Ep. 214 - Robotics Rewired: Building Smarter Systems for Tomorrow's Factory

Welcome to another episode of Manufacturing Hub! In this week’s episode, we dive deep into the evolving world of robotics with returning guest Sean Dotson, now CEO of Elite Robotics. From building large-scale material handling systems to exploring the future of AI-driven robot programming, Sean shares a candid view of what it really takes to modernize factory operations.

We explore:
What “material handling” really means in practice
The real-world complexity of end-of-arm tooling and vision systems
Why standardization is critical for both integrators and manufacturers
What robotics programming and automation roles will look like in the next five years
The practical limits of robots-as-a-service and humanoid hype
Using generative AI and GPTs to assist in controls programming
Career advice for engineers breaking into robotics and automation

Plus, Sean shares some incredible stories from the field, including building a machine for radioactive seed sorting and handling rocket-propelled grenade components safely with robots. 🔥

Whether you're an engineer, systems integrator, or a manufacturing leader, this episode offers tactical insights and thoughtful strategy.

🔗 Learn more about Sean’s company: https://eliterobotics.com
📫 Contact Sean directly: sean@eliterobotics.com
🔗 Connect with Vlad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladromanov
🔗 Learn more about Joltek: https://www.joltek.com