# From the Ground Up—Zoox Turns a Corner with New AV and Sensor System Designs

- Show: [Moore's Lobby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby)
- Published: 2022-10-11
- Length: 40m
- Episode: 3
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-10-11-from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-a-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs
- Listen: https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/podcast/from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs

## Summary

Ryan McMichael, Director of Sensors and Systems at Zoox, discusses the company's purpose-built, driverless robotaxi designed for mobility-as-a-service. He details the sensor suite—including LIDAR, radar, cameras, thermal imaging, and microphones—and the strategy of using diversity and redundancy to ensure safety and uptime. McMichael also reflects on his transition from aerospace instrumentation at Johns Hopkins APL to automotive, highlighting the shift from low-volume, high-stakes systems to high-volume manufacturing with rigorous reliability standards.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-10-11-from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-a-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs#t=4) Introduction: Ryan McMichael and Zoox's Mission
- [0:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-10-11-from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-a-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs#t=47) McMichael's Background: Jazz, Optics, and Aerospace
- [6:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-10-11-from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-a-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs#t=395) High-Altitude Balloon Programs and Engineering Challenges
- [10:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-10-11-from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-a-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs#t=655) Zoox's Purpose-Built Robotaxi and Mobility-as-a-Service
- [18:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-10-11-from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-a-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs#t=1089) Sensor Suite: LIDAR, Radar, Thermal, and Microphones
- [26:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-10-11-from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-a-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs#t=1614) Sensor Architecture: Diversity, Redundancy, and Obstruction Mitigation
- [25:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-10-11-from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-a-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs#t=1518) Battery Capacity, Uptime, and Future Industry Hurdles
- [37:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-10-11-from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-a-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs#t=2229) Lightning Round: Jazz, Pop Culture, and Autonomy Levels

## Topics

- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Zoox (company)
- Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (company)
- NASA (company)
- New Horizons (product)
- LIDAR (chip)
- radar (chip)
- thermal imaging (chip)
- Amazon (company)
- Toyota Highlander (product)
- Knight Rider (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Autonomous vehicle technology deep dive at John Deere and Zoox](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Episode 136: Making driverless vehicles smarter - Shimon Whiteson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-12-05-episode-136-making-driverless-vehicles-smarter-shimon-whiteson) (Robot Talk)
- [The future of driving is autonomous with Dmitri Dolgov of Waymo](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-23-the-future-of-driving-is-autonomous-with-dmitri-dolgov-of-waymo) (How I Built This)
- [HIBT Lab! Cruise: Kyle Vogt](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-10-27-hibt-lab-cruise-kyle-vogt) (How I Built This)
- ["A Turning Point for AVs" - A Special Report](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-04-04-a-turning-point-for-avs-a-special-report) (EE Times Current)

## Citing this page

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