Agility Robotics' Melonee Wise on role of humanoids
Sep 14, 2023
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Melonee Wise, CTO at Agility Robotics, discusses the potential of humanoids and mobile manipulation robots. They dive into the advantages of bipedal mobile manipulators and the use of combo grippers in warehouses. The interview highlights Agility Robotics' advancements in humanoid technology and their role in transitioning automation systems.
Agility Robotics' humanoid robot Digit offers significant advantages over wheeled robots in connecting islands of automation in logistics and manufacturing.
The recent acquisition of ClearPath Robotics and its auto motors division by Rockwell Automation validates the value that robotics companies bring to customers and highlights the broader acceptance and adoption of robotic technology in various industries.
Agility Robotics prioritizes gaining real-world experience and addressing limitations through iterative engagements with customers to enhance robot performance and reliability.
Deep dives
Agility Robotics focuses on mobile manipulation robots for logistics and manufacturing
Agility Robotics, led by CTO Melanie Wise, is focusing on the development of mobile manipulation robots for the logistics and manufacturing industries. Their humanoid robot, Digit, has been designed to handle loading and unloading tasks, particularly in scenarios where there are islands of automation that require connectivity. The company is engaging with customers to demonstrate the capabilities of Digit in real-world applications, and they aim to showcase more videos of the robot in action. While some companies in the field are exploring dextrous manipulation and high-degree-of-freedom hands, Agility Robotics believes that non-dextrous manipulation solutions can be just as effective and reliable for many use cases in logistics and manufacturing.
ClearPath Robotics acquisition validates the robotics market
The recent acquisition of ClearPath Robotics and its auto motors division by Rockwell Automation is seen as a positive development for the robotics market. Agility Robotics CTO Melanie Wise views the acquisition as a validation of the value that robotics companies bring to customers. The growing interest in acquiring AMR businesses demonstrates the recognition of the return on investment provided by automation. While the acquisition has a focus on AMRs, it also highlights the broader acceptance and adoption of robotic technology in various industries.
Importance of failure and customer engagement in robot development
Agility Robotics recognizes the need to learn and fail in order to improve their products and engage with customers effectively. The company aims to integrate customer feedback and make necessary refinements to enhance robot performance and reliability. Agility Robotics prioritizes gaining real-world experience and addressing limitations through iterative engagements with customers. They seek to develop solutions that offer high uptime and graceful recovery mechanisms when failures occur, ensuring customer satisfaction and the ability to handle challenges in automated operations.
The role of software innovation in robotics
Melanie Wise emphasizes the importance of software innovation in advancing robotics technology. While hardware capabilities have been possible for a while, software plays a crucial role in enabling robots to perform complex tasks reliably. Wise also highlights the significance of defining problems well and utilizing innovative software solutions to overcome challenges. She believes that parallelizing robot actions and developing a smoother, more human-like process will lead to further advancements in the industry. However, Wise remains cautious about the future impact of generative AI, acknowledging the current limitations in the areas of compliance, regulation, and safety.
The potential of mobility and manipulation in humanoid robots
According to Melanie Wise, the combination of mobility and manipulation in humanoid robots, such as Agility Robotics' Digit, offers significant advantages over wheeled robots. Digit's ability to adapt to various heights, crouch down, and perform tasks that are challenging for wheeled robots makes it a valuable solution for connecting islands of automation in logistics and manufacturing. While dexterity and highly complex end effectors are often touted as necessary for manipulation tasks, Wise argues that non-dexterous manipulation solutions, such as parallel jaw gripping and suction gripping, can already address many practical applications without the need for highly dexterous hands. Wise emphasizes the importance of understanding the limitations of technology and providing reliable, robust, and repeatable solutions for customers.
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.
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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