CES, powered by the Consumer Technology Association®, is recognized globally for setting the stage of the future of innovation. The 2026 event, recently hosted in Las Vegas, was no exception. Welcoming more than 148,000 visitors, CES attracts a broad array of organizations and attendees from industrials to startups and everything in between. McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing was proud to be part of the event as part of Oshkosh Corporation’s (NYSE:OSK) CES 2026 experience.
Autonomy, AI and future-focused solutions were key themes at the event. These prominent themes fit squarely within Oshkosh Corporation’s primary technology pillars of autonomous, AI-enabled, electric and intelligent technology and products for everyday heroes. As part of Oshkosh’s broader CES experience, McNeilus showcased how advanced technologies aren’t just concepts, they’re being applied to promote safety, productivity and performance in the demanding environments that haulers and municipalities operate in every day.
A major theme at the Oshkosh CES exhibit space was how autonomy can support operators and promote productivity, especially in repetitive, high-frequency tasks like residential and commercial collection.
McNeilus highlighted autonomous innovation with the HARR-E™ autonomous, electric refuse robot, designed as a self-driving, AI-enabled solution designed for master planned communities and other unique applications. Promoting quiet, clean and efficient operation, the HARR-E refuse robot showcases a technology concept which continues to evolve as quickly as the refuse industry and world. Since its debut at CES 2025, HARR-E has evolved to feature a two-piece design for ease of emptying. Additionally, the autonomous robot can help address labor challenges, support team member training while promoting efficiency. This technology is further complemented by CartSeeker™ Curbside Automation which utilizes AI technology to detect carts – boosting productivity and efficiency.
Users simply hail the robot via its native app or a smart home assistant. The HARR-E robot leaves its charging base to collect waste from the specified pickup location, where it opens its lid and closes with the push of a button once the refuse is deposited. After collection, the HARR-E robot navigates to a central dumping site, before returning to a charging base in preparation for its next pickup. This technology also promotes community comfort through quiet operation.
This innovative solution can help streamline refuse management, enhancing efficiency and logistics to complement traditional services and redefines day-to-day refuse collection for modern communities.
Beyond a single product, the booth experience emphasized autonomy as part of an integrated approach: pairing automation with sensing, intelligence and connectivity to help manage improve situational awareness and manage the items which may slow down teams. Autonomy isn’t “all-or-nothing.” Each team, fleet and community has different needs and automation has the power to support the job, the environment, and the operator.
Artificial intelligence (AI) was another core pillar across the Oshkosh booth, and McNeilus leaned into how AI-enabled systems can enhance day-to-day collection operations and transform communities.
Material contamination detection continues to be a persistent issue for the refuse industry – challenging the waste stream, requiring extra time and money to manage and hindering sustainability targets. McNeilus’ material contamination detection technology addresses this with AI-powered technology which is able to identify more than a dozen contaminants and through machine learning, continues to advance and detect even more. Using edge-based processing, these systems ensure clean recycling streams while allowing education in communities about proper recycling practices.
By minimizing contamination, this advanced system can help to divert more recyclables from landfills, supporting both environmental and operational goals.
Oshkosh Corporation’s CES 2026 experience showcased the power of intelligent, connected ecosystems in delivering real-time and actional insights. From fleet management to predictive maintenance, smart technology including McNeilus’ ClearSky® Intelligence turns data into actions. The CES exhibit experience showcased how AI, autonomy and connectivity work together to support smart operations and informed decision-making.
Why it matters: refuse and recycling collection is complex - tight spaces, unpredictable conditions and nonstop repetition. Connected solutions such as ClearSky® Intelligence have the potential to help teams respond quickly, operate confidently and keep performance consistent across routes and shifts.
The McNeilus® Volterra™ electric refuse and recycling vehicles, which were recognized as a CES 2026 Innovation Awards Honoree in the “Construction and Industrial Tech” category, were spotlighted at the event showing the power of purpose-built design and electric technology.
The McNeilus® Volterra™ electric vehicles have a purpose-built design leveraging expertise from across Oshkosh Corporation its chassis, cab design and much more. With a driver-first design, the Volterra eRCV offers outstanding visibility with its large windshield, ADAS technology, intuitive controls and fully electric operation.
“The McNeilus Volterra electric vehicles represent more than just an advancement in technology; it reflects our commitment to shaping the future of refuse and recycling collection,” said Lee Dreas, president of McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing. “From purpose-built solutions and automation to intelligent connectivity, every innovation we deliver is focused on making our customers’ operations safe, efficient, and sustainable.”
Electrification is well beyond prototypes and into purpose-built solutions engineered for the realities of modern refuse collection: performance demands, durability expectations, and the day-in/day-out nature of the work.
As the industry looks for ways to reduce emissions and control noise while maintaining productivity, electric platforms can play a meaningful role in helping municipalities and private fleets meet evolving goals without losing sight of uptime and operational requirements.
CES isn’t just about what’s on the floor, it’s also about the conversations that shape what comes next. At the Oshkosh booth, McNeilus helped support interactive exhibits and tech talks that connected the technology pillars to real use cases across neighborhoods, airports, job sites, and critical infrastructure. McNeilus leaders also participated in scheduled tech talks at the booth, reinforcing the themes of autonomy, intelligent solutions and electrification.
McNeilus’ CES 2026 presence reinforced what McNeilus customers and partners already know: innovation matters most when it shows up in the toughest conditions and delivers results that teams can feel every day.
Whether it’s autonomy that helps control repetitive tasks, artificial intelligence that helps promote fast decision-making, electrification that enables quiet operation, or connected intelligence that promotes fleet visibility, these aren’t separate ideas - they’re part of a capable, connected responsive future for refuse and recycling collection. And as part of the Oshkosh Corporation portfolio, McNeilus continues to lead this journey.