If you passed HPE’s stand at GITEX 2025 and saw three tiny players in kits passing a ball, you weren’t hallucinating. The robot kick-about is an AI demo tied to real factory tech: an abat+ production platform running on HPE NonStop. The same stack a major car maker uses on its line is calling the plays—vision, positioning and decision-making—so the robots find space and take their shots. You’ll find it in Hall 6, Stand A30 in Dubai.
What’s actually on the pitch
The robots aren’t toys. They’re a live model of how data-driven control systems guide complex processes in real time.
- AI recognises the field, ball and players
- Positioning/strategy decisions are made on the fly
- The control layer mirrors an automotive production line
- Built on abat+ software and HPE NonStop infrastructure
The demo shows perception, planning and control, the same loop factories run all day. Cameras and sensors feed an AI model that tracks the ball and players. abat+ handles orchestration, while HPE NonStop provides the resilient compute layer known for “always-on” operations. In a plant, that means parts, robots and workers flow safely with fewer stoppages. On the GITEX turf, it means crisp passes and less shuffling.
Why HPE NonStop and abat+ matter
It’s the reliability and scale. Production lines can’t crash; they need consistent throughput and traceability.
- NonStop is built for high availability and fault tolerance
- abat+ ties shop-floor events to business systems
- Together they push process control and quality tracking
- Target: lower cost, higher flexibility, fewer defects
Manufacturers—especially car makers—are unifying data from conveyors, robots and test rigs into one control plane. The HPE + abat+ combo is pitched as a robust, secure base that can scale with line complexity. That means better scheduling, fewer quality escapes and faster re-tooling for new models. It’s not flashy, but it’s how you ship on time.
What HPE is saying (minus the fluff)
Data-first manufacturing is the theme: improved control, quality and flexibility on a secure, scalable stack.
- Data-driven approach across complex environments
- Performance, reliability and security called out
- Aimed at both improving current lines and enabling new products
HPE’s Michael Langeveld (Technology & Business Development, Emirates & Africa) frames it as an architecture for continuous improvement. Smart systems, he says, open headroom in cost, quality and agility so manufacturers can meet what tomorrow’s buyers want. Strip the marketing: do more, break less, adapt faster.
Where to see it at GITEX—and what else to check
The robot match runs at HPE’s Hall 6, Stand A30. Save time by pairing it with nearby HPC and AI stops across the show.
- HPE robot football: Hall 6, Stand A30 (GITEX 2025, Dubai)
- Deep-dive on HPE’s liquid-cooled HPC (background reading): our look at HPE’s Cray gear and fanless DLC design, the same approach used in El Capitan
- HPE at GITEX overview: what HPE is showing in AI, cooling and networking this week
- Wider GITEX AI coverage: du’s AI Park plans, UAESA’s digital licensing, and more
Start with the football demo to understand the “factory brain”. If you want the big-iron side of AI, read our explainer on HPE’s liquid-cooled supercomputing kit—useful context if you’re planning GPU clusters in the region. For a broader view of HPE’s stand and how it fits into the UAE AI build-out, check our GITEX hub pieces below.
How this demo translates to the factory floor
Think scheduling, routing and inspection—fewer stoppages and faster changeovers.
- Faster line re-balancing during model changes
- Real-time quality gates using sensor fusion
- Predictive maintenance on critical stations
- Traceability baked into every event
The same logic that makes a tiny striker choose between a pass and a shot helps a plant decide whether to divert a part to inspection or push it down the main line. With end-to-end data, managers can simulate changes, test them safely, and roll them out with minimal downtime. That’s the practical win—less time guessing, more time producing.
Where is the robot football demo at GITEX 2025?
At HPE’s stand in Hall 6, Stand A30, Dubai World Trade Centre.
What tech is running the robots?
abat+ software on HPE NonStop systems—mirroring setups used on automotive lines.
Is this just a gimmick?
The match illustrates perception and control loops used in real manufacturing. The point is to show how data and resilient compute improve quality and flexibility.
