The Robot Report Podcast

Our guest this week is Erin Linebarger, CEO and co-founder of Robotics88. In this conversation, Erin Linebarger discusses the innovative use of drones in wildfire management, particularly through prescribed fire techniques. The discussion covers the genesis of the company, the importance of data in fire management, the technology behind their drones, and the future of wildfire mitigation efforts globally. To learn more, goto: https://www.robotics88.com

Our guest this week is John Santagate, Senior Vice President, Robotics, Körber Supply Chain Software. John gives a look back at 2024 for the warehouse industry, as well as a look forward to what we might expect to come in the year ahead. The cohosts also recap the robotics news from CES 2025, and the A3 business event from earlier this month. We also cover the top news stories from the robotics industry, including the news of Intel spinning out RealSense as standalone company, and Symbotic acquiring the robotics division of Walmart.

This week we talk to Chris Savoia, Head of Ecosystem Success, Americas UR Keywords Universal Robots, collaborative robots, automation, mobile manipulators, Polyscope X, robotics trends, safety standards, AI in robotics, UR+, Re-Automated podcast, robotics, automation, MotionPlus, cybersecurity, UR Plus, AI, manufacturing, Universal Robots, Polyscope X, future of robotics Summary In this conversation, Chris Savoia, head of ecosystem success at Universal Robots, discusses the evolution of collaborative robots, the importance of education and reskilling in automation, and the recent advancements in higher payload robots and mobile manipulators. He also shares insights from his podcast, Re-Automated, and highlights the significance of the new Polyscope X platform for developers. In this conversation, Chris Savoia discusses the advancements in robotics, focusing on the value proposition of connecting robots, the enhancements brought by MotionPlus, and the importance of cybersecurity in connected systems. He elaborates on the OptiMove feature that optimizes robot control, the evolution of UR Plus with new partnerships and solutions. Savoia also shares insights on the future of robotics, emphasizing the potential growth in the industry and the impact of AI. Takeaways Universal Robots is focused on unlocking robotics for the masses. Education and reskilling are crucial for the future of automation. Collaborative robots are designed to be user-friendly and accessible. Higher payload robots expand the capabilities of collaborative automation. Mobile manipulators combine the strengths of mobile robots and robotic arms. Safety standards are evolving to accommodate new robotic technologies. Polyscope X enhances the development experience for both developers and end users. The integration of AI and vision technology is key for mobile manipulators. Risk assessments are essential for safe robot deployment. Humanoid robots face unique challenges in safety and functionality. Connecting robots requires a clear value proposition. Cybersecurity is a critical consideration for connected robots. OptiMove simplifies robot speed and acceleration settings. UR Plus has evolved to include over 500 products and solutions. Denmark is a hub for robotics innovation and engineering. The robotics industry is expected to see growth in the coming year. AI will play a crucial role in the future of robotics.

In this episode, co-hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman cover the leading robotics news stories from the week. In the featured interview this week, Mike Oitzman interviews Anders Fogelberg, co-founder and CEO of FlexQube, a Swedish company specializing in modular material handling solutions and automation. They discuss FlexQube's innovative approach to manufacturing, the transition from manual carts to automated systems, and the company's vision for the future of robotics in material handling. Fogelberg emphasizes the importance of modularity, customer experience, and the evolving landscape of the AMR market. Takeaways FlexQube is a Swedish company with a focus on modular material handling solutions. The company has manufacturing hubs in North America and Mexico. FlexQube's products are designed to be customizable and adaptable to various manufacturing needs. The shift towards automation in material handling is driven by the need for efficiency and safety. FlexQube's Navigator AMR is a unique solution that integrates with existing carts. The company aims to provide a seamless experience for customers transitioning to automation. FlexQube's vision is to be the 'Netflix of AMRs', focusing on application and customer experience. The modular design allows for quick assembly and customization of material handling solutions. FlexQube is exploring partnerships to enhance its offerings in the AMR market. The future of material handling will involve a hybrid model combining traditional methods with advanced robotics. – 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

We’ve got the entire editorial team on this episode as we look back at some of the biggest robotics stories of the year, including the highlights and low lights from the year. Listen to Steve Crowe, Mike Oitzman, Gene Demaitre, and Brianna Wessling as they recap the coverage of the news in 2024. We also hear some perspectives from some friends of the show and industry leaders, including Jeff Burnstein from A3, John Santagate from Körber Supply Chain, and Chris Walti from Mytra Systems. – 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

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.

Juliette Chevallier, Principal at Scale Venture Partners, brings her expertise in robotics and AI from Google Chauffeur to discuss the shift in venture capital focus towards execution risk. Joining her is Jasmeet Singh, founder of JMOON Ventures, who emphasizes investments in physical AI startups. Together, they delve into the current landscape of robotics investments, the importance of ROI clarity for startups, and the challenges startups face, including operational hurdles and market dynamics. Their insights unveil a vibrant yet cautious optimism in the robotics sector.

This week, cohost's Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman sit down with author and illustrator Peter Brown to discuss his children's books series: The Wild Robot. The first book in the series was recently released by Dreamworks as an animated movie and has seen tremendous box office success, topping $320 million worldwide and is on the top 100 list of high-grossing animated movies of all time. Peter takes us through his creative writing process, how he researched the book, and what it takes to write stories for children. He also shares the background research about robotics that he did for the book, and how he pulled the plot together for a robot that finds itself shipwrecked on an island filled with wild creatures. He describes why he chose the specific characteristics for the robot in the story. To learn more about Peter goto: https://www.peterbrownstudio.com/ The movie, animated by Dreamworks, is playing at a theater near you, and available now on many streaming services. If you like the episode, please like and subscribe. Thanks for listening

In this conversation, Andrew Clare, CTO of Nuro, discusses the company's evolution in the autonomous vehicle space, focusing on their innovative Nuro Driver technology. He elaborates on the expansion of their business model to include partnerships with automotive OEMs and the potential market for AI driving solutions. Clare highlights the challenges of urban versus highway driving, the importance of safety culture, and the technology stack required for autonomous vehicles. The discussion also touches on the differences between Level 4 and Level 5 autonomy, as well as the future direction of Nuro in integrating hardware and software solutions. – SPONSOR – The show this week is sponsored by RGo Robotics - RGo Robotics' Perception Engine is revolutionizing the AMR business through advanced Vision AI perception technology. Unlike traditional solutions, RGo’s software enables AMRs to adapt to changing environments and navigate complex spaces with unprecedented accuracy and the commissioning process is shorter and simpler. To learn more about RGo’s solutions goto: https://www.rgorobotics.ai/?utm_source=therobotreport&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_id=n Submissions for presentations and registration are now open for the 2025 Robotics Summit: https://www.roboticssummit.com/

In this episode, co-hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman cover the leading robotics news stories from the week. In the featured interview this week, Oitzman catches up with Amir Bousani, CEO of RGO Robotics, and Jacob Petersen, Chief Commercial Officer from Wheel.Me Robotics. We discuss the importance of perception for autonomous mobile robots, and discuss Wheel.Me's partnership and decision to leverage RGO Robotics perception engine in their platform. Learn more: https://www.rgorobotics.ai/ https://www.wheel.me/en-us This week, Collaborative Robotics publicly unveiled its Proxie mobile manipulator. We also get an update on Proxie from Brad Porter, founder and CEO of Collaborative Robotics. – SPONSOR – The show this week is sponsored by RGO Robotics - RGo Robotics' Perception Engine is revolutionizing the AMR business through advanced Vision AI perception technology. Unlike traditional solutions, RGo’s software enables AMRs to adapt to changing environments and navigate complex spaces with unprecedented accuracy and the commissioning process is shorter and simpler. To learn more about RGO’s solutions goto: https://www.rgorobotics.ai/?utm_source=therobotreport&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_id=n Submissions for presentations and registration are now open for the 2025 Robotics Summit: https://www.roboticssummit.com/