Hardware Podcasts

Ep. 47 | Universal Robots CEO Kim Povlsen on Collaborative Robots for the 98%

Moore's Lobby · 7 Jun 2022 · 46m · Episode 7

What this episode covers

Kim Povlsen, CEO of Universal Robots, discusses the company's mission to democratize robotics by creating collaborative robots (cobots) that are safe, easy to install, and simple to program for the 98% of manufacturers who don't currently use automation. He explains how the company evolved from a university project in Odense, Denmark, addressing the pain points of traditional industrial robots, and details the engineering challenges of lightweight aluminum design, vibration cancellation, and intuitive software interfaces. Povlsen also highlights the growing ecosystem of third-party applications, such as automated welding and construction tools, and the shift toward a future where humans and robots work side-by-side.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Universal Robots, Schneider Electric, Boston Dynamics
Also
DualPlus

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Robot Talk · 26m

    Episode 142: Collaborative robot arms - Mark Gray

    Mark Gray, UK and Ireland manager at Universal Robots, discusses the evolution of collaborative robot arms (cobots) and their integration into UK manufacturing. He explains that Universal Robots, founded by Danish university professors, addresses the historical barriers of complexity and rigidity in traditional industrial robots by offering flexible, easy-to-program lightweight arms. Gray highlights the shift from hardware limitations to software and skills challenges, noting that AI-driven programming is emerging to simplify deployment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

    Robotics & autonomyAI & machine learning
    9 chapters

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 53m

    Kristian Kassow: A Pioneer in the Cobot Industry

    Kristian Kassow, co-founder of Universal Robots and managing director of Kassow Robots, discusses the technical evolution of collaborative robots, highlighting the advantages of 7-axis kinematics and built-in torque sensors for force-sensitive tasks like polishing. He explains the development of the Edge Edition, a controller-less arm designed for direct integration with mobile robots, and details how the partnership with Bosch Rexroth has expanded their global sales network. The hosts also cover industry news, including the launch of the Sunday Robotics Memo humanoid and the strategic shift away from automated micro-fulfillment centers by Kroger and Ocado.

    Robotics & autonomyManufacturing partners & offshoring
    6 chapters

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 1h 24m

    Juan Aparicio, Enrico Krog Iversen on improving robotics ease of use

    Enrico Krog Iversen, CEO of OnRobot, and Juan Aparicio, VP of Product at Ready Robotics, discuss the critical need for ease of use in robotics to democratize automation. Iversen explains OnRobot's strategy of using acquisitions to build a comprehensive end-of-arm tooling portfolio and the shift toward automatic application programming. Aparicio details Ready Robotics' Forge OS, a universal operating system designed to simplify robot programming across different brands and enable a cross-brand app ecosystem.

    Embedded firmwareRobotics & autonomy
    6 chapters

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 1h 04m

    UR+: The Ecosystem of Collaborative Automation

    Chris Savoia, Head of Ecosystem Success at Universal Robots, discusses the evolution of the UR+ partner ecosystem, the release of the Polyscope X platform, and the strategic shift toward mobile manipulators and higher payload cobots. He explains how MotionPlus and AI integration via Nvidia Orin enable new applications, while addressing safety standards for collaborative robots and the challenges of humanoid deployment.

    Connected products & IoTIndustrial & consumer product design
    8 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 45m

    New Business Models and User Experiences in Robotics: Highlights from Automate LIVE in Detroit, MI

    Misa Ilkhechi, founder of Formic, explains how 'robots as a service' shifts automation from CapEx to OpEx, allowing manufacturers to pay for output rather than owning hardware, a model particularly suited for small-to-medium enterprises. Joe Campbell of Universal Robots highlights the industry shift toward collaborative robots and the enduring necessity of process knowledge, while Etienne Lacroix, CEO of Vention, describes his platform as 'industrial Lego' that democratizes machine design through a browser-based user experience. Finally, Kel Guerin, CIO of Ready Robotics, details their software approach to simplifying robot programming via flowcharts, aiming to empower non-technical factory workers to deploy automation without specialized coding skills.

    Starting a product companyDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    5 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Moore's Lobby. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.