DRIVEN

Paul Perrone

5.0 (1)
TECHNOLOGY
UPDATED WEEKLY

DRIVEN is a podcast about AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and more.

16H AGO

The Untold Roomba Story: Drama in Manufacturing & Building a Real Robotics Company | Joe Jones

Joe Jones was iRobot’s first full-time hire and co-inventor of the Roomba, the world’s first widely adopted consumer robot. In this episode of DRIVEN, he shares the untold story behind building Roomba, the drama in manufacturing, the design tradeoffs that made it viable, and what most robotics founders still get wrong today. Joe walks through: • The early days at iRobot and the internal debates that led to Roomba • Why Roomba succeeded while so many consumer robots failed • Manufacturing chaos, field failures, and retailer pressure • The hard realities of shipping physical robots at scale • The business model shifts inside iRobot and what led to its recent shutdown • Lessons from founding Harvest Automation in agricultural robotics • The story behind Tertill, the solar-powered garden weeding robot • What it really takes to start and grow a successful robotics company Joe is also the author of “Dancing with Roomba: Cracking the Robot Riddle and Building an Icon”, where he documents the unexpected journey of creating one of the most iconic consumer robots ever built. If you're interested in robotics startups, autonomous systems, hardware manufacturing, or the economics of real-world automation, then this conversation is packed with insight. No hype. No humanoid fantasies. Just hard-earned experience from someone who’s actually built and shipped robots at scale. 🎙 Hosted by Paul Perrone, Founder & CEO of Perrone Robotics 🔔 Subscribe for deep conversations on robotics, AI, autonomy, and the business of building hard tech. Joe Jones, Dancing with Roomba, Roomba story, iRobot history, iRobot rise and fall, Roomba manufacturing drama, robotics startup lessons, how to build a robotics company, consumer robotics business, Harvest Automation, Tertill robot, agricultural robotics, home robotics startup, robotics manufacturing challenges, robotics product development, hardware startup lessons, robotics entrepreneurship, autonomous systems podcast, DRIVEN podcast, Paul Perrone, robotics commercialization, robotics business model, why robots fail, robotics design tradeoffs, robotics engineering at scale www.driven.show

1h 56m
12/02/2025

Paul Avery on Autonomous Vehicles, AI, and the Rise of Cooperative Autonomy (0037)

What if autonomous vehicles weren’t just smart individually but collectively? What if cars, roads, traffic lights, and entire cities coordinated in real time like a living, intelligent organism? In this episode of DRIVEN, Paul Perrone sits down with Paul Avery, Associate Vice President of Automation & Data Systems at AECOM, and one of the foremost experts in connected and automated vehicle systems, cooperative robotics, and transportation AI. Paul Avery unpacks two decades of hands-on work. From early DSRC connected-vehicle experiments at Southwest Research Institute, to leading AI/ML architectures at General Motors, to shaping national infrastructure strategy at AECOM. This conversation dives deep. 🚗 Inside the Evolution of Autonomy How autonomy really started in work zones, DSRC trials, and cooperative systems Why “Level 5” is the wrong mental model What the public gets wrong about AV timelines 🧠 AI & Multi-Agent Robotics Fusion of perception, friction estimation, and machine learning at GM How vehicles can “feel” road conditions using AI Why autonomy must be a system-level, not vehicle-level, problem 🌐 Connected Vehicles (V2V, V2I, V2X) Why connected systems stalled in the U.S. CV vs AV: the real power is when they converge Practical deployments states and cities can do today 🛣️ Infrastructure as an Intelligent Nervous System AECOM’s work helping agencies prepare for automation Digital twins and real-time simulation for transportation networks How cities will change when infrastructure becomes “smart” 🔧 Real-World Deployment Insights Funding, policy, and operational challenges Safety, standardization, and the cost of doing autonomy wrong Why the hardest problems aren’t technical, they’re organizational 🎙️ Closing Reflections What motivates long-term researchers to stay in this field The responsibility engineers have when building systems that affect millions Why cooperative autonomy is the key to unlocking the next era of mobility If you care about the future of transportation, robotics, AI, and the systems that keep our society moving, then this episode is packed with insight you won’t find anywhere else. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more conversations on the future of robotics, AI, and beyond! From: Paul Perrone - DRIVEN Host (https://www.driven.show) & Perrone Robotics CEO/Founder (https://www.perronerobotics.com)

1h 59m
11/18/2025

Inside the First Autonomous Patrol Car: AI, Drones & the Future of Policing w/ Sean Malinowski

What happens when law enforcement meets cutting-edge robotics and AI? In this episode of DRIVEN, host Paul Perrone sits down with Dr. Sean Malinowski, former LAPD Chief of Detectives, Fulbright Scholar, and now Managing Partner at The Policing Lab, to explore how data, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems are transforming policing and public safety. Together, they dive into: 🚓 The creation of the first autonomous patrol car (the PUG). A police-grade Ford Explorer equipped with autonomous driving and ISR technology. 🧠 How AI is helping officers and analysts make faster, smarter, and safer decisions in real time. 📡 The rise of cooperative autonomous vehicle and drone operations, and how these systems can patrol, protect, and save lives. 🏫 How autonomy and robotics are finding new roles in campus security and school environments, enhancing protection without replacing people. 📈 Real-world success stories from LAPD, Chicago, and Miami, where data-driven policing led to massive reductions in violent crime. 🔮 A look ahead at the next decade of policing. Where autonomous patrols, AI-driven strategy, and human ingenuity converge to redefine community safety. It’s a riveting, story-driven conversation that connects decades of policing experience with the cutting edge of AI and autonomous technology. Showing how innovation can save lives, protect officers, and transform communities. 📍 Listen & Subscribe:👍 If you enjoyed this episode, give this video a thumbs up and subscribe to DRIVEN for more content with pioneering minds in mobility. 🎙️ From: Paul Perrone - DRIVEN Host (https://www.driven.show) & Perrone Robotics CEO/Founder (https://www.perronerobotics.com)

1h 33m
10/21/2025

DRIVEN Podcast (0035): Autopilots - The Untold Story of the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge

In this special 20-year retrospective edition of DRIVEN, host Paul Perrone revisits the legendary 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, the event that launched the modern era of autonomous vehicles. Paul shares the inside story of his early days and how his small, self-funded Virginia team built a fully autonomous dune buggy named Tommy, and participated in events that became part of history. This episode also explores the making of Autopilots, the documentary that captured the journey, from sleepless nights and road trips to the philosophical questions of AI, the Singularity, and the origins of modern self-driving technology. Note: Autopilots is now available free to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpnBs_aAzk4 Watch as Paul reflects on the early days of applied AI for autonomous vehicles and how DARPA’s bold experiment ignited a movement that continues to shape the world two decades later. 🎥 Autopilots (Full Documentary) — Now streaming free on YouTube. 👉 Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpnBs_aAzk4 Listen & Subscribe:👍 If you enjoyed this episode, give this video a thumbs up and subscribe to DRIVEN for more content with pioneering minds in mobility. From: Paul Perrone - DRIVEN Host (https://www.driven.show) & Perrone Robotics CEO/Founder (https://www.perronerobotics.com)

37 min
07/22/2025

From the Waev GEM EV’s Origins to Cutting‑Edge Autonomy (0034)

Join us for an enlightening 1.5-hour conversation with Paul Vitrano, co‑founder and policy lead at Waev Inc., as he guides us through some of the most compelling stories in electric and autonomous mobility: A Journey Through GEM’s Legacy • The origin story of GEM: from its genesis in the 1990s to evolving through generations and ownership (Chrysler → Polaris → Waev) • What makes the GEM platform so enduring and adaptable in today’s low-speed EV landscape LSV Classification & FMVSS Compliance Explained • Why GEM qualifies as an LSV, meeting federal FMVSS standards, and what that means for streets, campuses, and more Autonomy for GEM: Real-World Applications • How pilot projects (like the Summer 2019 Crozet, VA deployment) applied autonomy to GEMs • What AV retrofits reveal about the future of accessible, low-speed automation Tiger & Taylor-Dunn in Action • Tiger tow tractors and Taylor-Dunn utility vehicles: exploring their roles in airports, resorts, campuses, and industrial sites • How autonomous upgrades can unlock valuable efficiencies and safety benefits across fleets Motorcycle SIDEBAR – ADAS Discussion • Paul Vitrano draws on his expertise in motorcycles (at Polaris, AMA, MIC) to discuss advanced rider-assist systems • How collision avoidance, lane-keeping, and blind-spot tech from motorcycles can inform autonomy for other platforms Why You Should Watch: This episode isn’t just a walkthrough, it’s a history lesson, a tech deep-dive, and a strategic vision for what low-speed electric autonomy can and will achieve. From fleets to the freeway. Whether you’re in urban planning, mobility tech, or legal/policy, you’ll find powerful insights and vision right here. Don’t miss: Learn what happens when a 1990s electric cart drives itself in Virginia. And imagine what’s next for GEM, Tiger, Taylor-Dunn, and the world of safe, automated mobility. Listen & Subscribe: 👍 If you enjoyed Paul’s deep insights on electric autonomy, give this video a thumbs up and subscribe to DRIVEN for more interviews with pioneering minds in mobility. From: Paul Perrone - DRIVEN Host (https://www.driven.show) & Perrone Robotics CEO/Founder (https://www.perronerobotics.com) #GEM, #LowSpeedVehicle, #LSV, #NeighborhoodElectricVehicle, #ElectricVehicle, #EV, #AutonomousVehicle, #SelfDriving, #Automation, #TaylorDunn, #TigerVehicles, #FleetAutomation, #FMVSS, #ADAS, #MotorcycleSafety, #MobilityTech

1h 33m
07/08/2025

Autonomy Then and Now: Steve Shladover on 50 Years of AV Progress, V2X, AI & Safety

In this insightful episode of DRIVEN, host Paul Perrone sits down with autonomous vehicle pioneer Steve Shladover, Research Engineer at UC Berkeley’s PATH program and longtime leader in the field of intelligent transportation systems. Steve shares a firsthand account of the early days of autonomy, reflecting on the groundbreaking work of the 1990s PATH and Automated Highway Systems efforts, including high-speed platooning, embedded infrastructure tech, and early V2V/V2I communication systems. The episode covers: * The unmet promises and real challenges in autonomous vehicle development * The state of standards in the AV space * AI-driven AVs vs deterministic control systems * V2X communications and the political and technical hurdles behind DSRC and C-V2X * Safety cases, robust requirements, and managing tail risks for AVs * What it will really take to achieve safe, scalable driverless systems * Where autonomy is heading, and what young engineers should focus on today This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the future of autonomy, safety-critical systems, and transportation innovation. Subscribe to the channel and follow the DRIVEN podcast for more deep-dive conversations on autonomy, robotics, and AI. Like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy the show! From: Paul Perrone - DRIVEN Host (https://www.driven.show) & Perrone Robotics CEO/Founder (https://www.perronerobotics.com)

1h 26m
06/24/2025

Automation, AI, and the Future of Public Transit with Severin Skolrud - (0032)

In this eye-opening episode of DRIVEN, host Paul Perrone sits down with Severin Skolrud, VP of Emerging Technology for Transit and Rail at WSP, to explore the rapidly evolving role of automation and AI in public transportation. From the practical deployment of autonomous buses in transit yards to the promise and challenges of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) on city streets, this conversation uncovers how automation is already reshaping transit operations—and what lies ahead. 🚍 Topics Covered: * Real-world case study of bus yard automation and its ROI * AI-driven safety enhancements in public buses and transit vans * The unique challenges of ADAS for unbelted bus passengers * The economics of transit automation and the role of public funding * How transit automation compares to robo-taxis and private AVs * The value of federal R&D programs for public transit automation Whether you're a transit professional, a tech enthusiast, or curious about how AI is transforming infrastructure, this episode delivers valuable insight into where automation fits into the future of public transportation.  👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy the show! From: Paul Perrone - DRIVEN Host (https://www.driven.show) & Perrone Robotics CEO/Founder (https://www.perronerobotics.com)

1h 18m
05/06/2025

From Vertical Farms to E-Waste: Alexander Olesen on Reimagining Raw Materials & Local Manufacturing (0031)

In this episode of the DRIVEN Podcast, host Paul Perrone sits down with Alexander Olesen—a co-founder of Babylon Micro-Farms and the visionary behind Buckstop—to explore how cutting-edge automation, AI, and sustainability are reshaping the future of production and recycling. Alexander reveals how Babylon Micro-Farms leverages sensors and remote management to bring vertical farming to everyday spaces—empowering businesses to grow fresh produce year-round. Then, he dives into his new venture, Buckstop, which is revolutionizing the way we appraise and recycle electronics by extracting valuable raw materials like lithium and copper, tackling one of the most critical supply-chain challenges: material shortages. Alexander and Paul also discuss 3D printing and the life cycle of manufacturing, from sourcing raw materials locally to creating new opportunities for on-demand production. As global supply chains strain, Alexander and Paul explore how localized manufacturing and sustainable recycling strategies can help communities become more self-sufficient while reducing waste. Join us for this fascinating conversation on innovation, entrepreneurship, and the driving forces behind use of automation and AI for a cleaner, more efficient circular economy. If you’re passionate about AI, robotics, and sustainability, this episode is a must-watch! Highlights -How vertical farming and remote automation are changing food production. -Buckstop’s approach to appraising, recycling, and extracting critical materials from electronics. -3D printing and the potential for local, on-demand manufacturing. -Addressing supply chain issues through sustainable solutions and circular economy principles. -Opportunities and challenges in bringing eco-friendly technology to scale. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more conversations on the future of autonomy, robotics, AI, and beyond! From: Paul Perrone - DRIVEN Host (https://www.driven.show) & Perrone Robotics CEO/Founder (https://www.perronerobotics.com)

1h 26m

TRAILER

Intro to DRIVEN (0000)

Episode 0000 of DRIVEN. Serving as an intro to the DRIVEN podcast series. Visit us at https://www.driven.show/.

S1

•

3 min

DRIVEN is a podcast about AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and more.

Creator

Paul Perrone
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

38
Copyright

© Paul Perrone
Show Website

DRIVEN