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272 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Who Let the Robodogs Out? Meet Swiss-Mile's wheeled quadruped
8 november 2024 · 1 uur 1 min
In this episode, cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman cover the leading robotics news stories from the week. Lees meer
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/
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New Atlas video; Climbing to new heights in warehouse automation with BionicHive
1 november 2024 · 56 min
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. Lees meer
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/
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Practical Applications of Embodied AI and Humanoid Robots
23 oktober 2024 · 1 uur 18 min
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. Lees meer
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 -
RoboBusiness 2024 recap
19 oktober 2024 · 51 min
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 Lees meer -
Navigating Robotics Through the Political Landscape
12 oktober 2024 · 1 uur 14 min
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.
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 Lees meer -
Inside 1x's plan to test humanoids in homes
5 oktober 2024 · 1 uur 21 min
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/ Lees meerThe 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 -
Drone Week: Innovation in agriculture and hydrogen-fueled drones
27 september 2024 · 1 uur 30 min
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. Lees meer
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/
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Kinisi Robotics on the potential of wheeled humanoids
21 september 2024 · 50 min
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/ Lees meerIn 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. -
Yarbo brings robots to the backyard
13 september 2024 · 1 uur
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 Lees meer -
Unpacking Amazon’s unique Covariant AI deal
7 september 2024 · 1 uur 6 min
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/ Lees meer -
Ask an Expert: Versaflex conveyors with mk North America
3 september 2024 · 18 min
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 Lees meer -
Counting inventory with Nokia AIMS smart drone technology
31 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 15 min
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. Lees meer
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/ -
Driving the transformation of the robotics industry
16 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 18 min
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, Lees meer -
New dimensions in warehouse automation
9 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 21 min
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 Lees meer -
The State of Warehouse Automation
2 augustus 2024 · 1 uur 22 min
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. Lees meer
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.
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Advancing the World of Construction Robotics
26 juli 2024 · 1 uur 13 min
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. Lees meer -
Making robots easier to program and deploy
19 juli 2024 · 1 uur 26 min
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. Lees meer -
Pushing the limits of warehouse inventory management
29 juni 2024 · 1 uur 15 min
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. Lees meer
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Advancing the capabilities and standards of indoor and outdoor autonomous systems
15 juni 2024 · 1 uur 11 min
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. Lees meerListen 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.
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Gathering warehouse inventory data - plus a look at Electrocraft motion solutions
7 juni 2024 · 1 uur 16 min
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/ Lees meer -
The inside scoop on food manufacturing with Chef Robotics
31 mei 2024 · 1 uur 36 min
On the show this week, we get the inside scoop on automating food manufacturing with Chef Robotics founder and CEO Rajat Bhageria. He takes us through the evolution of the Chef Robotics roadmap and the complexities of handling a variety of precooked food items with a robot.
Check out Chef Robotics: Lees meerAlso on the show this week, Meaghan Ziemba, host of Mavens of Manufacturing interviews Joyce Sidopoulos, co-founder and COO of MassRobotics. This interview was recorded live at the recent Robotics Summit event in Boston.
https://www.massrobotics.org/
https://www.mavensofmanufacturing.com/ -
Configuring the future of robotics
23 mei 2024 · 1 uur 8 min
In this episode of The Robot Report Podcast, Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman discuss the news of the week, then we hear recent interviews with Mike Oitzman and Ting Ming Ling, founder and CEO of OTSAW. Then we hear Eugene Demaitre interview Etienne Lacroix, CEO and founder of VENTION at the recent Robotics Summit. Lees meer
Links from the show:
https://vention.io/
https://otsaw.com/camelloplus/
https://sfstandard.com/2024/05/20/waymo-foils-downtown-robbery-after-crash-cops-say/ -
2024 Robotics Summit recap / Interviews with RBR50 Winners
15 mei 2024 · 1 uur 29 min
In this episode, Steve Crowe, Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre discuss highlights from the 2024 Robotics Summit and Expo that took place in Boston earlier in the month. Also featured in this episode are interviews with Agility Robotics co-founder and Chief Robotics Officer, Jonathan Hurst, along with Brightpick co-founder and CEO, Jan Zizka. Agility Robotics was the inaugural RBR50 2024 Robot of the Year winner, and Brightpick was the inaugural RBR50 2024 Application of the Year winner.
See all of this years winners here: https://www.therobotreport.com/rbr50-2024/
Keep up with the latest robotics news and information here on our network of websites:
https://www.therobotreport.com/
https://mobilerobotguide.com/
https://www.cobottrends.com/ Lees meer -
From the barn to the bar: AI powered robots
20 april 2024 · 1 uur 2 min
In this episode, we talk to Matt Casella from Richtech about the Adam bartending robot, and then to Chris Padwick from John Deere about creating vision models for spraying weeds in the field. Both interviews occurred during the NVIDIA GTC24 event in March, and both companies leverage NVIDIA technology in their robotic solutions.
We also cover the breaking news from the week, including the launch of the new Boston Dynamics Electric Atlas
Richtech Robotics: https://www.richtechrobotics.com/
John Deere Autonomous Solutions: https://www.deere.com/en/sprayers/see-spray/
Boston Dynamics Electric Atlas: https://bostondynamics.com/atlas/ Lees meer -
2024 RBR50 Innovation Awards
13 april 2024 · 1 uur 2 min
This week, the entire The Robot Report editorial staff is on the show to discuss the highlights of the 2024 RBR50 Innovation Awards that were announced earlier this week.
Host Steve Crowe discusses the awards with Mike Oitzman, Eugene Demaitre, and Brianna Wessling.
You can view all of the award winners and the writeups of their 2024 winning innovation on The Robot Report website: https://www.therobotreport.com/rbr50-2024/
All of this year's winners will be honored at the inaugural RBR50 Gala at the 2024 Robotics Summit and Expo, in Boston, on May 1. There's still time to register: https://www.roboticssummit.com/
Plus, you'll be able to see many of the innovations live at the RBR50 pavilion on the expo floor. Congrats to all of this years honorees. Lees meer -
Team and TAM, the keys to investing in robotics
29 maart 2024 · 1 uur 18 min
Our featured guest on the show this week is Jamie Lee, Managing Partner at Tamarack Global. Tamarack Global emerged on our radar last month as one of the investors who participated in the recent series B funding round for Figure AI. After meeting Jamie Lee for research for those news stories, we invited Jamie to come onto the podcast and share his investment thesis and the reasons why they are so bullish about humanoids, Figure AI, and especially Figure CEO and founder Brett Adcock. Lees meer
The heart of Tamarack's investment philosophy centers around investing in strong leaders who hire strong teams and build solutions for very large markets. But you'll also learn about Jamie's pragmatic philosophy for evaluating proposals and some of the danger signals that he looks for when evaluating a potential investment.
Tamarack Global: https://www.tamarackglobal.com/
The Robot Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/ -
NVIDIA GTC24 and R-24 recap
23 maart 2024 · 46 min
In this episode, cohosts Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre recap their attendance at the NVIDIA GTC24 event in San Jose CA, and Gene's recent trip to Denmark to attend the R24 robotics event.
You'll get to hear about takeaways from the sessions that they attended, the vendor demos and robotics solutions that were at these recent shows. Lees meerNVIDIA keynote story: https://www.therobotreport.com/nvidia-announces-new-robotics-products-at-gtc-2024/
R24 recap story: https://www.therobotreport.com/odense-robotics-culture-of-collaboration-can-overcome-economic-challenges-says-ceo/ -
MODEX 2024 recap
15 maart 2024 · 1 uur 12 min
This week host Steve Crowe reviews what he saw and learned while attending MODEX in Atlanta GA earlier in the week.
Steve highlights the new products and new features for the many automation providers at the show. He also shares some side conversations and checks the pulse of the warehousing and material handling industry. Don't miss this episode if you weren't able to attend the show yourself. Lees meer -
Cutting Edge: AI-Powered Landscaping with Electric Sheep
8 maart 2024 · 1 uur 6 min
Nag Murty, CEO and cofounder of Electric Sheep, and Michael Laskey, CTO of Electric Sheep join the show this week to discuss how Electric Sheep is disrupting the commercial landscaping industry with autonomous mobile robots and a unique business model. The company is leveraging AI to enable autonomous mowers to cut the grass while simplifying the deployment process in the field.
Electric Sheep is also vertically integrating the market segment through the acquisition of commercial landscaping businesses, then training the field workforce and integrating the autonomous mowers in the daily workflow for the field teams while learning and adapting the product. Lees meer -
Harvesting innovation: The story behind Tortuga's autonomous harvesting robots
29 februari 2024 · 1 uur 11 min
Eric Adamson, CEO and co-founder of Tortuga, joins us in this episode to discuss agricultural robotics. Tortuga is one of the agtech companies leading the charge to transform greenhouse farming with their autonomous harvesting robots. Eric discusses the difficulties and successes of developing robots for use in greenhouses, shedding light on the processes involved in harvesting strawberries, grapes, and tomatoes. This episode offers an intriguing look into how technology and agriculture are influencing the future of food production, from overcoming design limits to investigating creative alternatives.
We also catch up on the news of the week, including the announcement of $675M in a Series B investment round taken by humanoid developer Figure. Lees meer -
Warehouse automation update with Fetch Robotics and Anyware Robotics
23 februari 2024 · 1 uur 1 min
On the show this week, we have a conversation with Thomas Tang, CEO and co-founder of Anyware Robotics. Anyware Robotics is launching an autonomous trailer unloading solution, that will make its debut at MODEX 2024.
We also catch up with Matt Wicks, Sr Director and robotics automation business leader with Zebra Technology. Matt is responsible for the Fetch Robotics products at Zebra, and brings us up to speed on the AMR portfolio. Lees meer -
3 Laws robot safety and the evolution of bipedal locomotion
16 februari 2024 · 1 uur 13 min
On the show today, we interview Dr Aaron Ames, Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering and Control and Dynamical Systems at CalTech. Dr Ames is also a cofounder and Chief Scientist of 3Laws - a company, providing safety-critical controls architecture for robotics companies.
We talk about the last decade of development for bipedal locomotion and the recent evolution of humanoid robots since Dr Ames has been researching and investigating this interesting research area since his postdoc days.
You'll also learn about the core technology that's driving robotic safety algorithms and why 3Laws came together to deliver a solution for any robotic system.
You can learn more about 3Law on the web at:3lawsrobotics.io Lees meer -
A look at Zipline's future & the design of the Zip's Droid
7 februari 2024 · 1 uur 6 min
In this week's episode of the podcast, co-hosts Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre discuss the current state of Zipline with Keenan Wyrobek, who is the Chief Technology Officer and also one of the firm's co-founders. Additionally, we learn some more details on the design of the new ZIP delivery "Droid" from the chief droid engineer, Stephen Killian.
Gene attended the Manifest, logistics tradeshow in Las Vegas earlier this week, and gives us an update on what he saw at the show. Lees meer -
What's next for iRobot?
1 februari 2024 · 39 min
In this episode, co-hosts Steve Crowe, Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre discuss the recent news about the termination of the proposed acquisition of iRobot by Amazon. Lees meer
As a result of the terminated deal, iRobot CEO and cofounder Colin Angle is stepping down from his role as CEO, and the company has laid off 31% of its employees.
The companies signed the proposed acquisition agreement on Aug. 4, 2022, and the Seattle-based e-commerce giant would have acquired the Bedford, Mass.-based robotic vacuum vendor for up to $1.7 billion in cash. That amount was lowered to $1.42 billion after iRobot acquired new debt, and it laid off 10% of its staff, or about 140 employees.
We discuss potential reasons why the deal failed, and what might be next for iRobot.
You can read the complete news story about this on The Robot Report at www.therobotreport.com
If you like the show, please like and subscribe and share this with another colleague who might be interested.
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Update on AgTech automation at CNHI
26 januari 2024 · 1 uur 31 min
On the show this week, cohosts Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre catch up with Marc Kermisch, CDO at CNHI. Marc takes us through the latest update on autonomy and the digitization of agriculture data to help farmers and growers improve yields and efficiency on the farm. Lees meer
We also recap the latest robotics news and walk through an update from robotics and automation companies who attended the 2024 CES show.
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2023 year in review: GenAI, humanoids dominate robotics industry
21 december 2023 · 1 uur 8 min
On the show this week, Steve Crowe, Gene Demaitre, and Mike Oitzman sit down and review their favorite robotics news stories from 2023. This episode also features appearances by Ken Goldberg, Ash Sharma, Aaron Prather, Kevin Lawton, and Jeff Linnell - all sharing their thoughts on the top news stories of the year. At the top of the list of news stories are the impact that GenAI and humanoid robots have made this year along with a snapshot of the state of the robotics industry. Lees meer
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RoboBusiness Pitchfire winner Glidance helping sight-impaired individuals regain their independence
15 december 2023 · 1 uur 5 min
In this episode, we learn about the innovative solution from Glidance, the 2023 RoboBusiness Pitchfire pitch contest winner. Cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman sit down with Glidance cofounder and CEO Amos Miller to learn all about the genesis of the company and their physical guidance robotic solution from Glidance. The device guides sight-impaired individual by perceiving the world around them and leading them on a safe path to their destination. This device is easy to use and quick to learn and Amos is promising to restore the independence of sight-impaired individuals. Amos lost his sight to retinitis pigmentosa in his 20s.
While guide dogs are a tremendous solution and companion for blind individuals, unfortunately, the need far outstrips the number of available guide dogs in any given year. The Glidance solution has the opportunity to help blind individuals regain independence and agency, especially those who lose their sight late in life. The Glide unit goes into beta testing in the middle of 2024 and promises to be as affordable as a new cell phone. Lees meerTo learn more about Glidance, check out their website: glidance.io
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Inside the state of warehouse automation
8 december 2023 · 1 uur 42 min
Today's episode is a deep dive into warehouse automation. We discuss the role humanoids are hoping to play in logistics, including how GXO is testing the Digit humanoid from Agility Robotics. Lees meer
We also discuss the state of mobile robots with John Santagate, the
Vice President of Robotics at Körber Supply Chain. We also talk about artificial intelligence and the growth of picking robots with Peter Chen, Co-Founder and CEO of Covariant. -
The Future of Surgery: The long path to market for surgical robots with Adam Sachs from Vicarious
30 november 2023 · 1 uur 2 min
On this episode of the podcast, we check in with Adam Sachs, cofounder and CEO of Vicarious surgical robots. Adam comes back to the show with an update on the long journey to market for surgical robots. Adam last joined us in Episode 56, back in September 2021 when Vicarious first launched the Vicarious Surgical robot into pilot implementations. Lees meer
The Vicarious Surgical robot utilizes a single port requiring a 1.5 cm incision — smaller than the size of a dime — for the insertion of the camera and two robotic instruments, transporting surgeons to a new world of visibility and maneuverability.
To learn more about Vicarious Surgical goto: www.vicarioussurgical.com
Also on this episode, cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman discuss the recent news from General Motors, owner of Cruise about the future of Cruise robotaxi service, and the other major news about the EU response to the Amazon iRobot proposed merger.
If you like the show, please subscribe and tell a friend about it, this helps us grow our audience. Thanks.
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Tangram launches new HiFi 3D sensor; Next Generation Robotics on the cutting edge of optimization
21 november 2023 · 1 uur 16 min
In this podcast episode, we learn about the new Tangram Vision HiFi 3D sensor with Adam Rodnitzky and Brandon Minor from Tangram Vision. The company recently launched a Kickstarter for their new hardware product and the specs on this new sensor are promising to disrupt the depth sensor market for price and performance. Listen to the interview to learn more about this new product and search “HiFi 3D Sensor” on Kickstarter to see the complete product specs and get in the queue for your own camera. Lees meer
Also on this episode, we sit down with David Pepper, cofounder and CEO of Next Generation Robotics, to learn how they innovate by offering “optimization as a service” for expanded capabilities in fleet management and inventory movement within warehouses. The company has been developing its algorithms and setting up a cloud-based service for robotics vendors and warehouse management software (WMS) providers to tap into optimization algorithms for their specific workflows. The service is now available for use.
Finally, cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman discuss the news of the week, focusing on Kyle Vogt's departure from Cruise and what this means for the autonomous robotaxi market.
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Motion control with GAM Enterprises and wireless power with CaPow
17 november 2023 · 1 uur 53 min
This episode features a double header of interviews, a recap of news from the week, and the reintroduction of Eugene Demaitre as a cohost of the show. Lees meer
We welcome Eugene Demaitre back to the show as he rejoins the editorial staff as editorial director at The Robot Report and WTWH Media. Eugene co-founded this podcast together with Steve Crowe.
This week's first interview is with Craig Van den Avont, President at GAM Enterprises. GAM manufactures motion drives and other custom motion control solutions.
The second interview is with Mor Peretz, CEO and co-founder of CaPow. CaPow is a startup innovating with wireless power delivery for AMRs and AGVs. Their unique solution can continuously deliver wireless power, enabling mobile robots' unique operation without a traditional battery onboard.
The show is longer than normal this week, but both companies deliver unique value and innovation to their clients.
For more information check out:
GAM Enterprises: gamweb.com
CaPow: capow.energyShow schedule:
28:19 - Interview with Craig Van den Avont - President at GAM Enterprises.
1:01:19 - Interview with Mor Peretz, CEO and Cofounder of CaPow -
Eaches picking with Brightpick mobile manipulators at Brightpick
10 november 2023 · 1 uur 28 min
On the show today we recap the October funding stories and other robotics news stories of the last week, and then talk to Joyce Sidopoulis and Marita McGinn from MassRobotics about the upcoming 2024 MassRobotics Accelerator program (applications close Nov 30).
For our featured interview, we talked to Brightpick CEO Jan Zizka about the capabilities and application of the new Brightpick mobile manipulator for eaches picking with the warehouse. For links to all of the stories with reference on the show today, check out the show notes on therobotreport.com Lees meer -
Kate Darling on the Future of Robotics and AI Ethics
25 oktober 2023 · 1 uur 36 min
In this episode, we recap the recent RoboBusiness 2023 event and the recent news of Agility Robotics humanoid testing at Amazon.
Our featured interview on this episode is with Dr. Kate Darling, who is joining Marc Raibert in her dream job at the Boston Dynamics AI Institute to head up their AI and ethics research group.
We talk to Kate about everything from AI and humanoid robots to her kids' love affair with the Marty Robot at the local Stop and Shop supermarket.
Note: This is a long episode, but there was so much to talk about with Kate, that we didn't want to cut anything out. Lees meer -
RGO Robotics and Verizon on the future of robotics perception and AI compute on the edge
12 oktober 2023 · 59 min
On the show this week, we check in with RGO Robotics cofounder and CEO Amir Bousani and Simon Jensen-Fellows from Verizon for an in-depth conversation about how AI is quickly evolving and how this will impact the perception and autonomy capabilities of mobile robots. Simon informs us on how Verizon's 5G network can support the edge computing and communication needs of the mobile robotics industry in the future. It's a look at how the architecture of the cloud and the edge is evolving to meet the growing needs of mobile robotics.
We also cover the news of the week, including the announcement of a new funding round for mobile robotics software provider Formant, and we have a quick interview with Formant cofounder and CEO Jeff Linnell. Lees meer -
Daniel Theobald on funding early startups and the future for ag robotics
3 oktober 2023 · 1 uur 13 min
On this episode, we sit down with Vecna Robotics Founder and Chairman Daniel Theobald and talk about the perils of funding early-stage robotics startups and the experience that Daniel will bring to the Robotics Startup Workshop on October 18 at RoboBusiness 2023.
Daniel also takes us behind the scenes at his latest venture at Twisted Fields on the California coast, his personal farm and ag-robotics test ground. It's a great conversation with one of the mobile robotics industry luminaries. Lees meer -
TRI using generative AI to teach robots; Four Growers on developing harvesting robots
22 september 2023 · 1 uur 3 min
This week's podcast focuses heavily on the agricultural robotics industry. Mike shares his insights from FIRA USA and we sit down with Brandon Contino, CEO and co-founder of Four Growers, a startup building robots to harvest foods grown in greenhouses. Brandon talks about the technical and business challenges related to the robot and how focusing on greenhouses helps product evolution, Lees meer
We also recap the stories of the week, including how Toyota Research Institute is using Generative AI to help robots learn dexterous manipulation behaviors. TRI is looking to build Large Behavior Models for robots, akin to Large Language Models (LLMs) for conversational AI.
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Agility Robotics' Melonee Wise on role of humanoids
14 september 2023 · 1 uur
Our guest this week is a long-time friend of the show and industry innovator Melonee Wise. Melonee was a co-founder of Fetch Robotics (acquired by Zebra in 2021), and an early pioneer of mobile robotics at Willow Garage. Lees meer
Melonee recently joined Agility Robotics in the role of CTO, where she is leading the technical roadmap. She brings a breadth of experience in commercializing mobile robotic solutions. The interview with Melonee starts at 23:51.
In addition, catch up on the latest news in the robotics world with hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman.
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Outrider CEO on yard automation; Here come GPT-based cobot arms
1 september 2023 · 46 min
Andrew Smith, CEO and co-founder of Outrider, takes us inside the company's efforts to commercialize yard automation. Outrider turns electric yard trucks into autonomous vehicles that couple tractor to trailer using its patented robotic arm and precisely maneuver between dock doors and parking spots. Lees meer
We also recap the tops stories of the week, including new GPT-based cobot arms, declining robot sales in North America and more.
https://www.robobusiness.com/
https://www.outrider.ai/
https://www.therobotreport.com/doosan-microsoft-plan-to-build-gpt-based-robots/
https://www.therobotreport.com/a3-north-american-robot-orders-drop-for-2nd-quarter-in-a-row/
https://mobilerobotguide.com/2023/08/30/pudu-robotics-launches-open-platform-for-remote-management-of-amrs/
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Shaping the Future: Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas and the Apollo Humanoid
23 augustus 2023 · 1 uur 19 min
The humanoid robot market is quickly maturing. Our guest this week is Apptronik CEO and cofounder Jeff Cardenas. He tells the in-depth story about the development of legged robotics and humanoids at Apptronik and the launch of the company's first commercial humanoid robot, Apollo.
With the launch of Apollo, Apptronik became one of the early innovators in the race to create a general-purpose humanoid robot. It turns out that the company has a rich history in legged robotics, having worked on the first generation of NASA Valkyrie robot, and multiple generations of exoskeletons since its founding in 2015. Lees meer -
ANYbotics ANYmal quadruped with Enzo Wälchli
17 augustus 2023 · 1 uur 7 min
In this episode, cohost Mike Oitzman sits down with ANYbotics Chief Commercial Officer Enzo Wälchli to learn all about the swiss designed quadruped robot. The ANYmal is designed to be explosion-proof and operate in extreme environments including inspection tasks for oil and gas processing facilities, offshore oil rigs, processing plants, manufacturing facilities and anywhere else that require a nimble mobile platform to operate. Lees meer
ANYbotics is expanding into North America, and Wälchli discusses how the company is approaching this expansion and building its distribution and support network. The company has been selling solutions in Europe since the launch of ANYmal in 2019. The company spun out of ETH Zurich in 2016.