# The coming robotics wave

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2025-03-20
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-03-20-the-coming-robotics-wave

## Summary

Andy Lubershane, head of research at Energy Impact Partners, discusses the convergence of AI and robotics in climate tech, driven by labor shortages and falling component costs. He highlights specific applications such as transmission line installation by InfraVision, wind turbine inspection and maintenance, and solar panel deployment. Lubershane contrasts specialized 'vertical robots' with general-purpose humanoid robots, noting the former's faster path to market and data moats.

## Chapters

- [0:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-03-20-the-coming-robotics-wave#t=35) Introduction and Physical AI Overview
- [4:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-03-20-the-coming-robotics-wave#t=280) Demand Side: Labor Constraints and Demographics
- [10:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-03-20-the-coming-robotics-wave#t=627) Supply Side: AI and Cheaper Components
- [14:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-03-20-the-coming-robotics-wave#t=879) Unit Economics: CapEx, OpEx, and Utilization
- [22:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-03-20-the-coming-robotics-wave#t=1378) Vertical Robots: InfraVision and Transmission Lines
- [27:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-03-20-the-coming-robotics-wave#t=1630) Applications in Wind, Solar, and Vegetation Management
- [35:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-03-20-the-coming-robotics-wave#t=2154) Vertical Robots vs. Humanoid Robots
- [40:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-03-20-the-coming-robotics-wave#t=2415) Foundation Models and Robotics Components

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- InfraVision (company)
- Google DeepMind (company)
- Palm-E (product)
- Mobile ALOHA (product)
- F-Prime Capital (company)
- Scythe Motors (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Waymo (company)
- EnergyHub (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Why Solar Deployment Speed Is the Real Climate Bottleneck with Deise Yumi Asami](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2026-04-02-why-solar-deployment-speed-is-the-real-climate-bottleneck-with-deise-yumi-asami) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [BONUS: Hear what Investors, Educators, and High Growth Companies have to say about the future of Robotics, Automation, and AI, Pt. 1 of 2 (brought to you by Cascadia Capital)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-24-bonus-hear-what-investors-educators-and-high-growth-companies-have-to-say-about) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [From CES To Factory Floors: Robotics, Labor, And The New Supply Chain, with Shawn DuBravac](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-03-19-from-ces-to-factory-floors-robotics-labor-and-the-new-supply-chain-with-shawn-du) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [BONUS: Leaders in Machine Vision and Robotics: Live from Boston, Pt. 1 of 2 (brought to you by A3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-12-20-bonus-leaders-in-machine-vision-and-robotics-live-from-boston-pt-1-of-2-brought) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [The Coming of the All-Electric Society w/ Jack Nehlig](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-15-the-coming-of-the-all-electric-society-w-jack-nehlig) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-03-20-the-coming-robotics-wave. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.