# 203: Humanoid Robots: Industrial Applications, Safety, and Going Beyond the Hype to Solve Real Problems Featuring Agility Robotics' Melonee Wise

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2024-09-17
- Length: 57m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-09-17-203-humanoid-robots-industrial-applications-safety-and-going-beyond-the-hype-to
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Melonee Wise, Chief Product Officer at Agility Robotics and founder of the acquired Fetch Robotics, discusses the practical industrial applications of humanoid robots, specifically focusing on containerized movement and safety challenges. She explains how Agility's Digit robot complements Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) by handling tasks like nesting and palletizing, and argues that while AI aids development, the core technology is already viable for scalable deployment. Wise also reflects on her past experience building Fetch Robotics, emphasizing the importance of product-market fit, labor availability, and navigating the hype cycle to build a sustainable business.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-09-17-203-humanoid-robots-industrial-applications-safety-and-going-beyond-the-hype-to#t=0) Introduction and the Hype Cycle
- [8:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-09-17-203-humanoid-robots-industrial-applications-safety-and-going-beyond-the-hype-to#t=485) Practical Applications: Containerized Movement
- [15:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-09-17-203-humanoid-robots-industrial-applications-safety-and-going-beyond-the-hype-to#t=936) Expanding Capabilities: Nesting and Denesting
- [17:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-09-17-203-humanoid-robots-industrial-applications-safety-and-going-beyond-the-hype-to#t=1078) Performance vs. Human Labor and ROI
- [23:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-09-17-203-humanoid-robots-industrial-applications-safety-and-going-beyond-the-hype-to#t=1402) The Role of AI and Data Optimization
- [32:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-09-17-203-humanoid-robots-industrial-applications-safety-and-going-beyond-the-hype-to#t=1976) Safety Challenges and Dynamic Stability
- [44:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-09-17-203-humanoid-robots-industrial-applications-safety-and-going-beyond-the-hype-to#t=2689) Lessons from Founding Fetch Robotics
- [53:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-09-17-203-humanoid-robots-industrial-applications-safety-and-going-beyond-the-hype-to#t=3211) Why Join Agility Robotics

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Agility Robotics (company)
- Digit (product)
- Fetch Robotics (company)
- Zebra (company)
- Willow Garage (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- GXO (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Kiva (product)
- Locust (company)
- 6 River (company)
- Automotors (company)
- Fortinet (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Agility Robotics' Melonee Wise on role of humanoids](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-09-14-agility-robotics-melonee-wise-on-role-of-humanoids) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [2024 Robotics Summit recap / Interviews with RBR50 Winners](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-05-15-2024-robotics-summit-recap-interviews-with-rbr50-winners) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [The State of Humanoids: Where is the market headed?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-08-the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [2023 year in review: GenAI, humanoids dominate robotics industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-12-21-2023-year-in-review-genai-humanoids-dominate-robotics-industry) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Waypoint Robotics’ Jason Walker on mobile robots; Thomas Visti’s next chapter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-08-26-waypoint-robotics-jason-walker-on-mobile-robots-thomas-vistis-next-chapter) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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