The Robot Report Podcast

The Robot Report Podcast
  • 4.9 (39)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Join Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman each week for discussions with leading roboticists, innovative robotics companies, and other key members of the robotics community.

  1. The Art of Crossing the Chasm: When Is a Startup Ready for Enterprise Adoption?

    2D AGO

    The Art of Crossing the Chasm: When Is a Startup Ready for Enterprise Adoption?

    In this episode, Neal Hansch, CEO of Silicon Foundry, shares his expertise on how startups can navigate enterprise engagement, the evolving landscape of physical AI and robotics, and the impact of macroeconomic shifts on innovation strategy. Whether you're an entrepreneur, corporate innovation leader, or investor, Neal offers valuable perspectives on fostering meaningful collaboration between emerging tech startups and large enterprises. Learn more about Silicon Foundry: https://sifoundry.com/ ### Listen for a special discount code to save money on your registration to the 2026 Robotics Summit and Expo: https://www.roboticssummit.com/ – SPONSORS – This episode is brought to you by Yamaha Robotics Group (YRG) — driving the future of smart automation. Yamaha’s Linear Conveyor Modules and Advanced Operator Interfaces are helping engineers push efficiency and flexibility further than ever. And let’s face it: the PLC isn’t going anywhere — it’s evolving. LEARN MORE AT: https://hs.yrginc.com/therobotreport If you’re designing robots beyond controlled factory cells, mobile manipulators, quadrupeds, or humanoids maxon is worth a stop at the Robotics Summit in Boston. At the show, maxon is exhibiting its High Efficiency Joint (HEJ) portfolio: fully integrated robotic joints that combine motor, gearing, electronics, and sensing in a compact unit. Built for cyclic loads, impacts, and continuous operation, HEJ joints are designed for real‑world robotics. See the HEJ90 demonstrator at Booth 419. LEARN MORE AT: https://www.maxongroup.com/en-us

    1h 3m
  2. From Sci-Fi to Reality: Physical AI's Future with Dr. Jan Liphardt

    APR 24

    From Sci-Fi to Reality: Physical AI's Future with Dr. Jan Liphardt

    Join us as we dive into an insightful conversation with Dr. Jan Liphardt, Stanford bioengineering professor, founder of Open Mind and OM1, and a leading voice on the intersection of robotics, AI, and human-centric design. Discover how modular AI architectures, transparency, and real-world applications are shaping the next era of physical AI. In this episode, Dr. Jan Liphardt discusses the transformative impact of modular AI systems on robotics, emphasizing the importance of transparency and safety in human-robot interactions. He explores how robots are moving from sci-fi dreams to real-world applications, particularly in education and companionship. Jan also highlights the need for continuous learning and adaptability in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. ### Listen for a special discount code to save money on your registration to the 2026 Robotics Summit and Expo: https://www.roboticssummit.com/ – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

    1h 6m
  3. MODEX 2026 Recap

    APR 17

    MODEX 2026 Recap

    Editors Gene Demaitre from The Robot Report and Sarah Wynn from Packaging OEM spent the week walking the aisles of MODEX 2026. In this episode, we learn about all of the interesting new products and automation solutions for packaging and warehouse logistics that they discovered this week at the show in Atlanta. MODEX Show Highlights - The Rise of Multi-Agent Orchestration: Discussion on the shift from isolated robotic pods to integrated systems where diverse robot types (AMRs, arms, and sorters) communicate seamlessly. - Humanoid Robots in Logistics: A recap of the buzz surrounding humanoid deployments in warehouses, moving beyond prototypes to real-world pilot tests for trailer unloading and case picking. - Heavy-Duty Automation: Analysis of new autonomous forklifts and reach trucks designed to handle pallet-scale movements in high-traffic distribution centers. - Software Over Hardware: A key takeaway from the show floor was the industry's focus on "orchestration software"—the "brain" that manages fleet interoperability across different manufacturers. Industry News & Strategic Shifts - Skild AI & Fetch Robotics: Analysis of Skild AI's strategic acquisition of Fetch Robotics' assets from Zebra, signaling a move to put advanced AI "brains" into proven industrial "bodies." - Gemini-Powered Spot: Insights into the Boston Dynamics and Google DeepMind partnership, which uses multimodal AI to give the Spot robot advanced semantic understanding and natural language control. ### Listen for a special discount code to save money on your registration to the 2026 Robotics Summit and Expo: https://www.roboticssummit.com/ – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

    1h 3m
  4. Transforming Asset Management with Physical AI

    APR 10

    Transforming Asset Management with Physical AI

    Our guest this week is Christian Pedersen, Chief Product Officer at IFS In this conversation, Christian Pedersen, Chief Innovation Officer at IFS, discusses the company's focus on asset management and its evolution in the tech space. He highlights IFS's legacy in building asset maintenance software and its current leadership in enterprise asset management. Pedersen emphasizes the integration of AI in optimizing scheduling and productivity, particularly for industries with heavy industrial assets. He discusses the shift from digital to physical AI, highlighting the role of robotics in enhancing productivity and addressing workforce challenges. Pedersen also touches on the importance of integrating digital, human, and robotic workers in workflows and the potential of robots in asset management and maintenance. The conversation explores the future of AI and robotics in enterprise settings, emphasizing the need for collaboration between digital and physical systems to achieve an autonomous enterprise. Learn more at: https://www.ifs.com/en ### Listen for a special discount code to save money on your registration to the 2026 Robotics Summit and Expo: https://www.roboticssummit.com/ – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

    1h 6m
  5. The future of RealSense 3D vision with Chris Matthieu

    APR 3

    The future of RealSense 3D vision with Chris Matthieu

    Our guest this week is Chris Matthieu, VP of Developer Ecosystem for RealSense. The conversation with Matthieu primarily focuses on the future of RealSense products, the current state of the robotics market, and how Real Sense works with end users to iterate and evolve its product roadmap. Matthieu is also speaking at the 2026 Robotics Summit and Expo. Follow Chris Matthieu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismatthieu/ Learn more about Real Sense: https://www.realsenseai.com/ ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

    41 min
  6. Arthur Erickson on how Hylio drones are revolutionizing agriculture

    MAR 27

    Arthur Erickson on how Hylio drones are revolutionizing agriculture

    Our guest this week is Arthur Erickson, CEO of Hylio, as he discusses the evolution and strategic direction of Hylio, an American drone company. Erickson shares the company's journey from its inception at UT Austin, where it initially aimed to create a general-purpose industrial drone, to its current focus on agricultural applications. Hylio has carved a niche in the agricultural drone market, competing against major Chinese brands by offering American-made drones that prioritize data security and customer support. The discussion highlights the impact of geopolitical trends, such as the U.S. ban on foreign drones, which has spurred interest in Western-sourced drones. Erickson also discusses the technological advancements in Hylio's drones, including AI integration for route planning and obstacle detection, and the company's expansion into other markets like solar farm maintenance and emergency response. The conversation underscores Hylio's commitment to innovation and adaptability in a rapidly evolving industry. Learn more at: https://www.hyl.io/ ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

    1h 11m
  7. Building Tomorrow: How Bedrock Robotics is Changing the Construction Industry

    MAR 20

    Building Tomorrow: How Bedrock Robotics is Changing the Construction Industry

    Our guest this week is Boris Sofman, co-founder and CEO of Bedrock Robotics, who covers a wide range of topics related to the automation of heavy machinery. Boris discussed Bedrock's mission to develop autonomy technologies for construction equipment like excavators and bulldozers, aiming to make them fully operatorless. He shared insights from his experience at Waymo, highlighting parallels between autonomous vehicles and the automation of heavy machinery. The discussion also touched on the market opportunities in construction, the challenges of integrating AI with existing machinery, and the future of the construction industry with increased automation. Boris emphasized the importance of safety and the potential for automation to transform not just construction but also other industries such as agriculture and manufacturing. The conversation concluded with Boris outlining Bedrock's immediate goals, including moving from supervised autonomy to fully operatorless deployments. Learn more at: https://bedrockrobotics.com/ Cohost this week is The Robot Report’s associate editor, Brianna Wessling. She recaps her trip this week to attend the NVIDIA GTC 2026 event in San Jose Ca. ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

    1h 14m
  8. Ed Mehr on Transforming Manufacturing at Machina Labs

    MAR 13

    Ed Mehr on Transforming Manufacturing at Machina Labs

    Join us as Ed Mehr, Co-founder of Machine Labs, explains how he’s building the "software-defined factory." We dive into how robotic-powered automation and strategic partnerships are enabling manufacturers to switch product lines instantly and future-proof hardware production. Discover how Machine Labs is transforming manufacturing with flexible, robotic-powered factories that can switch products instantly. In this episode, Ed Mehr shares insights on software-defined factories, advanced automation, and strategic partnerships shaping the future of hardware production. Learn more at: https://machinalabs.ai/ Show timeline 0:30 - Gene Demaitre recaps Autonomation World 2026 9:43 - News of the week 26:27 - Ed Mehr, co-founder and CEO of Machina Labs ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

    1h 4m
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4.9
out of 5
39 Ratings

About

Join Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman each week for discussions with leading roboticists, innovative robotics companies, and other key members of the robotics community.

Information

  • Creator
    The Robot Report Podcast
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    245
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Robot Report Podcast

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