Machine Minds

In this episode of Machine Minds, we look at how physical intelligence—the fusion of robotics, automation, and software—can reshape one of society’s most strained systems: healthcare. Director of Software Engineering Nicholas Kirsch joins Greg to break down why hospital pharmacies are essentially “mini warehouses,” how automation is already quietly at work behind the scenes, and what it will take to reach the vision of a fully autonomous pharmacy.Nicholas brings a rare dual perspective: a mechanical engineer turned software leader who spent years in Pittsburgh’s startup ecosystem building mobile manipulation systems, AMRs, and government-funded robotics programs before shifting into healthcare tech. His experience—from garage-stage startups to acquisitions and rebrands—gives him a clear lens on what it takes to scale robots from impressive demos to mission-critical reliability. At Omnicell, he now helps drive software for medication-picking systems, IV-compounding robots, and the next wave of automation designed to return pharmacists and clinicians to the work they trained for: caring for patients.In this conversation, Greg and Nicholas explore:Why hospital pharmacies operate like 24/7 logistics centers—and why automation is overdueThe long, largely unseen history of medication-picking robots (30 years and counting)What the autonomous pharmacy roadmap looks like, and why most hospitals are still at level 1 or 2The hard truth about robotics in healthcare: reliability isn’t a target, it’s a requirementHow systems like Omnicell’s IV compounding and XR2 picking platforms reduce waste, increase traceability, and free clinicians from manual laborLessons from Nicholas’s journey through multiple robotics companies, acquisitions, and pivots—and how software talent evolves within physical systemsWhat he looks for when hiring software engineers in mission-critical environments, including curiosity, culture fit, and growth mindset over rigid credentialsThe promise (and limits) of AI in physical automation, and why general physical intelligence will unlock far more than humanoidsFor anyone building automation in regulated environments—or simply trying to understand how robotics can meaningfully improve patient care—this episode offers a grounded, insightful look at the future of healthcare efficiency.Connect with Nicholas on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholaskirschConnect with Greg on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian

In this episode of Machine Minds, we explore what it really takes to build the human infrastructure behind the coming wave of robots. CEO and co-founder Richard Petrazzini joins Greg to unpack how “robotic workforce enablement” can make or break uptime, customer trust, and the long-term success of robotics deployments—especially as robots leave cages, connect to the cloud, and move into human environments.Richard brings an unusually layered background to robotics: he’s a third-generation biochemist who grew up watching labs evolve from manual rabbit and frog testing to fully automated, 10,000-test-per-day facilities. That firsthand view of how healthcare automated over decades now informs how he thinks about robotics support, standards, and scale. After building one of Argentina’s largest labs and co-founding a successful software company, he spent two years doing nothing but researching robotics before launching Robotic Crew, a nearshore “human in the loop” partner for robot fleets.In this conversation, Greg and Richard get into:Why robotics is entering its “lab automation moment” – and what other industries can learn from decades of healthcare and manufacturing automationHow Robotic Crew supports pioneers deploying robots in uncharted territory, from first unit to scaled fleetsThe logic of nearshore support for robots: Latin American talent, daylight operations, and why robotics can’t be treated like asynchronous software outsourcing“Robotears,” tiered support (Tier 1–3 and beyond), and how to build career paths for people who keep robots productive in the fieldThe trade-offs founders face around uptime, ownership of incident data, and when to bring in a partner for supportWhat it feels like when a startup hits real momentum—not hype—and why Richard believes robotics companies will run out of engineers long before they run out of demandA real-world case study improving response and resolution times for autonomous robot kitchens, and what that reveals about process, telemetry, and customer success in roboticsIf you’re deploying robots, building them, or thinking about how to support a growing fleet without burning out your core team, this episode is a deep dive into the future of robotic workforce enablement—and the humans who will keep that future running.Connect with Richard on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rpetrazziniConnect with Greg on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

In this episode of Machine Minds, we look at what really happens when hardware innovation meets business strategy in robotics. Director of Business Development Milt Walker joins Greg to unpack how manufacturers, startups, and ecosystem players can scale robotics responsibly—without getting stuck in proof-of-concept purgatory or pretending they’re “just” software companies. From functional safety to workforce gaps and reshoring, Milt explores the forces reshaping how robots get built, deployed, and trusted in the real world.Milt brings a rare blend of hands-on engineering, ecosystem building, and strategic thinking. From early days fixing XT and 386 machines in a small-town computer shop, through field roles and leadership at Intel and Sick, to helping seed the Atlanta robotics community with RoboGeorgia, he’s consistently sat at the intersection of technology and partnerships. Now at Next Cobot, he focuses on giving robot builders the safety-critical and control platforms they need so they can innovate faster on what makes their systems unique.In this conversation, Greg and Milt explore:Why “alignment” is Milt’s non-negotiable in partnerships—and how it changes the BD conversationThe shift from customization to configuration as a path to real scalabilityHow mid-market manufacturers and smaller warehouses can approach automation differently from the top 10% of global playersThe growing importance of safety platforms and standards as humanoids and advanced AI move closer to the factory floorWhat it actually looks like to build bridges between Taiwan and US robotics ecosystemsMilt’s moonshot fascination with nano-robotics and “bottom-up” fabricationPractical career advice for engineers and technical leaders who want to move into business development and strategy roles in roboticsIf you’re building robots, selling them, or betting your operations on them, this episode will sharpen how you think about partners, platforms, and the long game of automation.Connect with Milt Walker on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwalkeriii/Connect with Greg Toroosian on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/Chapters:2:34 Essential Technology3:31 Early Career Insights4:42 Robotics Passion7:38 Business Development Path9:58 Atlanta's Robotics Ecosystem12:37 Joining NexCobot15:19 Partnership Strategies16:14 Market Opportunities18:33 Barriers to Adoption21:35 Finding the Right Partners24:15 Successful Collaborations27:07 Customization vs. Scalability30:44 Technological Trends37:07 Standards and Regulations45:41 Moonshot Ideas47:06 Advice for Aspiring Professionals49:21 Reflections on Career Growth

What does it take to guide a robotics startup from a napkin sketch to a $775 million exit? Oliver Mitchell, a venture capital partner at FF Venture Capital and author of "A Startup Field Guide in the Age of Robotics and AI" returns to Machine Minds to share hard-won lessons from the trenches of deep tech investing. From the dramatic rise and fall of Webvan to the triumph of Kiva Systems (now Amazon Robotics), Oliver reveals why product-market fit isn't found in the lab - it's discovered in relentless customer conversations. We explore the pivotal mistakes founders make, why pivoting isn't failure but strategy, and how the right cap table can be the difference between scaling and stalling out.Highlights:The Webvan lesson: How a $800M IPO collapsed because marketing never asked customers what they actually wanted... and how Kiva Systems learned from that failure to build the robots that became Amazon Robotics.The 500-customer rule: Why Oliver insists founders speak to hundreds of potential customers before building, and how CIV Robotics pivoted from drones to terrestrial robots by listening to construction giants like Bechtel.Five rules for automation startups: High utilization, 99.9% reliability, clear payback periods, defensible IP, and knowing your low-hanging fruit—Oliver breaks down what separates successful hardware companies from the graveyard.Culture as a competitive moat: Drawing from Netflix's "keeper test" and Pixar's collaborative creative process, Oliver explains why hiring one superstar beats five mediocre players - and why arrogance has no place in a startup.Cap table strategy: Why raising at an inflated valuation can doom your next round, how to price for competitive interest, and when to choose government grants, corporate VCs, or traditional funds.Defense tech is heating up: Oliver's new focus on Israeli technologies emerging from elite military units, the Golden Dome initiative, and why Apptronik's humanoid robots are built contract-first for shipbuilding - not household chores.Oliver's book "A Startup Field Guide in the Age of Robotics and AI" is available on Amazon or at routledge.com (20% off with discount code 25ESA3 - valid 1 July 2025 - 31 December 2025)Connect with Oliver Mitchell on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverbmitchell/Connect with Greg on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

Construction is one of the world’s most complex, risk-filled, and operationally fragmented industries — and also one of the last to benefit from automation. At Raise Robotics, CTO Rishabh Aggarwal is helping change that.From capturing diesel soot to turn into ink, to designing CubeSats at NASA, to building autonomous harvesting robots in ag-tech, Rishabh’s journey has always been about one thing: building real technology that solves real problems.  In this episode, he breaks down how Raise Robotics is building a multi-use, autonomous construction robot capable of performing high-precision tasks on the edge of skyscrapers — layout marking, drilling, inspection, and more — all with 1/16-inch accuracy on chaotic, unpredictable job sites.  We explore the technical challenges, the industry dynamics, the hiring realities of early-stage robotics, and the future of “physical AI” as robotics collides with deep learning at industrial scale.⸻Highlights•From building off-road race cars to capturing diesel pollution:Rishabh’s early startup experience involved inventing a device that trapped generator soot and converted it into ink — a hands-on lesson in iterative engineering and impact-driven design.  •Learning hard lessons in hardware:While building agricultural robots, a battery fire caused a full site evacuation — shaping Rishabh’s philosophy that startups should buy first, innovate later until product-market fit is clear.  •Why construction needed robotics yesterday:Multi-million-dollar rework, misaligned facades, and error-prone layout marking inspired Raise Robotics to automate tasks that require extreme accuracy — tasks humans aren’t well-suited for on 2,000-foot floors.  •Inside Raise’s autonomous platform:A robot on wheels equipped with long-reach arms, tool-changing capabilities, and precise localization — delivering layout marking, drilling, inspection, and more, while generating detailed QC reports for contractors.  •The toughest technical challenge:Designing a robotic arm that remains rock-solid on the literal edge of a building while working with sub-inch tolerance — in rain, dust, debris, and unpredictable environments.  •Building a high-performing robotics team:Rishabh emphasizes hiring for intent, attitude, and intrinsic motivation, not just technical skill — and why people from big tech increasingly seek startup impact.  •Where robotics is headed next:The rise of “physical AI,” the explosion of better sensors and compute, and the coming wave of human-robot collaboration that replaces cages with perception-driven safety.  •Long-term vision:A multi-industry platform that moves beyond construction into manufacturing, oil & gas, and high-risk industrial environments — wherever a precise, ruggedized robotic teammate is needed.  ⸻Learn more about Raise Robotics:https://raiserobotics.ai/Connect with Rishabh Aggarwal:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rish-creator/Follow the Raise Robotics team on LinkedIn (they post regular updates):https://www.linkedin.com/company/raise-robotics/Connect with Greg:https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

From satellite missions and drone startups to international development work in Haiti, Peter Haas has carved one of the most unconventional and globally minded paths in robotics. Today, he’s combining decades of experience across academia, entrepreneurship, government, and humanitarian work to answer a pivotal question:How can robotics and AI help the half of the world living on less than $5.50 a day?In this episode, Peter shares his journey - from working on NASA’s Gravity Probe B, to co-founding a drone company, to running robotics research at Brown University, to helping grow the Massachusetts robotics ecosystem. Now, as he embarks on a new chapter consulting from a sailboat in the Caribbean, Peter reveals what’s next for robotics, where the biggest opportunities lie, and why building for real-world problems matters more than ever.Highlights:- A career shaped by exploration: Peter’s early days ranged from being a park ranger and attempting a novel in Paris to working on Gravity Probe B, where robot-made gyroscopes sparked his fascination with precision hardware.  - International development meets robotics: A decade in Haiti showed Peter the limitations of traditional manufacturing models — inspiring his mission to use robotics to uplift underserved populations globally.  - The spark moment: Riding in an early Google self-driving car at TED convinced Peter to fully transition back into tech, eventually co-founding a drone company and entering the robotics ecosystem.  - From research to ecosystem building: Peter shares insights from leading Brown University’s Humanities-Centric Robotics Initiative and helping scale Massachusetts’ 500-company robotics cluster.  What’s exciting him now:- Lightweight, non-transformer models (Liquid AI, etc.) enabling powerful AI on resource-constrained robots.- Better teleoperation interfaces and the rise of “robot call centers” that decouple physical labor from geography.  - Ethical & technical challenges: Why cybersecurity is a looming crisis in robotics, and how insecure firmware and exposed ROS systems create real-world risk.  Lessons from the field:- Failure: building a $50K LiDAR drone just before DJI commoditized photogrammetry — and how that mirrors today’s AI landscape.- Success: why startups like SIMPL Automation win by partnering early and commercializing quickly.- Advice for builders & graduates:- Solve real problems for real customers — not abstract robotics challenges.- The integrator gap is massive: new grads with hands-on skills can build careers serving manufacturers who desperately need automation.  Connect with Greg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/Connect with Peter:https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterhaas-robotics/

From retrofitting automation into existing warehouses to redefining how fast robotics can be deployed, SIMPL Automation is pioneering a more flexible, less disruptive path toward warehouse transformation.In this episode, Ayman Labib, co-founder and CEO of SIMPL Automation, shares how his 25+ years in manufacturing and integration led him to build a company that’s challenging the traditional timelines, costs, and risks of warehouse automation.We explore how adaptive ASRS (Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems) can bolt onto existing racking, why simplicity and speed are key to driving adoption, and how his team is bringing “Lego-like” modularity and 4G-enabled plug-and-play design into the world of logistics technology.Highlights:Ayman’s path from engineer and automation consultant to co-founding Simpl Automation — and the pivotal lessons from years in manufacturing and integration.How Simpl’s adaptive ASRS technology “snaps on” to existing storage systems, minimizing disruption and implementation time.The company’s mission to de-risk automation for customers — allowing one-aisle-at-a-time pilots that prove value before full rollout.Solving for space, scalability, and ROI - enabling customers to extend the life of their facilities and improve density without rebuilding infrastructure.The “Simpl-in-a-Box” concept: deploying full systems with private 4G networks that stay outside customer firewalls for faster, safer deployment.Lessons from early engineering challenges — and how localization, vibration, and racking variation shaped the system’s evolution.Why focus, speed, and incremental improvement drive the company’s leadership philosophy and product development culture.Navigating the early startup grind — from cash flow and customer acquisition to attracting top talent and leveraging long-term industry networks.Ayman’s take on the future of warehouse automation — faster implementation cycles, increased consolidation, and humanoids entering the workforce.How AI fits in: optimizing routes, handling “non-happy path” recoveries, and becoming the adaptive brain of warehouse operations.Candid advice for founders: know your total addressable market, plan for double the time and capital, and aim for commercial viability before perfection.Learn more about Simpl Automation: https://simplautomation.com (Simpl without the “e”)Connect with Ayman Labib: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayman-l-45a3ba4/Connect with Greg Toroosian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

Florian shares his journey from cryptography researcher to big tech product leader — at companies like Microsoft, Adobe, and Facebook — and how that experience inspired him to tackle one of robotics’ biggest challenges: making robots work together seamlessly across diverse fleets and environments.From interoperability and observability to performance and safety, this episode explores how InOrbit.AI is building the connective tissue of the robotics world — a “Google Translate for robots” that enables smarter, safer, and more efficient automation at scale.Highlights:- Florian’s journey from research in cryptography to leadership roles in major tech companies, and what inspired him to build something from the ground up.- Explaining robot orchestration — helping organizations connect, monitor, and manage fleets of diverse robots across the world.- Florian breaks down InOrbit’s approachObservability – Know what’s happeningOperation – Manage and act on itOrchestration – Coordinate across systemsOptimization – Continuously improve performance- Letting robots “speak” any language rather than forcing one universal standard.- Florian’s philosophy of continuous improvement — for both humans and machines — and how AI powers real-time insights in robotics.Learn more about InOrbit.AI: https://www.inorbit.ai/Connect with Florian Pestoni: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florianpestoni/Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

From printing parts in combat zones to creating a rugged, mobile printer that works on land, sea, and air — Crater’s mission is transforming logistics and supply chains for the military. Eric shares how the company was born from collaboration with the Marine Corps, what it means to innovate under pressure, and why continuous, in-motion 3D printing could change how we build and repair in the most extreme conditions.Highlights:- Eric’s early days in the rep-rap era of DIY 3D printing and how tinkering with drones led him into advanced manufacturing.-Introducing Crater’s flagship ruggedized 3D printer — capable of printing while in transport, under harsh conditions from -40°F to 120°F, on land, sea, or air.-Eric shares how Crater’s mission goes beyond business — to protect those who protect us, and build technologies that strengthen national security.-The hands-on ethos that drives Crater’s team: test, break, rebuild — all in service of rapid, real-world performance.-Eric’s long-term vision: make mobile 3D printing ubiquitous across industries like construction, mining, and healthcare — enabling resilience wherever it’s needed.Learn more about Craitor: https://www.craitor.com/Connect with Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericshnell/Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

Kevin shares his 20-year journey from building self-driving cars and moon landers to leading autonomy at Waymo and now building machines that can literally move mountains. From lessons learned in scaling robotics startups to his philosophy on product milestones and company culture, this conversation dives deep into the realities of building technology that transforms the physical world.Highlights:- Why the best companies balance short-term sustainable business models with long-term transformative missions.-The power of milestones, pragmatic launches, and “walking your way up” to massive impact.-How Bedrock filters 10,000+ applicants to find low-ego, mission-driven builders who care more about impact than titles.-Kevin’s view on company culture, personal growth, and why success in robotics means building something real together.-Kevin’s childhood in a physics lab, his brief dream of being an astronaut, and how curiosity led him from psychology to engineering.Learn more about Bedrock: https://bedrockrobotics.com/Connect with Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-peterson-a783612/Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/