi and radio**: exhibitors may not install or use Wi-Fi networks other than those offered by Fira. Equipment on the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, for example wireless microphones and wireless light controls, is not permitted, and where it is essential the networks and communications department must be contacted. The robot and the operator's app go into the same queue of notifications.
- **Noise**: demonstrations in the hall may exceed the background level by 3 dB at most, and the hall limit is 60 dB. For AV exhibitors who demonstrate sound this is a real constraint, so set the robot's voice low in the demonstration script.
- **CE marking and emergency stop**: demonstration machines need CE approval and emergency stop devices. Ask the provider who stops the robot and how.
- **Goods on the stand**: the exhibitor is responsible for the surveillance of its own belongings, so the robot leaves the stand overnight or security is ordered.

Download the latest version of the document before the show and agree with the organiser how to describe a demonstration with a moving robot. A wider overview of the rules abroad is in our text on a [robot on a stand abroad](https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-at-stand-abroad-venue-technical-rules-wifi-languages-logistics).

## What do the AI Act and GDPR mean for a robot with a camera on a stand?

A robot that talks to guests has to make clear that it is an AI system. Under [Article 50 of the AI Act](https://ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu/en/ai-act/article-50), people interacting with an AI system must be informed of it, unless this is obvious, and the information must be given clearly at the latest at the first interaction. The ISE panel write-up stresses that the face, the voice and what the robot's eyes record belong in the brief, not the small print.

If the robot's camera records, the exhibitor must meet GDPR requirements, and the Fira regulations separately remind exhibitors of data protection and image rights legislation. Details are in our text on a [robot with a camera at an event](https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-with-camera-at-event-gdpr-ai-act-image-rights).

## How do you plan a robot for ISE?

Plan the robot together with the stand design: first the goal (attracting visitors, presenting, announcing demonstrations), then knowledge, languages, connectivity and floor space. Four show days call for a plan for breaks and battery swaps, and the script should list the topics the robot avoids, such as competitors. MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents Unitree G1 (about 132 cm) and Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) humanoid robots for events together with operators. MERA Robotics runs events across Europe: a robot with MERA operators comes to an event in every country of the European Union, so also to Spain. Conversations run on MERA OS, which supports more than 70 languages, including Polish and English. We write about events in that country in our text on a [robot at an event in Spain](https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-for-event-in-spain-madrid-barcelona-valencia-who-provides).

## How do you choose a company to supply a robot for ISE?

When choosing a supplier, check five things you can verify before the contract:

1. **Who steers the robot**: the company's own operator, their experience and how many hours a day they can work without a swap.
2. **How the conversation is produced**: own software or an off-the-shelf app, in which languages, and how knowledge of your offer is prepared.
3. **Compliance with the hall**: connectivity, noise, CE marking, emergency stop and registering the robot with the organiser.
4. **Experience at trade fairs abroad**: documented projects, not just claims.
5. **A contingency plan**: checked hardware, spare batteries and cover for four days.

You can find models for rent and sale in the [catalogue of robots for rent and sale](https://merarobotics.com/blog/robots-for-rent-and-sale), and a description of the service in our text on [humanoid robot rental for events](https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-rental-for-events).

## FAQ

### When is ISE in Barcelona in 2027?

ISE Barcelona 2027 takes place on 2-5 February at Fira de Barcelona, in the Gran Via venue. The organiser, Integrated Systems Events, publishes the date on the show website.

### Can a robot at an ISE stand work autonomously?

Usually not fully. Panellists at ISE 2026 pointed out that robots at trade shows are most often remote controlled, and that autonomy needs processing power that is not there yet. So ask who steers the robot and for how long.

### Can I use my own Wi-Fi to control a robot at ISE?

The Fira Gran Via regulations forbid exhibitors from installing or using Wi-Fi networks other than those offered by Fira. If the robot or the operator's app needs a radio connection, report it to the hall's networks and communications department before the show.

### How loud can a robot be on an ISE stand?

Under the Fira regulations, demonstrations in the hall may exceed the background level by 3 dB at most, and 60 dB must never be exceeded. The robot's speaker has to be set within that limit.

### Can the robot stay on the stand overnight?

Preferably not. The exhibitor is responsible for the goods on the stand, so the robot is taken off the stand or security is ordered.

### How does a robot talk to guests from different countries?

It depends on the conversation software, so check the list of languages before ordering. MERA OS supports conversations in more than 70 languages with a voice matched to each language.

## Sources

- [ISE (Integrated Systems Europe): official website](https://www.iseurope.org/)
- [ISE show and visitor profile](https://www.iseurope.org/become-exhibitor/ise-show-and-visitor-profile)
- [ISE: Humanoid robots in AV, why we give machines a face, and who is really steering](https://www.iseurope.org/news/humanoid-robots-robots-look-human-av)
- [Fira de Barcelona: Gran Via technical regulations](https://guestevents.firabarcelona.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Fira_Barcelona_Technical_Regulations_ENG_web-2.pdf)
- [AI Act Service Desk: Article 50, transparency obligations](https://ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu/en/ai-act/article-50)

This page is published by MERA Robotics, a company that rents humanoid robots with operators for events.

## Contact

MERA Robotics: contact@merarobotics.com, https://merarobotics.com