The Robot Report Podcast
Join Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman each week for discussions with leading roboticists, innovative robotics companies, and other key members of the robotics community.
Filtered episodes(21)
- StandardSummaries onlyAutomate 2026 Show Recap
Published Jul 2, 2026
In Episode 251 of The Robot Report Podcast, hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman are joined by special guest Sarah Wynn, Senior Editor for Packaging OEM, to recap their firsthand experiences on the show floor at Automate in Chicago. The conversation traces the industry's shift away from early-stage humanoid hype toward the practical, real-world deployment of Physical AI and edge computing. It then transitions into how software orchestration, digital twins, and advanced kinematics are solving labor
- StandardSummaries onlyDeep Dive into Arm’s Physical AI and Robotics Strategies with Drew Henry
Published Jun 23, 2026
Drew HenryExplore the cutting-edge developments in Arm’s physical AI space as Drew Henry, EVP of Arm’s physical AI business unit, shares insights on technology innovation, market trends, and the future of robotics and autonomous systems. This episode provides a comprehensive look at how Arm is shaping the future of intelligent robotics, balancing innovative chip design, system architecture, and simulation to push the boundaries of what autonomous systems can achieve. Drew explains that Arm created its new
- StandardSummaries onlyAI in Warehousing: Akash Gupta's vision for the future
Published Jun 12, 2026
In this episode, our guest is Akash Gupta, CEO and co-founder of GreyOrange, a company known for its innovative approach in the warehousing robotics market. Akash discusses the strategic pivot from hardware to software, emphasizing the importance of focusing on fulfillment outcomes rather than just robotic uptime. He explains how GreyOrange has evolved its Grey Matter software to support various warehouse processes and integrate with multiple technologies, highlighting the role of AI and machine
- StandardSummaries onlyWhy deterministic real-time systems are more critical than ever in robotics
Published Jun 5, 2026
Winston Leung explains that QNX is enhancing safety for physical AI-based robots through its innovative microkernel architecture, which is designed for safety-critical applications. QNX architecture provides a reliable and deterministic platform, crucial for real-time control and decision-making in robotics. By partnering with industry leaders such as NVIDIA and Intel, QNX ensures its operating system is optimized for high-performance computing platforms, thereby enabling robust safety and secur
- StandardSummaries only2026 Robotics Summit Recap
Published Jun 2, 2026
Summary In this episode, the Robot Report editorial team reunites to recap the major highlights, central themes, and networking events from the recent Robotics Summit and Expo in Boston. Steve Crowe breaks down key presentations, including Brian Gerkey's insights on Open Robotics AI integration as well as the Open Source Robotics Alliance (OSRA). The team also recaps Mikell Taylor's practical framework for deploying reliable, "worthy" robots. Finally, they share highlights from the closing keyno
- StandardSummaries onlyExploring PLC and Robot Integration with YRG Robotics Chris Elston
Published May 23, 2026
Discover the latest trends in programmable logic controllers (PLCs), robotics, and their integration strategies directly from Yamaha's Chief Robotics Manager, Chris Elston. This episode offers insights into automation trends, AI's role in PLC development, and practical advice for engineers. Chris shares insights into his journey from aspiring electrician to a leader in robotics and PLC integration. He discusses the evolution of PLCs, emphasizing their enduring relevance in manufacturing due to t
- StandardSummaries onlyWhy the World’s Most Successful Robotics Founders Are Systems Thinkers
Published May 15, 2026
Ajay Agarwal, a partner at Bain Capital Ventures, discussed his journey and insights as a venture capitalist, particularly in the robotics and AI sectors. He highlights his early investment in Kiva Systems, emphasizing the importance of systems thinking and integrated solutions in successful startups. Ajay shares his investment philosophy, focusing on founders with a deep understanding of market opportunities and the ability to connect technology with business needs. He also discusses the challe
- StandardSummaries onlyWhy Traditional Robotics Data Collection Is Obsolete and What Replaces It
Published May 8, 2026
Summary In this episode, we sit down with Eric Chan, the chief scientist and co-founder of Rhoda AI, to discuss their groundbreaking work in robotics. Rhoda AI is pioneering the use of a Direct Video Action model, which leverages internet video data to train intelligent robots. This innovative approach allows for efficient data use and the ability to tackle complex tasks with minimal training. Eric shares insights into the challenges of data collection, the potential for zero-shot learning, and
- StandardSummaries onlyThe Art of Crossing the Chasm: When Is a Startup Ready for Enterprise Adoption?
Published May 1, 2026
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/ #
- StandardSummaries onlyFrom Sci-Fi to Reality: Physical AI's Future with Dr. Jan Liphardt
Published Apr 24, 2026
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 safe
- StandardSummaries onlyTransforming Asset Management with Physical AI
Published Apr 10, 2026
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
- StandardSummaries onlyPlug-and-Play AI: Transforming Robotics with Modular Skills
Published Mar 6, 2026
Modular SkillsOn the show this week, our guest is Dinesh Narayanan, Head of Commercialization, General Robotics. Dinesh shares insights into the founding of General Robotics, highlighting the transition from Microsoft and the development of their proprietary platform, Grid. This platform aims to streamline the deployment and scaling of robotics solutions by integrating simulation, AI models, and deployment pipelines. Dinesh emphasizes the importance of adaptability in AI techniques and the company's focus on
- StandardSummaries onlyAI's Role in the Future of Robotics: Insights from 3Laws
Published Feb 27, 2026
On the show this week, our guests are Andrew Singletary, CEO, and Amir Sharif, COO of 3Laws. They discuss the evolution of the 3Laws technology from academic research to practical applications, the challenges of startup leadership, and the importance of integrating safety into the design process. The conversation highlights the innovative approaches 3Laws is taking to democratize autonomy and ensure safety in robotics, emphasizing the need for deterministic safety systems in an increasingly AI-d
- StandardSummaries onlyManifest 2026 Recap
Published Feb 13, 2026
Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre recap their recent trip to attend the Manifest tradeshow in Las Vegas. The show features vignettes from the show floor with executives from many of the industries most innovative warehouse and supply chain robotics companies. Show timeline 8:12 - Zoox autonomous taxi trip recap 6:20 - News of the week 14:33 - Manifest Recap with Gene Demaitre and Mike Oitzman 34:08 - Interview with Sankalp Arora, CEO, Gather AI 41:58 - Interview with Ben Gruettner, Chief Revenue Of
- StandardSummaries onlyRobot development from Actuators to AI
Published Feb 6, 2026
Our guests this week are Mario Mauerer, from Maxon and David Koelle, Charles River Analytics. In this interview from the Humanoid Summit in Silicon Valley, Mike Oitzman speaks with Maxon’s Mario Muerer about how humanoids and mobile manipulation are shaping the company’s actuator strategy, from scalable product design and simulation to safety, commercialization timelines, and the real-world practicality of hands and end effectors. Connect with Marco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-mauerer/ Da
- StandardSummaries onlySpencer Krause: Why Hardware is the New Engineering Frontier
Published Jan 16, 2026
Spencer KrauseOur guest on the show this week is Spencer Krause, CEO and co-founder of SKA Robotics. A longtime friend of the show, Krause shares insights into the development process for new robotics solutions, and a deep dive into ruggedized field robotics. From automating giant mining trucks to launching “software-defined” actuators, Spencer discusses the “mercenary” engineering mindset, including “war stories” from the field, and why hardware is the next frontier in the Post-AI era. Learn more: https://sk
- StandardSummaries onlyRoboBusiness 2025 Recap
Published Oct 21, 2025
Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the 2025 RoboBusiness event which took place last week in Santa Clara CA. The show features interviews with ten startups who were present at the show and many of whom participated in the 2025 Pitchfire event. Here’s the list of interviews on the show (in order of appearance: Apporv Shaudri from Roworks AI Chongdu Xu from Forge AI (4rfg.ai) David Ruth from Motogo Doug Langen From 4D1 Katy Bradford from Rotate8 Kevin Hayes from Morelle Lakshay Sharma from Cerulio
- StandardSummaries onlyEdge Computing and AI: A Conversation with Ben Wolff
Published Oct 10, 2025
Ben WolffIn this episode, we sit down with Ben Wolff, CEO of Palladyne AI, to discuss the company's innovative strides in the AI and robotics industry. We dive into their focus on simplifying robot programming through an enhanced user interface, the development of autonomous swarming technology for drones, and their commitment to creating hardware-agnostic AI solutions. Ben shares insights into the advantages of edge computing and emphasizes a customer-centric approach to product development, ensuring th
- StandardSummaries onlyInside Singapore's Physical AI Revolution
Published Sep 2, 2025
The focus this week is on the burgeoning field of physical AI and robotics in Singapore, highlighting the country's strategic initiatives, the role of robotics in various sectors, and the collaborative efforts between government, industry, and academia to foster innovation. The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is leading the growth of the local robotics industry, liaising with local government to bring economic and financial incentives to grow the region and the support network for AI
- StandardSummaries onlyBeyond Manufacturing: AI-Powered Robotics and the Long Tail of Commercial Innovation
Published Aug 15, 2025
Beyond ManufacturingOn the show this week, we highlight a session from Robotics Summit 2025 titled “Beyond Manufacturing: AI-Powered Robotics and the Long Tail of Commercial Innovation,” featuring Dave Coleman, Chief Product Officer and Founder from Picknik Robotics. Co-hosts Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre discuss news of the week, including the recent World Humanoid Olympics in China, market data from IFR and A3, and Apple’s recent announcement of its $100B American Manufacturing program. Mike and Gene offer their
- StandardSummaries onlyTrends in Supply Chain Robotics with John Santagate
Published Jul 11, 2025
John SantagateOur guests on this episode are John Santagate, Sr Vice President, from Infios, Elliot Helms from Novanta and Aleksandr Malashchenko from Revimo. In the featured conversation, John Santagate, Senior Vice President of Global Robotics at Infios, discusses his journey in the supply chain robotics industry, the recent rebranding of Infios, and the impact of automation and AI on warehousing. He shares insights from recent trade shows, the challenges posed by tariffs, and the future of humanoid robots