The Robot Report Podcast

Our guests on this episode are Laura Major, CEO of Motional, and Sankaet Pathek, founder and CEO of Foundation. Cohost Mike Oitzman interviews Laura Major, CEO of Motional, about its advancements in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology. Major discusses Motional's focus on AI and machine learning, emphasizing the shift from technical to business leadership. They have conducted pilot activities in Las Vegas and Pittsburgh, focusing on diverse environments to enhance their AV's generalizability. Major highlights the importance of simulation in development, combining it with real-world testing. Motional's AVs are electric, leveraging the Ionic 5 platform for efficiency. They have a strong safety record, with no at-fault accidents over 2 million miles. Regulatory frameworks vary by state, but they collaborate with local and state officials to improve deployment. Learn more about Motion: https://motional.com/ In a conversation with Sankaet Pathek, the founder and CEO of Foundation, discusses the mission and vision behind his humanoid robot company. He shares insights into his background, the challenges and opportunities in the robotics industry, and the innovative technologies being developed at Foundation. The conversation highlights the importance of building a capable team, the focus on practical applications of humanoid robots, and the unique technological advancements that differentiate Foundation from competitors. In this conversation, Sankaet discusses the current state and future of humanoid robotics, focusing on automation in manufacturing, the integration of AI, safety considerations, and the challenges of scaling production. He emphasizes the importance of data in training AI models and the need for reliable hardware and software to ensure safety. Sankaet also shares insights on navigating the venture capital landscape and achieving cost efficiency in humanoid robots, while reflecting on the challenges of startup life. Learn more about Foundation: https://foundation.bot/ Please like, subscribe, and share the show with a colleague.

Welcome to our 200th episode! Our guest in this episode is Dr Robert Ambrose, Texas A&M professor and Chairman of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at Alliant. In this conversation, Dr. Rob Ambrose discusses his extensive experience in robotics and artificial intelligence, particularly during his time at NASA. He highlights the evolution of robotics in space exploration, the transition to commercial applications, and the importance of education in fostering the next generation of engineers. Dr. Ambrose emphasizes the need for the U.S. to regain its leadership in robotics amidst growing competition from countries like China, and he advocates for a proactive approach to innovation and automation in various industries. We take a walk down memory lane and recap some of our favorite moments on the show from the last five years. Steve Crowe, Gene Demaitre, and Mike Oitzman talk through some stats from the show over 200 episodes. We also want to thank our special guests on this episode who stopped by for a quick message, including Jonathan Hurst, Aaron Prather, Kevin Lawton, Victor Splittgerber, and Joe Wieciek. And thanks to all of our fans of the show. We love meeting you at shows. Please like, follow/subscribe, and leave a review. The best way to help us grow is to share the show with a colleague.

Our guest in this episode is Cam Myers, founder and CEO of CreateMe. He discusses the innovative application of robotics and adhesive technology in garment production. He shares insights on the challenges faced in automating clothing manufacturing, the benefits of using adhesives over traditional sewing methods, and the potential for reshoring production in response to changing tariffs. The discussion also touches on the future trajectory of CreateMe, emphasizing sustainability and the importance of adapting to consumer demands. Learn more about CreateMe at: https://www.createme.com/

In this conversation, Robert Kufner, CEO and President of SDP/SI, discusses the evolution of the company in response to the changing demands of the tech industry, particularly in automation and robotics. He highlights the importance of customer feedback and investment in advanced manufacturing technologies. The discussion also covers the impact of the changing tariff landscape on SDP/SI and its customers, emphasizing the company's strong position as a US manufacturer. Finally, Kufner addresses sourcing challenges and the future of materials needed for manufacturing. Let's dive into the critical role of precision, quality, and alignment in robotics design and assembly. S-D-P S-s engineering experts go beyond the standard manufacturing process by reviewing your designs before production, offering cost-effective, space-saving solutions that streamline your entire assembly process. Discover how we help robotics companies achieve unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how S-D-P S-I can elevate your robotics applications. Discover the difference! Visit https://sdp-si.com

Our guest in this episode is Nicolas Radford, CEO and co-founder of Persona AI. Persona is commercializing a multi-purpose humanoid to personify AI, enabling the next wave in robotics. No longer are robots confined to the factory floor performing pick and place, welding, or painting, but they are now capable of tasks traditionally reserved only for human-level coordination and mobility. We hear about his new venture with Persona, and teaming up with Jerry Pratt, another well-known roboticist in the humanoid space. Learn more about Persona at: http://persona.ai/ ### Our sponsor this week is SDPSI. Let's dive into the critical role of precision, quality, and alignment in robotics design and assembly. At SDP/SI, our engineering experts go beyond the standard manufacturing process by reviewing your designs before production, offering cost-effective, space-saving solutions that streamline your entire assembly process. Discover how we help robotics companies achieve unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how SDP/SI can elevate your robotics applications. Discover the difference! Visit https://sdp-si.com/ to learn more.

Our guest in this episode is Geoffrey Biggs, CTO of the Open Source Robotics Foundation. He updates us on the recent ROS 2 Kilted Kaiju release, the pending ROS 1 sunset and the future of OSRF. Co-host Steve Crowe returns from Georgia with an update on the 2025 ICRA event. He discusses the event and all of the various robot demos at the event. ICRA is primarily a research-focused robotics event, and it offers attendees the opportunity to see the latest research projects from labs around the world. ### Our sponsor this week is SDPSI. Let's dive into the critical role of precision, quality, and alignment in robotics design and assembly. At SDP/SI, our engineering experts go beyond the standard manufacturing process by reviewing your designs before production, offering cost-effective, space-saving solutions that streamline your entire assembly process. Discover how we help robotics companies achieve unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how SDP/SI can elevate your robotics applications. Discover the difference! Visit https://sdp-si.com/ to learn more.

This week, co-hosts Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre recap the 2025 Automate show in Detroit, MI. In additional to their personal experiences and take-aways from the event, we also feature show floor interviews with: - Ujjwal Kumar, Group President Teradyne Robotics - Marc Segura, President of ABB Robotics - Carole Franklin, Director of Standards Development, Robotics, at Association for Advancing Automation on the new ISO/AWI 25785-1 humanoid safety standard - Mathias Entenmann, cofounder and CEO of CeiliX ### Our sponsor this week is SDPSI. Let's dive into the critical role of precision, quality, and alignment in robotics design and assembly. At SDP/SI, our engineering experts go beyond the standard manufacturing process by reviewing your designs before production, offering cost-effective, space-saving solutions that streamline your entire assembly process. Discover how we help robotics companies achieve unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how SDP/SI can elevate your robotics applications. Discover the difference! Visit https://sdp-si.com/ to learn more.

Our guest in this episode is Giovanni Campanella, the Industrial Automation and Robotics General Manager at Texas Instruments (TI). In this conversation, co-host Mike Oitzman speaks with Campanella about TI's extensive portfolio in industrial automation and robotics, highlighting key product lines and the company's collaboration with various robotics companies. Giovanni shares insights into the challenges of designing humanoid robots, the evolving demands in robotics, and the importance of safety in design. They also explore the expansion of robotics into new sectors such as healthcare and agriculture, and how TI engages with engineers to provide tailored solutions. The conversation concludes with a look at future trends in robotics and the skills needed for systems engineers in this rapidly changing field. ### Our sponsor this week is SDPSI. Let's dive into the critical role of precision, quality, and alignment in robotics design and assembly. At SDP/SI, our engineering experts go beyond the standard manufacturing process by reviewing your designs before production, offering cost-effective, space-saving solutions that streamline your entire assembly process. Discover how we help robotics companies achieve unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how SDP/SI can elevate your robotics applications. Discover the difference! Visit https://sdp-si.com/ to learn more.

This episode comes to you live from the expo floor of the 2025 Robotics Summit and Expo in Boston. Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the event and Mike talks to several friends of the show from the show floor. We catch up with Aaaron Prather, from ASTM. Then Mike talked to Amos Miller from Glidance before his session on personal robotics. Finally, we learn about the upcoming production release from Tatum Robotics founder Samantha Johnson. ### Our sponsor this month is SDP-SI Let's dive into the critical role of precision, quality, and alignment in robotics design and assembly. At SDP/SI, our engineering experts go beyond the standard manufacturing process by reviewing your designs before production, offering cost-effective, space-saving solutions that streamline your entire assembly process. Discover how we help robotics companies achieve unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how SDP/SI can elevate your robotics applications. Discover the difference! Visit https://sdp-si.com/podcast/index.php

Our guest this week is Angus Pacala, CEO and Co-founder of Ouster Lidar. In this conversation, Pacala, discusses the advancements in lidar technology, particularly the introduction of their new 3D zone monitoring feature. He explains the benefits of 3D lidar over traditional 2D systems, emphasizing safety and flexibility in industrial applications. The discussion also covers the evolution of Ouster's hardware, the importance of software-defined capabilities, and the future growth potential in various markets, including humanoid robotics. Pacala highlights the challenges of cost reduction and the need for innovation to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving landscape of lidar technology. ### Our sponsor this week is Enidine. Established in 1966, Enidine is a premier supplier of highly engineered products to extend equipment life, improve comfort, and increase safety and reliability throughout global industrial end markets. Enidine's engineering team has designed custom energy absorption, vibration isolation, and noise attenuation solutions for a wide variety of challenging applications, including automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and factory automation. Its wide array of innovative components has proven to be critical to our customers' success. Learn more by going to https://www.enidine.com/en-us

Featured interview this week: Rob Marshick, Enidine National Sales Manager The team also covers the news from the week, including the ABB Robotics spinout announcement; the Hugging Face/Pollen Robotics acquisition; and various autonomous trucking and mobile robotics product announcements. ### Our sponsor this week is Enidine. Established in 1966, Enidine is a premier supplier of highly engineered products to extend equipment life, improve comfort, and increase safety and reliability throughout global industrial end markets. Enidine's engineering team has designed custom energy absorption, vibration isolation, and noise attenuation solutions for a wide variety of challenging applications, including automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and factory automation. Its wide array of innovative components has proven to be critical to our customers' success. Learn more by going to https://www.enidine.com/en-us

Our guests this week are Nick Thompson, CEO and co-founder of BOW, and Daniel Camilleri, CTO and founder of BOW. BOW is a robotics platform that aims to simplify the development of robotic applications. They discuss the challenges in the robotics industry, the features of the BOW SDK, and the company's business model. The conversation also touches on partnerships, the integration with ROS, and the future of robotics, particularly in relation to AI and task-oriented development. Our sponsor this week is Enidine. Established in 1966, Enidine is a premier supplier of highly engineered products to extend equipment life, improve comfort, and increase safety and reliability throughout global industrial end markets. Enidine's engineering team has designed custom energy absorption, vibration isolation, and noise attenuation solutions for a wide variety of challenging applications, including automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and factory automation. Its wide array of innovative components has proven to be critical to our customers' success. Learn more by going to https://www.enidine.com/en-us

On the show this week, the entire editorial staff of The Robot Report discusses the 2025 winners of the RBR50 innovation awards. The editors talk about some of the standout solutions in this cohort of RBR50 winners, including Robot of the year: Waymo; Application of the year: TEPCO; Startup of the year: Mytra; Robots for good: Hello Robot. See the complete list on The Robot Report website: https://www.therobotreport.com/rbr50-2025/ ### This episode is sponsored by Enidine. Established in 1966, Enidine is a premier supplier of highly engineered products to extend equipment life, improve comfort, and increase safety and reliability throughout global industrial end markets. Enidine's engineering team has designed custom energy absorption, vibration isolation, and noise attenuation solutions for a wide variety of challenging applications, including automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and factory automation. Its wide array of innovative components has proven to be critical to our customers' success. Learn more by going to https://www.enidine.com/en-us

Our guest this week is Ali Kashani, co-founder and CEO of Serve Robotics, who discusses the company's impressive growth, including a 700% revenue increase, and plans to scale their fleet of delivery robots significantly. He shares insights on partnerships, particularly with Magna for manufacturing and Uber for delivery services, and the challenges of expanding into new markets like Miami. The discussion also covers the role of AI in enhancing robot capabilities, the importance of adapting workflows for restaurant partners, and the future of last-mile delivery. Ali reflects on the journey from startup to public company and the endless possibilities for robotics in various sectors. Visit https://www.serverobotics.com/ to learn more. Co-hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the news of the week. ### Our sponsor this week is Wandelbots. Simplify automation without limits. Wandelbots NOVA is the agnostic robotics platform that lets you program any 6-axis robot - whether coding from scratch or generating paths with real-world data. Test in simulation, deploy seamlessly, and optimize workflows across brands - without vendor lock-in. Smarter automation starts here. Visit https://www.wandelbots.com/ to learn more.

On the show this week the co-hosts recap what they saw and learned about at the Promat and NVIDIA GTC 2025 trade shows. You'll hear the latest news and product announcements from the robot companies in attendance.

Our guest this week is Fabio Gehrlicher, Director of Market Expansion at Wandelbots. In the interview, they discuss the company's journey, focusing on its flagship product, Wandelbots NOVA, an agnostic operating system for robots. Fabio explains how NOVA simplifies robot programming, the integration of AI for path planning, and the benefits of simulation-based programming. The conversation also covers the target audience for NOVA, the architecture of the system, and the challenges of transitioning from simulation to real-world applications. Fabio shares insights on the ROI of using NOVA and the learning curve for new users, as well as Wandelbots' expansion into the US market and their upcoming showcase at ProMat 2023. Cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman catch up on the news of the week, including financial stress at iRobot, and news that Google DeepMind is introducing two Gemini-based models to bring AI to the real world. Gemini Robotics, is an advanced vision-language-action (VLA) model that was built on Gemini 2.0. It added physical actions as a new output modality for the purpose of directly controlling robots. ### Our sponsor this week is Wandelbots. Simplify automation without limits. Wandelbots NOVA is the agnostic robotics platform that lets you program any 6-axis robot - whether coding from scratch or generating paths with real-world data. Test in simulation, deploy seamlessly, and optimize workflows across brands - without vendor lock-in. Smarter automation starts here. Visit https://www.wandelbots.com/ to learn more.

Our guest this week is Mark Messina, the new Managing Director and CEO of Answer Robotics America. Mark discusses his journey in the robotics industry, the vision and technology behind ANSCER Robotics, and the strategies for market differentiation. He emphasizes the importance of building valuable products, the challenges of a saturated market, and his personal goals in leading the company. The discussion also touches on operational strategies, including the importance of having a frugal approach and the potential for future growth in the robotics sector. In this conversation, Mark Messina discusses the evolution of work culture towards remote settings, the challenges of building a company in the competitive robotics market, and the importance of understanding cultural differences in international business. He shares insights on finding a balance between work and personal life, navigating trade challenges, and the early successes of his company in the US market. To learn more goto: https://www.anscer.com/ Our sponsor this week is Wandelbots. Simplify automation without limits. Wandelbots NOVA is the agnostic robotics platform that lets you program any 6-axis robot - whether coding from scratch or generating paths with real-world data. Test in simulation, deploy seamlessly, and optimize workflows across brands - without vendor lock-in. Smarter automation starts here. Visit https://www.wandelbots.com/ to learn more.

Our guest this week is Dr Kevin Dowling, Managing Director of the Robotics Factory, discusses the role of the factory in fostering robotics startups in Pittsburgh. He outlines the factory's three main programs: Create, Accelerate, and Scale, which aim to support early-stage companies in various aspects of business development. The discussion also highlights the unique characteristics of Pittsburgh's robotics ecosystem, the importance of collaboration with institutions like Carnegie Mellon, and the challenges startups face in securing investment. Dowling emphasizes the significance of passion and drive in entrepreneurs, as well as the need for a solid IP strategy. The conversation concludes with an optimistic outlook for the future of robotics in the region. Learn more at: https://www.roboticsfactory.org/ Stay up to date with all the robotics news: https://www.therobotreport.com/ https://www.automatedwarehouseonline.com/ https://www.cobottrends.com/

Our guest this week is Jeff Cardenas, CEO and co-founder of Apptronik. We invited Cardenas onto the show to give us some insight into the $350 million in Series A funding round announced earlier this week for Apptronik. Apptronik is an Austin TX based humanoid robot manufacturer, and this round of funding is the second largest for a U.S. based humanoid robot startup, after the $650M funding round for Figure a year ago. Also on the show, we talk with Gene Demaitre, editorial director for The Robot Report, to catch up on what he saw and learned during his trip to the Manifest tradeshow this week. Finally, we catch on other big news of the week, including Fanuc's recent Q3 fiscal numbers and a new lineup of laser weeders from Carbon Robotics.

Our guest this week is Chris Painter, the Director of Technical Product Management at CNH Industrial. In this conversation, co-host Mike Oitzman and Chris talk about the advancements in precision agriculture, the critical role of connectivity, and the challenges faced by farmers in rural areas. They discuss the importance of real-time data for operational efficiency, the future of autonomy in farming, and the impact of AI on agricultural technology. Chris emphasizes the need for continuous connectivity to support autonomous vehicles and the ongoing challenges of labor in the agricultural sector. On the show we also catch up on the latest robotics news of the week including layoffs at Teradyne and Cruise, as well as the latest high reach mobile manipulator from Brightpick called "Giraffe". To learn more about CNH Industrial goto: https://www.cnh.com/

Our guest this week is Erin Linebarger, CEO and co-founder of Robotics88. In this conversation, Erin Linebarger discusses the innovative use of drones in wildfire management, particularly through prescribed fire techniques. The discussion covers the genesis of the company, the importance of data in fire management, the technology behind their drones, and the future of wildfire mitigation efforts globally. To learn more, goto: https://www.robotics88.com

Our guest this week is John Santagate, Senior Vice President, Robotics, Körber Supply Chain Software. John gives a look back at 2024 for the warehouse industry, as well as a look forward to what we might expect to come in the year ahead. The cohosts also recap the robotics news from CES 2025, and the A3 business event from earlier this month. We also cover the top news stories from the robotics industry, including the news of Intel spinning out RealSense as standalone company, and Symbotic acquiring the robotics division of Walmart.

This week we talk to Chris Savoia, Head of Ecosystem Success, Americas UR Keywords Universal Robots, collaborative robots, automation, mobile manipulators, Polyscope X, robotics trends, safety standards, AI in robotics, UR+, Re-Automated podcast, robotics, automation, MotionPlus, cybersecurity, UR Plus, AI, manufacturing, Universal Robots, Polyscope X, future of robotics Summary In this conversation, Chris Savoia, head of ecosystem success at Universal Robots, discusses the evolution of collaborative robots, the importance of education and reskilling in automation, and the recent advancements in higher payload robots and mobile manipulators. He also shares insights from his podcast, Re-Automated, and highlights the significance of the new Polyscope X platform for developers. In this conversation, Chris Savoia discusses the advancements in robotics, focusing on the value proposition of connecting robots, the enhancements brought by MotionPlus, and the importance of cybersecurity in connected systems. He elaborates on the OptiMove feature that optimizes robot control, the evolution of UR Plus with new partnerships and solutions. Savoia also shares insights on the future of robotics, emphasizing the potential growth in the industry and the impact of AI. Takeaways Universal Robots is focused on unlocking robotics for the masses. Education and reskilling are crucial for the future of automation. Collaborative robots are designed to be user-friendly and accessible. Higher payload robots expand the capabilities of collaborative automation. Mobile manipulators combine the strengths of mobile robots and robotic arms. Safety standards are evolving to accommodate new robotic technologies. Polyscope X enhances the development experience for both developers and end users. The integration of AI and vision technology is key for mobile manipulators. Risk assessments are essential for safe robot deployment. Humanoid robots face unique challenges in safety and functionality. Connecting robots requires a clear value proposition. Cybersecurity is a critical consideration for connected robots. OptiMove simplifies robot speed and acceleration settings. UR Plus has evolved to include over 500 products and solutions. Denmark is a hub for robotics innovation and engineering. The robotics industry is expected to see growth in the coming year. AI will play a crucial role in the future of robotics.

In this episode, co-hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman cover the leading robotics news stories from the week. In the featured interview this week, Mike Oitzman interviews Anders Fogelberg, co-founder and CEO of FlexQube, a Swedish company specializing in modular material handling solutions and automation. They discuss FlexQube's innovative approach to manufacturing, the transition from manual carts to automated systems, and the company's vision for the future of robotics in material handling. Fogelberg emphasizes the importance of modularity, customer experience, and the evolving landscape of the AMR market. Takeaways FlexQube is a Swedish company with a focus on modular material handling solutions. The company has manufacturing hubs in North America and Mexico. FlexQube's products are designed to be customizable and adaptable to various manufacturing needs. The shift towards automation in material handling is driven by the need for efficiency and safety. FlexQube's Navigator AMR is a unique solution that integrates with existing carts. The company aims to provide a seamless experience for customers transitioning to automation. FlexQube's vision is to be the 'Netflix of AMRs', focusing on application and customer experience. The modular design allows for quick assembly and customization of material handling solutions. FlexQube is exploring partnerships to enhance its offerings in the AMR market. The future of material handling will involve a hybrid model combining traditional methods with advanced robotics. – SPONSOR – The show this week is sponsored by FlexQube. Move material with any size, shape, and weight with the FlexQube Navigator AMR, the world's first multi-purpose and non-load-carrying robot. The FlexQube Navigator AMR features a standardized coupling interface to connect with an ecosystem of different load carriers depending on the customer's needs. The system also features a safety-rated identification of load carrier footprint to secure a safe and efficient scale-up of different use cases in a factory or warehouse. FlexQube Navigator – robotics that delivers! To learn more about FlexQube's solutions goto: www.flexqube.com

We've got the entire editorial team on this episode as we look back at some of the biggest robotics stories of the year, including the highlights and low lights from the year. Listen to Steve Crowe, Mike Oitzman, Gene Demaitre, and Brianna Wessling as they recap the coverage of the news in 2024. We also hear some perspectives from some friends of the show and industry leaders, including Jeff Burnstein from A3, John Santagate from Körber Supply Chain, and Chris Walti from Mytra Systems. – SPONSOR – The show this week is sponsored by FlexQube. Move material with any size, shape, and weight with the FlexQube Navigator AMR, the world's first multi-purpose and non-load-carrying robot. The FlexQube Navigator AMR features a standardized coupling interface to connect with an ecosystem of different load carriers depending on the customer's needs. The system also features a safety-rated identification of load carrier footprint to secure a safe and efficient scale-up of different use cases in a factory or warehouse. FlexQube Navigator – robotics that delivers! To learn more about FlexQube's solutions goto: www.flexqube.com

In this episode, cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman cover the leading robotics news stories from the week. In the featured interview this week, Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre interview Ben Wolff, co-founder and CEO of Palladyne AI. Ben discusses the company's evolution from hardware-focused robotics to a software-centric approach. He shares insights on the challenges faced during this transition, the impact of SPAC acquisitions, and how Palladyne AI differentiates itself in the competitive landscape of AI for robotics. Ben also highlights the importance of government contracts and the company's hardware-agnostic strategy, while looking ahead to future opportunities in automation and AI applications. Ben recognized the immediate market potential for the software and AI algorithms developed by the company, and as a result led the pivot from hardware development to a software-centric approach, formulating the new organization. This strategic shift, involving the layoff of hardware teams, significantly reducing their burn rate. Palladyne AI has developed software capable of teaching robots complex tasks in under 20 minutes. This agnostic software operates seamlessly on various third-party robots, accelerating iteration and development cycles. The company boasts contracts with the Pentagon, securing non-dilutive funding while navigating the inherent compliance challenges. This robust AI platform, built upon years of valuable hardware experience, positions Palladyne AI for future growth and scaling their software solutions across diverse industries. To learn more, goto: https://www.palladyneai.com/ – SPONSOR – The show this week is sponsored by FlexQube. Move material with any size, shape, and weight with the FlexQube Navigator AMR, the world's first multi-purpose and non-load-carrying robot. The FlexQube Navigator AMR features a standardized coupling interface to connect with an ecosystem of different load carriers depending on the customer's needs. The system also features a safety-rated identification of load carrier footprint to secure a safe and efficient scale-up of different use cases in a factory or warehouse. FlexQube Navigator – robotics that delivers! To learn more about FlexQube's solutions goto: www.flexqube.com

It's VC week at the podcast. TLDR: This episode features interviews with Juliette Chevallier from Scale Ventures and Jasmine Singh from Jay Moon Ventures and covers investment trends in robotics, emphasizing the importance of execution risk over technical risk. Juliette Chevallier, Principal, Investments, Scale Venture Partners Juliette Chevallier has a background in autonomous vehicles and robotics, having previously worked at companies like Google Chauffeur (now Waymo) and MIT spinoff Optimus Ride. She joined Scale Venture Partners about 2 years ago to lead their investment thesis on robotics, AI applications, and cybersecurity. Scale Venture Partners' approach focuses on investing at the point of execution risk rather than technical risk, looking for companies with a working product and proven product-market fit. Juliette emphasizes the importance of understanding the customer ROI and business model as key criteria. In her role as a VC, Juliette prefers to have a deep, hands-on involvement with portfolio companies, acting as a strategic sounding board and collaborating closely with founders to work through tough problems. She sees her role as helping founders navigate the operational and go-to-market challenges. Juliette notes a renewed interest in robotics from VCs, though she is cautious about some "wild" valuations and funding rounds, preferring bottoms-up market analysis over top-down figures. Juliette is bullish on the potential of robotics foundation models (RFMs) to drive transformation, emphasizing the need for more multi-modal AI models that integrate vision, action, and communication. She is excited about the possibilities of AI to enhance robotics, but cautions about the risks of AI development burning through funding. Overall, Juliette's approach focuses on de-risking execution and operational challenges for robotics startups, leveraging her deep technical and business expertise to support founders. Learn more at: https://www.scalevp.com/ Jasmeet Singh, founder, JMOON Ventures Jasmeet Singh has a diverse background spanning robotics engineering, founding startups, and investing since 2012. As an investor at J Moon Ventures, he focuses on "physical AI" startups - those combining hardware, electronics, and AI in areas like robotics, IoT, and 3D printing. Jasmeet emphasizes the importance of solving real problems, not just building cool technology. He looks for startups with a strong understanding of the user and business model, noting operational challenges like scaling manufacturing and finding the right business model. Compared to the more risk-averse Canadian market, Jasmeet sees the US as a better environment for robotics fundraising. He advises founders to target large, underserved problems and focus on customer service and support. Some of Jasmeet's investments include Orange Wood Labs, Brisk AI, and Rural Hologram. As he launches J Moon Ventures, he is particularly interested in opportunities in agriculture, construction, medical, and sustainability. Overall, Jasmeet brings a unique perspective as an investor with deep technical expertise and operational experience in robotics. He is focused on backing founders solving real-world problems with innovative hardware-software solutions. Learn more at: https://jmoon.ventures/ – SPONSOR – The show this week is sponsored by FlexQube. Move material with any size, shape, and weight with the FlexQube Navigator AMR, the world's first multi-purpose and non-load carrying robot.The FlexQube Navigator AMR features a standardized coupling interface to connect with an ecosystem of different load carriers depending on the customer's needs.The system also features a safety-rated identification of load carrier footprint to secure a safe and efficient scale-up of different use cases in a factory or warehouse. FlexQube Navigator – robotics that delivers! To learn more about FlexQube's solutions goto: https://www.flexqube.com

This week, cohost's Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman sit down with author and illustrator Peter Brown to discuss his children's books series: The Wild Robot. The first book in the series was recently released by Dreamworks as an animated movie and has seen tremendous box office success, topping $320 million worldwide and is on the top 100 list of high-grossing animated movies of all time. Peter takes us through his creative writing process, how he researched the book, and what it takes to write stories for children. He also shares the background research about robotics that he did for the book, and how he pulled the plot together for a robot that finds itself shipwrecked on an island filled with wild creatures. He describes why he chose the specific characteristics for the robot in the story. To learn more about Peter goto: https://www.peterbrownstudio.com/ The movie, animated by Dreamworks, is playing at a theater near you, and available now on many streaming services. If you like the episode, please like and subscribe. Thanks for listening

In this conversation, Andrew Clare, CTO of Nuro, discusses the company's evolution in the autonomous vehicle space, focusing on their innovative Nuro Driver technology. He elaborates on the expansion of their business model to include partnerships with automotive OEMs and the potential market for AI driving solutions. Clare highlights the challenges of urban versus highway driving, the importance of safety culture, and the technology stack required for autonomous vehicles. The discussion also touches on the differences between Level 4 and Level 5 autonomy, as well as the future direction of Nuro in integrating hardware and software solutions. – SPONSOR – The show this week is sponsored by RGo Robotics - RGo Robotics' Perception Engine is revolutionizing the AMR business through advanced Vision AI perception technology. Unlike traditional solutions, RGo's software enables AMRs to adapt to changing environments and navigate complex spaces with unprecedented accuracy and the commissioning process is shorter and simpler. To learn more about RGo's solutions goto: https://www.rgorobotics.ai/?utm_source=therobotreport&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_id=n Submissions for presentations and registration are now open for the 2025 Robotics Summit: https://www.roboticssummit.com/

In this episode, co-hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman cover the leading robotics news stories from the week. In the featured interview this week, Oitzman catches up with Amir Bousani, CEO of RGO Robotics, and Jacob Petersen, Chief Commercial Officer from Wheel.Me Robotics. We discuss the importance of perception for autonomous mobile robots, and discuss Wheel.Me's partnership and decision to leverage RGO Robotics perception engine in their platform. Learn more: https://www.rgorobotics.ai/ https://www.wheel.me/en-us This week, Collaborative Robotics publicly unveiled its Proxie mobile manipulator. We also get an update on Proxie from Brad Porter, founder and CEO of Collaborative Robotics. – SPONSOR – The show this week is sponsored by RGO Robotics - RGo Robotics' Perception Engine is revolutionizing the AMR business through advanced Vision AI perception technology. Unlike traditional solutions, RGo's software enables AMRs to adapt to changing environments and navigate complex spaces with unprecedented accuracy and the commissioning process is shorter and simpler. To learn more about RGO's solutions goto: https://www.rgorobotics.ai/?utm_source=therobotreport&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_id=n Submissions for presentations and registration are now open for the 2025 Robotics Summit: https://www.roboticssummit.com/

Cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman catch up on the latest robotics news of the week, including Mike recent visit to the Stanford Robotics Center. In the featured interview, Mike Oitzman speaks with Marc Segura, the President of ABB Robotics Division, about the latest developments in robotics, particularly focusing on AI integration, market trends, and the future of mobile and collaborative robotics. They discuss the impact of AI on robotics, the current state of the robotics market in the US compared to the rest of the world, and the potential of humanoid robots versus mobile manipulators. The conversation also touches on the evolution of collaborative robotics and its applications in various industries. – SPONSOR – The show this week is sponsored by RGO Robotics - RGo Robotics' Perception Engine is revolutionizing the AMR business through advanced Vision AI perception technology. Unlike traditional solutions, RGo's software enables AMRs to adapt to changing environments and navigate complex spaces with unprecedented accuracy and the commissioning process is shorter and simpler. To learn more about RGO's solutions goto: https://www.rgorobotics.ai/?utm_source=therobotreport&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_id=n Submissions for presentations and registration are now open for the 2025 Robotics Summit: https://www.roboticssummit.com/

In this episode, cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman cover the leading robotics news stories from the week. From the news this week, check out the XPENG Iron humanoid robotics in this YouTube video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3wKyFE9HjM In the featured interview this week, Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre interview Marko Bjelonic, CEO and co-founder of Swiss-Mile, discussing the innovative quadruped robot that combines wheels and legs for enhanced mobility. They explore the evolution of the robot from academic research to a commercial product, the engineering challenges faced, and the unique functionalities that set it apart. The discussion also covers potential applications in security and logistics, the importance of autonomy in robotics, and the future direction of Swiss Mile as a technology-focused company. Link: https://www.swiss-mile.com/ – SPONSOR – The show this week is sponsored by RGO Robotics - RGo Robotics' Perception Engine is revolutionizing the AMR business through advanced Vision AI perception technology. Unlike traditional solutions, RGo's software enables AMRs to adapt to changing environments and navigate complex spaces with unprecedented accuracy and the commissioning process is shorter and simpler. To learn more about RGO's solutions goto: https://www.rgorobotics.ai/ Submissions for presentations and registration are now open for the 2025 Robotics Summit: https://www.roboticssummit.com/

In this episode, co-hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman discuss the latest video from Boston Dynamics showing Atlas electric humanoid in an autonomous material movement demo. The video shows the Atlas moving automotive parts from one storage bin to another bin. The hosts discuss the unique aspects of this video and how Atlas appears to move differently from the other competitive humanoid robots in recent demonstration videos. Submissions are now open for the 2025 RBR50 innovation awards. This awards programs celebrate robotics innovation in calendar year 2024, and open to any company worldwide who's producing robotics or automation solutions. To learn more about the program and submit a nomination form, goto: https://www.therobotreport.com/2025-rbr50-robotics-innovation-awards-open-for-nominations/ In our feature interview this week, Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre sit down with Gili Ovadia, VP of Business Development at BionicHive to learn more about their unique warehouse automation solution. The BionicHive Squid mobile robot can drive along the floor of the warehouse, and climb into the warehouse racking to put or get boxes/totes from storage locations on higher shelves. We learn how the system works and discuss where BionicHive is deploying these automate storage solutions. You can learn more about BionicHive at: https://bionichive.com/ – SPONSOR – The show this week is sponsored by RGO Robotics - RGo Robotics' Perception Engine is revolutionizing the AMR business through advanced Vision AI perception technology. Unlike traditional solutions, RGo's software enables AMRs to adapt to changing environments and navigate complex spaces with unprecedented accuracy and the commissioning process is shorter and simpler. To learn more about RGO's solutions goto: https://www.rgorobotics.ai/

In this week's show, Dr. Russ Tedrake from Toyota Research Institute, and Scott Kuindersma from Boston Dynamics discuss their collaboration on humanoid robotics and the integration of AI through large behavior models. They explore the challenges and opportunities in developing general-purpose robots, the importance of human involvement in learning processes, and the role of data in enhancing robot capabilities. The discussion also touches on practical applications, deployment strategies, and the significance of rigorous research in advancing robotics technology. Cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman also review Mike's takeaways from the FIRA 2024 ag-robotics event earlier this week. The show this week is sponsored by Zebra Robotics Automation - It's time to switch to Zebra Robotics Automation. The company's cutting-edge Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution is engineered to reduce your costs per unit and give you that unbeatable competitive edge. Don't settle for less—maximize your profits with Zebra Robotics Automation. To learn more about Zebra's solutions goto: www.zebra.com/fulfillment

On the show this week, co-hosts Steve Crowe, Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre review the significant highlights from RoboBusiness 2024 which took place this week in Santa Clara CA. The editors discuss the news from the week and highlights of the keynote sessions. The show this week is sponsored by Zebra Robotics Automation - It's time to switch to Zebra Robotics Automation. The company's cutting-edge Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution is engineered to reduce your costs per unit and give you that unbeatable competitive edge. Don't settle for less—maximize your profits with Zebra Robotics Automation. To learn more about Zebra's solutions goto: www.zebra.com/fulfillment

In this conversation, Dr. Henrik Christensen discusses the intersection of robotics and federal policy, emphasizing the need for more attention and funding for the robotics sector. He highlights the challenges of reshoring manufacturing, the implications of political campaigns on robotics, and the importance of tariffs and immigration reforms. The discussion also covers the impact of recent legislation like the Build Back Better Act and the CHIPS Act on the robotics industry, as well as the future of semiconductor manufacturing and international partnerships in robotics. Takeaways - Robotics needs more federal attention similar to AI. - Reshoring manufacturing is crucial for economic growth. - The Midwest's manufacturing sector is vital for the US economy. - Federal funding for robotics has decreased while AI funding has increased. - Small and medium-sized companies are essential for manufacturing exports. - Tariffs may negatively impact the robotics industry. - The US must rebuild its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. - International partnerships in robotics are necessary for innovation. - Investment in defense and energy production is likely to increase. - Immigration reform is needed to address labor shortages.

On the show this week, we feature a recent conversation with 1X Founder and CEO, Berndt Børnich, and learn all about the company's plan to begin testing of the NEO Beta humanoid in homes. In this conversation, Bernt discusses the launch of 1X's humanoid robot, NEO, and the mission to address labor shortages through robotics. He emphasizes the importance of designing robots for home environments to gather diverse data for AI training, ensuring safety and compliance, and navigating regulatory challenges. The discussion also touches on public perception of robots and the future of humanoid robotics in society. To learn more: https://www.1x.tech/ The show this week is sponsored by Zebra Robotics Automation - It's time to switch to Zebra Robotics Automation. The company's cutting-edge Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution is engineered to reduce your costs per unit and give you that unbeatable competitive edge. Don't settle for less—maximize your profits with Zebra Robotics Automation. To learn more about Zebra's solutions goto: https://www.zebra.com/fulfillment

It's drone week on the podcast, and we feature two interviews from the world of aerial robotics. Today, we talk with Hylio Drones CEO and Co-founder Arthur Erickson. He and his fellow University of Texas, Austin co-founders are focused on the ag-spraying industry and are the largest U.S.-based ag-spraying drone company. The company manufactures its drones entirely in the U.S., and has a healthy pipeline of clients. Learn more: https://www.hyl.io/ The second featured interview is with Heven Drones CEO and co-founder Bentzion Levinson. Heven (pronounced "heaven") Drones are innovating in the drone market by using hydrogen fuel cells instead of lithium-ion batteries to achieve fight times of up to eight hours. Heven is deploying its drone platform into use cases such as infrastructure inspection, security, long-distance package delivery, and military applications. Learn more: https://hevendrones.com/

This week we connected with Bren Pierce, CEO and founder of a young startup that recently decloaked to bring a new wheeled humanoid robot platform to market. Pierce was a co-founder and chief robotics officer at Bear Robotics, and his latest venture is looking at the applications of a wheeled humanoid solution. Pierce is considering deploying this new robot into warehousing and service robotics applications. Imagine a robot that can serve food and bus the tables in a restaurant. Pierce fully understands how to build robotics for this market, and believes that a wheeled robot with two arms is the right solution. Learn more at:https://www.kinisi.tech/ In this episode cohosts Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre also review the top robotics news stories of the week. Please like and subscribe to ensure that you don't miss an episode.

In this episode, we learn all about Yarbo robotics from cofounder Kenneth Kohlmann. Yarbo made its mark with the launch of its first robotic snow blower in 2018, and has now extended the product line with additional attachments including a mower deck and leaf blower. The company has plans to extend the utility of the robotic base with more attachments in the future. Learn more at: https://www.yarbo.com/us

Cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman discuss the latest robotics news from the last week, including a review of the July funding report, which topped $1.3B. 1X also unveiled the NEO Beta humanoid model and prepares for pilot deployments into test home environments. The recent news of the Covariant AI acquisition or acqui-hire by Amazon is an interesting strategic move by the retailing giant. Both companies declined to comment on the details of the acquisition, so we asked ex-Amazon robotics leader and current CEO and founder of Collaborative Robotics, Brad Porter, to join us on the show to share his insights into the state of AI development and why this is an exciting move by Amazon. To learn more about Collaborative Robotics, goto: https://www.co.bot/

On the show today, we sit down with Michael Zampano, product engineer from mk North America, and learn all about flexible conveyance, a critical part of many robotic workcells. You'll learn about the Versaflex AP10, a flexible pallet conveyor solution. The Versaflex can be configured to fit the part-feeding requirements of any industrial robotic work cell. The solution is highly durable and can be reconfigured as the production evolves. To learn more about the Versaflex solution go to: https://www.mknorthamerica.com/Products/versaflex-pallet-conveyors/ About Ask an Expert - this series features in-depth discussions with product experts about how those solutions are changing the landscape of automation and robotics. If you'd like to feature an expert from your company on a future episode of "Ask an Expert" - contact our executive producer: Courtney Nagle - cnagle@wtwhmedia.com

Catch up on the latest robotics news of the week, including Boston Dynamics Atlas doing pushups; Fanuc launches new R50i robot controller; Waymo starts airport pickup in Phoenix. The featured interview this week is with Paul Heitlinger, General Manager of Nokia AIMS (autonomous inventory management system). We learn about the new Nokia AIMS inventory counting solution, the technology behind it, and why Nokia is in the warehouse management space now. Links from the show: https://www.nokia.com/industries/manufacturing-and-logistics/aims/

This episode dives into the heart of the robotics industry with a special treat: the keynote fireside chat from the 2024 Robotics Summit. Join us as we listen in on Steve Crowe's insightful conversation with Ujjwal Kumar, Group President of Teradyne Robotics. They delve into the landscape of robotics, discussing Teredyne's collaborative robotics divisions UR and MiR, and sharing Ujjwal's unique perspective on the industry's future. Catch up on the latest news in the robotics industry this week, including an update on Serve Robotics newest merchant: Shake Shack, and a conversation with Serve Robotics President and COO, Touraj Parang about the expansion of service earlier in the week,

On the show today, we have a conversation with Chris Walti, CEO and co-founder of Mytra AI. Mytra decloaked and unveiled its pallet-based ASRS-like storage array for warehousing last month. The solution is unique for the payload size (3000 lbs) that the Mytrabots move through the storage array. The company is beginning to deploy pilot projects with early access customers and Chris discusses the ideal applications for the system. To learn more, check out the story on therobotreport.com or at mytra.ai

On the show today, we hear a replay of the State of Warehouse Automation Panel from the 2024 Robotics Summit, this was an esteemed panel moderated by Eugene Demaitre and featuring the voices of Tim Tetzlaff Vice President, Global Head of Accelerated Digitalization | DHL Supply Chain, John Santagate VP of Robotics | Körber Supply Chain, and Adrian Stoch Chief Automation Officer | GXO. The second feature on the show today is the last in our series of interviews recorded during the recent robotics summit, this one with Carlos Bielicki VP of Sales from Performance Motion Devices in an interview with Chris Lueke, host of the Manufacturing Happy Hour.

This week we connect with Mike Pivac, CEO of FBR. The Australian robotics company recently brought the latest generation of its HadrianX autonomous bricklaying robot to the U.S. for early market trials during the next 6 months. We talked with Pivac about the market needs that fueled the creation and evolution of HadrianX over the last decade. This innovative robot can lay up the brick walls for a residential home autonomously in a single workday. This episode also features an interview with Chris Luecke (The Manufacturing Happy Hour) and Joe Martino (Maxon Group) about the features and use cases for Maxon motion solutions.

In this episode, we learn how Jacobi Robotics is improving the programming and deployment of industrial robots from CEO and co-founder Max Cao. You'll learn how Jacobi is using AI to simplify the robot programming process. The company has released its first application specifically for palletizing. Later on in the show, Jake Hall, the Manufacturing Millenial, sits down with Jan Hennecke, product manager for Igus at the recent Robotics Summit to learn all about Igus' low-cost and easy-to-program robotics product line.

On today's episode, we catch up with Oana Jinga, co-founder, Chief Commercial and Product Officer for Dexory to learn all about the Dexory warehouse inventory management solution. Also on this episode, we feature a conversation between editorial director Gene Demaitre and Garret Place, Business Development for robotic perception at ifm.

Stratom President and CEO Mark Gordon joins us today on the podcast. Stratom is a military contractor that makes robots for various divisions of the US armed forces. The company has also expanded to the commercial sector with its field robotics solutions, including applications such as mining and construction. Listen in as our friend Aaron Prather from ASTM sits down with Meghan Ziemba of Mavens of Manufacturing to continue our interview series from the Robotics Summit this spring.

On the show today, we talk to Sankalp Arora, CEO and co-founder of Gather.ai, and learn about Gather's view of warehouse inventory management using drones. The second feature on the show today is an interview with Jake Hall, the Manufacturing Millenial, and Scott Sizemore, Director of Commercial Marketing at Electrocraft. Links: https://www.gather.ai/ https://www.electrocraft.com/