Humanoid robot at garden and outdoor trade fairs (IPM ESSEN, spoga+gafa): what it can do on the stand, fair rules and who provides it

A stand at a garden trade fair is often a small garden: turf, gravel, planters, a pond, and at outdoor living fairs also grills and fire pits. A humanoid robot looks good against greenery and draws people in, but such a stand is harder terrain than a smooth hall floor. Below we describe what the robot can do, what to watch out for and how to choose a partner.

What are IPM ESSEN and spoga+gafa like?

IPM ESSEN is the international horticulture trade fair in Essen. According to the organiser, the next edition runs from 26 to 29 January 2027, with exhibitors from all over the world presenting plants, technology, floristry and garden features (IPM ESSEN). The fair runs from Tuesday to Friday.

spoga+gafa in Cologne is the fair for gardens and outdoor living: garden furniture, grills, decoration and tools. According to the organiser, spoga+gafa 2027 takes place in Cologne from 15 to 17 June (spoga+gafa).

What can a humanoid robot do on a garden trade fair stand?

A humanoid robot on the stand of a plant grower, garden furniture brand or tool maker works best in tasks where conversation matters:

• greets visitors in German, English, Polish or Dutch and asks what they are looking for,
• talks about the offer: varieties, furniture collections, new products of the season, using knowledge the company has prepared,
• recognises a product on display with its camera and talks about it, for example the collection the visitor is standing next to,
• directs visitors to sales staff and to experts for a specific product group,
• performs at set times, for example announcing a floristry demonstration or a new collection,
• poses for photos against the stand's arrangement and records short videos for social media.

MERA Robotics prepares an event profile with knowledge about the client, its offer and the programme for each event, and the robot can get its own brand identity: a name, a character and a way of speaking. The same setup can later be used at a garden centre opening or in a garden furniture showroom.

Which rules apply to a robot on a garden trade fair stand?

A robot at a trade fair is subject to the fair's technical regulations and to arrangements with the exhibitor. On a garden stand these points matter most:

1. Ground surface: the robot walks most reliably on a flat, hard surface. Roll-out turf, gravel, bark or loose paving slabs increase the risk of tripping, so build the robot's zone from the stand floor or a hard platform.
2. Water and soil: keep ponds, fountains, sprinklers and freshly watered plants away from the robot. Wet soil dirties its feet and can be slippery.
3. Fire and heat: on stands with grills and fire pits the robot works at a safe distance from open flames and hot surfaces.
4. Plants and exhibits: keep the robot's zone away from planters, tall plants and delicate arrangements it could catch with an arm.
5. Power and internet: a socket for charging batteries and a stable stand connection.
6. AI disclosure: the European Commission states that people using AI systems such as chatbots should be made aware that they are interacting with a machine, and the AI Act transparency rules come into effect in August 2026 (European Commission). A sign and one sentence from the robot at the start of the conversation are enough.

If the stand has an outdoor area or you plan a demonstration in a show garden, read our article on a humanoid robot at an outdoor event. The January date of IPM also means transport in winter: the robot and batteries should travel in a heated vehicle.

Humanoid or quadruped robot at a garden trade fair?

A humanoid robot at a garden trade fair is better at conversation with visitors, because it talks, gestures and stands at the visitor's level. A quadruped robot such as the Unitree Go2 copes better with uneven ground, but it does not replace a conversation. For rental with an operator, MERA Robotics offers Unitree G1 and Unitree H2 humanoid robots, while quadruped robots such as the Go2 are available to buy in the merarobots.com shop. Makers of garden machinery who want to show a robot outdoors will find more in our article on robots at agricultural trade fairs.

How do you prepare a robot for a garden trade fair step by step?

1. Goal: conversations with buyers, video content or a technology showcase on the stand.
2. Knowledge: names of varieties and collections, new products of the season, a list of embargoed topics.
3. Zone: hard floor, distance from water, fire and plants.
4. Languages: German and English plus the languages of the buyers you expect.
5. Schedule: performances, breaks for battery swaps and operator shifts; see our article on battery life at an event.
6. Rehearsal: test walking on the stand floor and test the pronunciation of product names, especially Latin plant names.

Who can provide a robot for a garden trade fair and how do you choose a partner?

When choosing a company to provide a robot for IPM ESSEN, spoga+gafa or another garden fair, check whether it:

1. has its own operators with the robot at all times,
2. programmes the conversation for a specific brand and its offer,
3. supports many languages,
4. has several robot models and can match the model to the stand,
5. has experience with trade fairs abroad,
6. checks the robot before departure and brings spare batteries.

MERA Robotics from Warsaw rents out Unitree G1 (about 132 cm) and Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) humanoid robots with operators for trade fairs and events in Poland and abroad, including the international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026, and runs them on site with its own operators. Its MERA OS system holds conversations in more than 30 languages, including Polish and English, with a voice matched to each language, and has an image recognition module for the camera. Every robot is checked before it goes to an event, and pricing depends on how long the robot is needed, the venue and logistics. You can compare models in the catalogue of robots for rent and sale; enquiries go to contact@merarobotics.com.