Unleashing the potential of AI in robotics

Dec 13, 2024

In this discussion, Ben Wolff, co-founder and CEO of Palladyne AI, shares his insights from pivoting a robotics company from hardware to AI-driven software. He candidly addresses the challenges of this strategic shift and the impact of SPAC acquisitions. Ben emphasizes the significance of government contracts, revealing how Palladyne's hardware-agnostic software can teach robots complex tasks in under 20 minutes. He also highlights the importance of adaptability in the evolving robotics landscape and the exciting potential that lies ahead for AI applications.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Upcoming Robotics Events and Industry Insights

01:45 • 4min

Robo-Taxi Reversal: Safety and Scrutiny

05:54 • 10min

Universal Robots Expands to China

15:55 • 10min

Robotics Revolution: From Hardware to AI

26:01 • 29min

Navigating Government Contracts for Small Businesses

54:51 • 2min

Embracing Hardware Agnosticism in Robotics

56:57 • 6min

Navigating the Entrepreneurial Landscape in Robotics

01:03:22 • 5min

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