#372 – Simone Giertz: Queen of Sh*tty Robots, Innovative Engineering, and Design
Apr 16, 2023
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Simone Giertz, an inventive roboticist and designer known for her humorous approach to engineering, shares her fascinating journey from overcoming a brain tumor to creating quirky robots. She discusses the joy of tackling mundane design challenges and the humorous side of engineering, including her work on a Tesla pickup project and unique musical devices. Simone emphasizes the importance of self-care and vulnerability in the creative process, while also addressing the struggles of imposter syndrome, particularly for women in technology.
Simone gained recognition as the 'queen of shitty robots' through her humorously flawed inventions, building a career around fun and entertaining projects.
Simone's creative process involves finding over-the-top solutions to everyday problems, such as the toothbrush helmet that brushed your teeth.
Shifting from shitty robots to functional product design, Simone faced engineering challenges, like aligning bubble wrap correctly to create a music box that played tones into a pan flute.
Simone encourages exploring unconventional paths and contexts for creative pursuits, emphasizing the importance of finding joy and enthusiasm in the process.
While Simone doesn't have an emotional attachment to her robots, she recognizes the potential for people to form connections with interactive objects, urging advancements in creating robots that people can genuinely love and develop bonds with.
Deep dives
Summary
1. Creating humorously flawed robots and inventions became Simone Yetch's signature style. Posting on Reddit's r/ShittyRobots, she gained recognition as the "queen of shitty robots" and embarked on a career building fun and entertaining projects.
Summary
2. Simone's creative process involves identifying everyday problems and finding ridiculous, over-the-top solutions. One early example was a toothbrush helmet that brushed your teeth for you. The projects were often characterized by their humorous and unconventional nature.
Summary
3. Over time, Simone shifted her focus to product design and building functional, well-designed objects. One challenging project involved creating a large music box that played tones into a pan flute by popping bubble wrap. Balancing reliability and aligning the bubble wrap correctly posed significant engineering challenges.
Summary
4. Simone finds joy in the process of building and exploring different ideas, even if they may seem unconventional to others. She encourages individuals to consider alternative paths outside of academia and to explore different contexts for their creative pursuits.
Summary
5. While Simone doesn't have an emotional attachment to her robots, she recognizes the potential for people to form connections with interactive objects. She believes that there is room for advancement in creating robots that people can genuinely love and develop bonds with, much like pets or companions.
Simone Yatch's Journey in Design and Robotics
Simone Yatch discusses her journey in design and robotics, highlighting her work with shitty robots and her passion for creativity and engineering. She emphasizes the importance of finding joy and enthusiasm in your work rather than focusing on duty or societal expectations. Simone reflects on her experiences in China and Kenya, the challenges she faced, and the importance of finding home in relationships and community. She also shares advice on defining success on your own terms and maintaining integrity in the digital age.
The Impact of Simone Yatch's Work
Simone Yatch reflects on the impact of her projects, such as Truckla and the Everyday Calendar. She discusses the joys and challenges of building and creating, highlighting the importance of enthusiasm and finding the right fit in your work. Simone acknowledges the power of community and teamwork, sharing her desire for collaborative projects. She also encourages young people to define what brings them joy and to prioritize their own sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.
Lessons from Simone Yatch's Personal Journey
Simone Yatch shares personal experiences that have shaped her perspective on life and work. She discusses the challenges of moving abroad and the search for home and belonging. Simone highlights the importance of relationships and finding substantial joy in life. She also emphasizes the need to understand one's strengths and weaknesses, and to explore different paths and experiences to find the right fit. Simone encourages young people to prioritize enthusiasm and authenticity in their pursuits.
The Duality of Technology and Ethics
Simone Yatch reflects on the potential of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics. She acknowledges the power and benefits, but also the ethical concerns and potential dark sides. Simone discusses the importance of responsible use and the need to approach technology with thoughtfulness and caution. She shares her concerns about societal impact and the potential for misuse. Simone encourages individuals to consider the consequences of their actions and to prioritize integrity and community in the face of technological advancements.
Simone Giertz is an inventor, designer, engineer, and roboticist famous for a combination of humor and brilliant creative design in the systems and products she creates. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(06:49) – Early creations
(23:42) – Sh*tty Robots
(38:40) – Robots and human connection
(40:55) – Dating AI
(44:14) – Proud parent machine
(46:05) – Creative process
(47:31) – Bubble wrap music box
(52:53) – Education
(58:27) – Difficult projects
(59:56) – TED talk
(1:06:13) – Brain tumor
(1:14:51) – Fear of death
(1:19:15) – Mass production
(1:34:40) – Truckla
(1:39:29) – Weapons
(1:43:29) – Consciousness
(1:45:33) – MMA
(1:49:36) – China, Kenya, and USA
(1:54:29) – Advice for young people
(1:58:21) – Meaning of life
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