Machine Minds

Greg Toroosian

Machine Minds - the minds behind the machines! This is the show where we dive deep into the intricate worlds of robotics, AI, and Hard Tech. In each episode, we bring you intimate conversations with the founders, investors, and trailblazers who are at the heart of these tech revolutions. We dig into their journeys, the challenges they've overcome, and the breakthroughs that are shaping our future. Join us as we explore how these machine minds are transforming the way we live, work, and understand our world. 

  1. 8h ago

    Designing the Robot That Can Do Anything with Brian Ringley

    What happens when a robot is no longer built for one fixed task, but can potentially be retasked through software to do thousands of different things? Brian Ringley, HRI Designer at Boston Dynamics, joins Greg for the 150th episode of Machine Minds to explore that question through the evolution of Spot, Atlas, and the software systems that connect increasingly capable robots to the people and environments around them. Brian’s path into robotics is anything but conventional. After starting in architecture, CNC machining, industrial robotic arms, computational design, and construction technology, he found himself working at the intersection of digital models and physical automation. That journey eventually brought him to Boston Dynamics, first to explore construction applications for Spot, then into product management and industrial inspection, and now into human-robot interaction design for Atlas. In this conversation, Greg and Brian explore: How Brian’s background in architecture, digital fabrication, CNC machining, and industrial robot programming shaped the way he thinks about human-machine collaborationWhy construction became an early proving ground for Spot, from reality capture and laser scanning to safety monitoring and project progress trackingThe critical shift from thinking of “the robot as the product” to treating the robot as an invisible physical layer that creates value through the work it enablesWhy collecting more data is not enough, and how vision-language models and generative interfaces could let operators effectively “have a conversation” with factories and construction sitesThe enormous HRI challenge behind Atlas: designing an interaction model for a robot whose potential capabilities are effectively unboundedHow reinforcement learning, behavior cloning, vision-language-action models, reasoning systems, and traditional software tools can work together across the Atlas autonomy stackWhy Brian sees the real promise of humanoids as an economic breakthrough: one hardware platform that can be retasked through software instead of requiring new machines for every applicationWhy general-purpose hardware also demands generalizable software interfaces, rather than building a completely new application every time the robot learns a new taskHow Boston Dynamics balances natural human-like movement with Atlas’s superhuman range of motion, while deliberately designing it as an industrial tool rather than a human imitationWhy great hardware still matters in the age of physical AI, from reliability and field serviceability to strength-to-weight ratios, range of motion, manufacturability, and uptimeWhat the Google DeepMind partnership brings to Atlas, and why frontier reasoning models and high-quality robotic hardware can accelerate each otherBrian’s vision for the software-defined factory, where humanoids work alongside AMRs, fixed automation, inspection robots, digital twins, and other specialized machines rather than replacing themWhy teleoperation will remain valuable even as autonomy improves, especially in nuclear facilities, underground mines, collapsed buildings, launch sites, and other environments that are unsafe for peopleBrian also shares why robotics consistently gets overestimated in the short term and underestimated in the long term. Building systems that can understand natural instructions, reason about unfamiliar situations, manipulate the physical world, and operate reliably at scale remains extraordinarily difficult. But that difficulty is also part of what makes the field so compelling. For anyone working in robotics, industrial automation, human-robot interaction, or physical AI, this conversation offers a grounded look at what it will really take to move humanoids from impressive demonstrations to flexible, useful tools embedded throughout the physical world. Learn more about Boston Dynamics: https://bostondynamics.com/ Boston Dynamics’ Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BostonDynamics Connect with Brian Ringley on LinkedIn: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brianringleyLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bringley/Twitter/X: https://x.com/brianringleyConnect with Greg Toroosian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

    Designing the Robot That Can Do Anything with Brian Ringley

  2. Aug 12

    From Egyptian Ruins to First Responders: The VOTIX Story with Edwin Sanchez

    From remote drone operations and public safety to hardware-agnostic robotics platforms, VOTIX is building the software layer designed to help organizations coordinate increasingly complex autonomous systems. Edwin Sanchez, founder and CEO of VOTIX, joins Greg to unpack the journey from a simple idea inspired by archaeology and remote tourism to an enterprise platform now supporting drone operations across 16 countries. Drawing on more than two decades in IT, digital transformation, and enterprise software, Edwin shares why great technology alone is never enough, and why timing, resilience, regulation, service, and market fit are just as critical to building a lasting hard tech company. The conversation explores how VOTIX acts as a kind of operating system for drone ecosystems, connecting different hardware, workflows, data sources, and third-party systems through one unified platform. Edwin also explains why public safety has become such an important use case, including how drone-first response programs can dramatically reduce emergency response times without requiring agencies to add more personnel. In this conversation, Greg and Edwin explore: How Edwin’s childhood in Colombia shaped his resilience, entrepreneurial mindset, and willingness to challenge difficult circumstancesThe early fascination with computer viruses and self-replicating software that sparked his interest in how software interacts with machinesLessons from more than 20 years in enterprise IT and digital transformation, including time working with companies like Microsoft, Oracle, and AdobeWhy strong engineering needs to be paired with service, market timing, sales, marketing, and a founder willing to adaptThe unlikely origin of VOTIX, from watching a live camera pointed at the pyramids to imagining remotely operated FPV drones anywhere in the worldWhy the original remote tourism concept was ahead of the market, and how customer feedback pushed VOTIX toward industrial, commercial, and public safety applicationsHow VOTIX became hardware agnostic, allowing organizations to operate different drones and robotic systems through a common software layerEdwin’s analogy of VOTIX as a symphony conductor, coordinating every component of a complex drone workflow so the system performs as oneThe common operational building blocks across construction, mining, oil and gas, security, military, and public safety drone programsWhy public safety agencies are turning to drones as staffing challenges, shrinking budgets, and growing cities make traditional response models harder to sustainHow one police department reduced response visibility for priority emergencies from roughly 15 minutes to about 90 seconds using drone-based responseThe launch of VOTIX Situational Rooms, which brings drones, body cameras, mapping, audio, chat, and other data sources into a single source of truth for faster decision makingWhy the VOTIX vision extends beyond aerial drones to ground robots, robotic dogs, rovers, boats, submarines, and eventually humanoidsHow integrations with airspace, weather, and traffic management systems help organizations safely execute more complex drone operationsThe tension between public safety and privacy, and how software controls, audit logs, restricted camera movements, transparent feeds, and community education can help build public trustEdwin’s approach to hiring senior technical talent, maintaining a culture comfortable with constant change, and making difficult personnel decisions quicklyWhy VOTIX is increasingly looking for leaders with a global mindset as the company expands across enterprise and government marketsWhy Edwin believes “autonomous” is one of the most overhyped terms in the drone industry todayThe hardest lesson from building VOTIX: regulation, public perception, and forces outside a founder’s control can shape commercialization timelines far more than expectedFor anyone building robotics infrastructure, deploying drone fleets, working in public safety, or trying to understand what it takes to turn emerging hardware into scalable enterprise systems, this conversation offers a practical look at the software, people, and operating models behind the next generation of autonomous operations. Connect with Edwin on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinysanchez/ Learn more about VOTIX: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/votix/VOTIX Website: www.votix.comInstagram: @votixgobeyondFacebook: @VotixAdditional Resources:Understanding the Role of Software Under Part 108 and Part 146The Importance of Technological Diversity in DFR OperationsUnlocking Drone AutonomyExploring the Challenges of Transitioning from Legacy to Autonomy in Drone OperationsConnect with Greg on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

    From Egyptian Ruins to First Responders: The VOTIX Story with Edwin Sanchez

  3. Aug 5

    Wildlife Whisperer: Inside the AI Built to Talk to Animals with Sára Nožková

    What if AI could help humans and wildlife coexist by understanding how animals communicate instead of simply trying to scare them away? In this episode of Machine Minds, Greg sits down with Sára Nožková, CEO and co-founder of Flox Intelligence, to explore how artificial intelligence, edge computing, and wildlife science are coming together to reduce collisions between animals and critical infrastructure. From airports and railways to farms and highways, Flox is building technology that listens to, learns from, and responds to wildlife in ways that improve safety for both humans and animals. Sára shares her journey from transportation research at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm to founding a company that is pioneering what she calls "wildlife intelligence." She explains how years of AI research evolved into a platform capable of identifying animal behavior, interpreting species-specific communication, and guiding wildlife away from danger without relying on harmful or outdated deterrent methods. In this conversation, Greg and Sára explore: How a background in transportation and infrastructure led Sára to build one of the world's first AI platforms focused on wildlife communicationWhy traditional wildlife deterrents like pyrotechnics, fences, and gunshots often fail, and what a more intelligent approach looks likeHow Flox Edge devices combine computer vision, bioacoustics, and generative AI to detect, identify, and respond to more than 27 wildlife speciesThe concept of the "Wildlife Brain" and how AI learns regional behaviors, dialects, and species-specific responses over timeThe engineering challenges of deploying autonomous AI hardware in some of the harshest environments on Earth, from Arctic winters to Texas summersReal-world deployments protecting airports, railways, farms, livestock, and transportation networks across Europe and North AmericaWhy partnerships with organizations like WWF, Alstom, and transportation authorities are helping validate an entirely new category of wildlife technologyLessons from scaling a deep tech startup across two continents, raising capital, expanding into the U.S., and building a mission-driven teamWhy understanding animal communication could fundamentally change how humans coexist with wildlife in an increasingly developed worldWhether you're building AI at the edge, deploying robotics in challenging environments, or simply fascinated by how technology can solve problems beyond the factory floor, this episode offers a fascinating look at one of the most unexpected applications of artificial intelligence today. Learn more about Flox Intelligence: https://floxintelligence.com/ Connect with Sára Nožková on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sára-nožková-91339685/ Connect with Greg Toroosian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

    Wildlife Whisperer: Inside the AI Built to Talk to Animals with Sára Nožková

  4. Jul 29

    The Robots Hospitals Urgently Need with Steve Pinto

    Hospitals are among the most complex logistics environments in the world. Thousands of medications, meals, linens, supplies, and pieces of equipment must move through crowded buildings every day, often using manual processes, walkie-talkies, spreadsheets, and staff pushing carts between departments. Steve Pinto, CEO of CTRL Robotics, joins Greg to explore how purpose-built robots can improve the internal movement of hospital supplies while giving healthcare workers more time to focus on patients. Steve’s path into robotics began with entrepreneurship, augmented reality, virtual reality, and enterprise software. A project deploying service robots at South Africa’s Hotel Sky exposed him to the enormous gap between impressive robotics demonstrations and systems that can operate reliably in real environments. That experience led him and his co-founder to launch CTRL Robotics. Today, the company is focused on building the hardware, software, digital twins, and infrastructure required to automate hospital logistics from the ground up. In this conversation, Greg and Steve explore: Steve’s journey from growing up around tools and family businesses in South Africa to building AR, VR, software, and robotics companiesHow a hotel robotics deployment revealed the limitations of existing robots, integrations, APIs, and elevator control systemsWhy CTRL Robotics narrowed its focus to healthcare after working across multiple industries and global marketsThe hidden scale of hospital logistics, including the meals, medications, linens, waste, equipment, and supplies required to support hundreds or thousands of patientsWhy Steve compares a hospital to an Amazon fulfillment center with significantly more people, greater complexity, and no ability to stop operationsThe bottom-up approach to healthcare automation, focused on moving everyday items rather than developing surgical or diagnostic systemsWhy hospital corridors are well suited to mobile robots, even though most carts and equipment still need to be pushed manuallyHow robots can support hospital employees rather than replace them by removing repetitive, physically demanding, and low-value tasksWhy CTRL Robotics describes its machines as “time machines” that give skilled employees more time for meaningful workThe “full bucket” problem that can leave patients waiting hours for medication that has already been preparedHow robotic deliveries have reduced medication transport times from several hours to as little as seven to nine minutesWhy restaurant and warehouse robots cannot simply be repurposed for hospitals without major changes to safety, navigation, security, and payload handlingThe challenge of navigating crowded, constantly changing hospital corridors filled with patients, beds, wheelchairs, spills, carts, and emergency activityHow CTRL Robotics uses digital twins and elevator integrations to coordinate deliveries across multiple hospital floorsWhy dedicating certain elevators to robots could reduce waiting times and dramatically improve the movement of both people and suppliesHow private and public healthcare systems differ in their ability to evaluate and adopt new technologiesWhy labor shortages drive hospital automation in the United States, while efficiency, skills gaps, and concerns about job displacement shape adoption elsewhereCTRL Robotics’ effort to make deployments economically accessible, with robots operating at an estimated cost of roughly four dollars per hourHow the company’s seed funding is supporting localized manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and a small-scale production facility in FloridaWhy Steve believes robotics companies should locate themselves close to customers, manufacturing talent, suppliers, and affordable operating infrastructureThe advantages of Florida’s Space Coast for building physical products, extending runway, and supporting healthcare customersCTRL Robotics’ long-term goal of completing one million hospital deliveries every dayWhy Steve believes humanoids are currently overhyped, while narrow machines that perform one task reliably remain underappreciatedThe importance of empathy and patient-centered design when introducing robotics into healthcare environmentsWhy culture fit, adaptability, commitment, and independence often matter more than credentials when hiring an early-stage robotics teamSteve’s hardest-earned founder lesson: stop protecting the idea, accept failure quickly, and move forward with confidenceFor robotics founders, healthcare leaders, and anyone interested in the infrastructure behind patient care, this conversation offers a detailed look at how reliable mobile robots could help hospitals move faster, support overstretched teams, and deliver better care. Learn more about CTRL Robotics: https://ctrlrobotics.com/ Connect with Steve Pinto on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenpinto7/ Connect with Greg Toroosian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

    The Robots Hospitals Urgently Need with Steve Pinto

  5. Jul 22

    No Cab, No Driver, New Rules for Freight with Eyal Cohen

    Autonomous trucking has long focused on retrofitting yesterday's vehicles. Humble Robotics is taking a different path by reimagining freight from the ground up. Founder and CEO Eyal Cohen joins Greg to share why the future of logistics won't simply be autonomous trucks, but purpose-built electric freight platforms designed specifically for a world where vehicles move seamlessly from dock to dock without human intervention. With more than two decades building breakthrough technologies across electric vehicles, autonomy, and robotics, Eyal has witnessed multiple waves of innovation from inside companies ranging from startups to Apple and Uber. Drawing on those experiences, he explains why building transformative hard tech requires more than exceptional engineering. It demands patient capital, uncompromising hiring standards, rapid iteration, and a team united by trust. In this conversation, Greg and Eyal explore: Why Humble Robotics rejected traditional truck designs in favor of a purpose-built autonomous freight platformThe vision for fully autonomous dock-to-dock freight movement and what it could mean for supply chainsHow simplicity in vehicle design unlocks improvements in cost, payload capacity, reliability, and operational efficiencyWhy freight's labor challenges are driven more by long-term workforce shortages than immediate job displacement, and how autonomy can help fill growing capacity gapsLessons from two decades across electric vehicles, autonomous systems, startups, Apple, and Uber that shaped Eyal's approach to company buildingWhy culture, trust, and hiring exceptional people across every function are more important than technology aloneHow Humble Robotics built its first vehicle at remarkable speed while maintaining an uncompromising commitment to safety and engineering qualityThe dangers of premature scaling in hard tech and why founders should prioritize customer feedback before optimizing for production volumeWhy patient investors like Eclipse understand the realities of commercializing hardware and supporting ambitious long-term technology betsEyal's perspective on the return of "moonshot" innovation and why society should once again embrace bold, world-changing engineering challengesWhether you're building robots, autonomous vehicles, or the next generation of industrial technology, this episode offers a thoughtful look at what it takes to turn ambitious ideas into products that can reshape the physical world, one carefully engineered step at a time. Learn more about Humble Robotics: https://humblerobotics.ai/ Connect with Eyal Cohen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eyal-cohen-humble/ Connect with Greg Toroosian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

    No Cab, No Driver, New Rules for Freight with Eyal Cohen

  6. Jul 15

    Investing in the Future of Physical Industry with Scott Walbrun

    Scott Walbrun brings a unique perspective to venture capital. Having started his career inside the automotive industry before moving into investment banking and venture, he has spent years helping deep tech founders navigate one of the hardest challenges in robotics: turning impressive technology into repeatable, scalable businesses. As Principal at BMW i Ventures, Scott sits at the intersection of physical AI, robotics, manufacturing, industrial software, and advanced materials. In this conversation, he joins Greg to discuss what separates great robotics companies from great robotics demos, why commercial urgency often matters more than technical perfection, and how founders can build businesses that survive the long road from prototype to widespread deployment. Greg and Scott also explore how AI is reshaping the physical world, why venture investors are increasingly focused on real-world reliability over flashy demonstrations, and what founders should understand before raising institutional capital in today's deep tech landscape. Highlights: Scott's journey from automotive finance and investment banking to becoming a venture investor focused on robotics, mobility, and deep techWhy so much breakthrough technology never makes it from the lab into commercial markets, and what successful founders do differentlyHow BMW i Ventures evaluates Series A and B companies across physical AI, robotics, industrial software, advanced materials, and manufacturing technologiesWhy commercial validation is just as important as technical validation when building a venture-scale companyThe hidden costs of deploying robotics at scale, including maintenance, field service, reliability, and total cost of ownershipWhat investors really mean when they ask about repeatability, and why one successful pilot is rarely enoughHow physical AI is moving beyond hype into real applications across manufacturing, quality inspection, warehouse automation, and enterprise operationsThe biggest mistakes robotics founders make when trying to scale too quicklyWhy founders should personally own customer development before building large sales teamsScott's advice for raising venture capital, building durable businesses, and maintaining the sense of urgency that separates exceptional founders from everyone elseWhether you're building robotics, industrial AI, or any capital-intensive technology company, this episode offers practical insight into what investors look for, what customers actually value, and how to bridge the gap between breakthrough innovation and lasting commercial success. Learn more about BMW i Ventures: https://www.bmwiventures.com/ Connect with Scott Walbrun on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwalbrun/ Connect with Greg Toroosian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

    Investing in the Future of Physical Industry with Scott Walbrun

  7. Jul 8

    Inside the Hidden Layer of Robotics with Simone Gianotti

    From surgical robots and autonomous underwater vehicles to humanoids and space exploration, motion control is one of the invisible technologies making modern robotics possible. Yet despite its critical role, it's often overlooked until something goes wrong. Simone Gianotti, Application Engineer Manager at Elmo Motion Control, joins Greg to explore what it takes to deliver precision, reliability, and flexibility across some of the world's most demanding robotic applications. Drawing on a career that spans aerospace engineering, automation, sales, and technical leadership, Simone shares why successful robotics companies know when to build, when to buy, and why solving customer problems often matters more than finding the perfect engineering answer. In this conversation, Greg and Simone explore: Why motion control sits at the heart of high performance robotics, from medical devices and humanoids to subsea vehicles and planetary roversThe common engineering challenges that appear across radically different robotic platforms, including tuning, reliability, electrical noise, and thermal managementWhy many robotics startups lose valuable time trying to build every subsystem themselves instead of focusing on their core innovationHow products that perform perfectly in the lab can encounter unexpected problems once they reach real world deploymentsThe importance of designing for safety, scalability, and future product generations from the very beginning rather than retrofitting laterWhat separates exceptional application engineers, combining deep technical expertise with customer empathy and collaborative problem solvingThe robotics markets seeing the strongest momentum today, including medical robotics, subsea systems, and humanoid platformsHow AI is changing robotics development and why many companies are shifting their focus toward building intelligent software rather than complete robotic systemsThe ongoing debate around humanoid robots versus more task specific designs, and why the industry is still discovering which approaches will ultimately winSimone's perspective on the future of AI powered motion control and what truly intelligent servo drives could eventually make possibleWhether you're developing next generation robotic systems, selecting components for demanding applications, or simply curious about the technology enabling modern automation, this conversation offers an insightful look inside one of robotics' most important building blocks. Learn more about Elmo Motion Control: https://www.elmomc.com/https://www.elmomc.com/media/elmo-in-action/https://www.elmomc.com/media/case-studies/https://www.roboticstomorrow.com/article/2026/05/elmo-motion-control-talks-about-their-newest-servos/26508#new_tabhttps://www.elmomc.com/products/industrial-environment/titanium-family-industrial/https://www.elmomc.com/products/industrial-environment/servo-drive-platinum-family/Connect with Simone Gianotti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-gianotti-889ba427 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

    Inside the Hidden Layer of Robotics with Simone Gianotti

  8. Jun 24

    Why the Future of Robotics Runs on Orchestration with Saurabh Gupta

    Warehouse automation is entering a new phase. The challenge is no longer building individual robots. It's coordinating fleets of robots, software systems, and human workers into a seamless, intelligent operation. Saurabh Gupta, Chief Technology Officer at GreyOrange, joins Greg to explore why orchestration is becoming the defining layer of modern warehouse automation. Drawing on a career that spans Apple, Amazon, educational robotics, healthcare, and autonomous systems, Saurabh shares lessons from helping scale technologies that bridge the gap between technical complexity and real-world usability. From working on the first iPhone production line to leading the evolution of GreyOrange from a robotics company into a warehouse orchestration platform, Saurabh offers a unique perspective on what it takes to move robotics from impressive demos to scalable, reliable systems that deliver business value. In this conversation, Greg and Saurabh explore: Lessons from Apple's product culture and why the best technology is often invisible to the userWhat working on the original iPhone taught Saurabh about vision, product design, and disruptive innovationHow educational robotics revealed the importance of understanding human behavior before building technologyWhy the gap between a robotics demo and a real-world deployment remains one of the industry's biggest challengesThe transition from viewing robotics as a hardware problem to understanding it as an orchestration problemGreyOrange's evolution from warehouse robot manufacturer to software platform coordinating robots, humans, conveyors, and automation systemsWhy vendor-agnostic orchestration is critical for the future of warehouse automationHow AI creates practical value through exception handling, prediction, and real-time operational decision-makingThe role of data in building warehouse "world models" capable of anticipating disruptions before they happenWhy fully autonomous warehouses may be the wrong goal and what highly orchestrated human-robot collaboration looks like insteadCommon mistakes robotics companies make when scaling products, manufacturing, and deploymentsWhat separates impressive engineering organizations from effective engineering organizationsThe importance of simulation-first development and testing before real-world deploymentWhy robotics founders must be crystal clear about the single problem their product solvesSaurabh's vision for intelligent warehouse systems that can autonomously anticipate and resolve problems before humans even notice themFor anyone building robots, deploying automation, or trying to understand where AI and physical systems are headed next, this episode offers a practical look at how orchestration, intelligence, and human-centered design are shaping the future of warehouse operations. Saurabh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saurabhgupta6/ GreyOrange LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gogreyorange/ GreyOrange website: https://www.greyorange.com/ GreyMatter - GreyOrange's warehouse solution: https://www.greyorange.com/greymatter/ Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/

    Why the Future of Robotics Runs on Orchestration with Saurabh Gupta
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About

Machine Minds - the minds behind the machines! This is the show where we dive deep into the intricate worlds of robotics, AI, and Hard Tech. In each episode, we bring you intimate conversations with the founders, investors, and trailblazers who are at the heart of these tech revolutions. We dig into their journeys, the challenges they've overcome, and the breakthroughs that are shaping our future. Join us as we explore how these machine minds are transforming the way we live, work, and understand our world. 

Information

  • Creator
    Greg Toroosian
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    151
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Machine Minds
  • Show Website
    Machine Minds