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Robot Talk

Claire Asher's weekly interviews with robotics researchers and companies on robotics, AI and autonomous machines, with bonus episodes recorded at the European Robotics Forum.

179 episodes · 86 hours · since 2020

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Robot Talk is filed under robotics, engineering and interviews. Its most recent episode published on , so it is still actively publishing. Listeners have left 4 ratings on Apple Podcasts, averaging 4.3 out of 5.

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Where to begin with Robot Talk: full episodes about building physical products, award winners first.

  • · 34m

    Bonus Episode: Resilient Supply Chains for Robotics (ERF 2026)

    Claire Asher interviews Carolina Domation, Sanford Dickert, and Agatha Sua at the European Robotics Forum 2026, discussing the urgent need for resilient robotics supply chains in Europe. The guests highlight vulnerabilities in sourcing critical components like PLCs and motors, advocating for strategic reindustrialization, dual-sourcing, and government-backed demand to secure European technological sovereignty. They argue that Europe must shift from funding isolated pilots to supporting scalable integrators and certified deployment networks to compete with US and Chinese state-driven ecosystems.

    Sourcing & supply chainPolicy, trade & tariffs
    6 chapters

  • · 22m

    Episode 108: Giving robots the sense of touch - Anuradha Ranasinghe

    Anuradha Ranasinghe, a senior lecturer in robotics at Liverpool Hope University, discusses her research into haptic sensors for robotics and wearable technology. She explains the challenges of replicating human touch, focusing on material selection for diverse environments like nuclear plants and medical surgery, and the importance of integrating vision, force, and temperature sensing. Ranasinghe details a specific project using deformable silicon and UV-marked patterns to create a sensor that mimics human reflex reactions, achieving a response time of 443 milliseconds for temperature detection between 31 and 50 Celsius. The conversation highlights the shift toward multimodal perception, combining haptics with computer vision and audition to give robots a richer understanding of their environment.

    Sensors & measurement in productsRobotics & autonomy
    8 chapters

  • · 28m

    Episode 103: Delivering medicine by drone - Keenan Wyrobek

    Keenan Wyrobek, co-founder and head of product and engineering at Zipline, explains how the company uses fixed-wing drones to deliver life-saving medicine to remote locations. He details the engineering of Platform One, including the 'Snapcatch' recovery system and modular design, and introduces Platform Two, a hybrid drone-droid system for precise urban delivery. Wyrobek discusses the regulatory challenges of operating in airspace, highlighting their FAA-approved acoustic detect-and-avoid technology, and outlines Zipline's shift toward preventative healthcare and home delivery models.

    Robotics & autonomyDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    8 chapters

Hear it in a few minutes

Single discussions from recent episodes, playing the show's own audio from where each begins.

Latest episodes

  • · 19m

    Episode 165: Robots behind the research - Kushant Patel

    Kushant Patel, an instrumentation and controls engineer at Brookhaven National Laboratory, explains how robots support scientific experiments at the NSLS-2 synchrotron. He details the deployment of Staubli and Universal Robots for automated sample exchange in complex materials scattering and biology beamlines. Patel discusses overcoming challenges like tight physical spaces, high-value detectors, and network latency from the secure RHEL operating system to achieve a standardized, mostly autonomous robotic stack.

    Robotics & autonomyEmbedded firmware
    7 chapters

  • · 1h 01m

    Bonus Episode: Marine robotics' journey through different lenses

    Claire Asher hosts a panel at AUV 2026 featuring Gwyn Griffiths, Daniel Hook, Emma Curtis, Sara Aldhaheri, and Edith-Clare Hall to discuss how marine autonomy is perceived by engineers, end-users, and the next generation. The group debates the need to communicate the 'journey' of R&D, including failures and troubleshooting, rather than just polished successes, to build trust with investors and the public. They highlight specific applications like ocean cleanup, climate monitoring, and dual-use defense technologies, while emphasizing the importance of inspiring young people through accessible, visual, and interactive robotics examples.

    Robotics & autonomyCareers & education
    8 chapters

  • · 19m

    Bonus Episode: Restoring marine ecosystems with robots

    Niall McGrath, CEO of Robocean, explains how his company uses amphibious robots to restore seagrass meadows, addressing the critical need to scale restoration efforts to meet global climate and biodiversity goals. He details the 'Meadowmaker' robot's 'spin injection' mechanism, which plants seeds with minimal seabed disturbance, and discusses the operational challenges of intertidal zones, including biosecurity and marine licensing. The episode highlights the strategic decision to keep the robots remotely operated to navigate regulatory hurdles and ensure environmental safety, with plans to transition to autonomy only after de-risking the technology through validation.

    Robotics & autonomyEnergy & climate tech
    7 chapters

  • · 29m

    Episode 164: Accelerating robot learning - Michelle Lu

    Michelle Lu, co-founder and CEO of Vsim Technology, explains how her company uses GPU-accelerated physics simulation to accelerate robot learning and close the sim-to-real gap. Previously at NVIDIA creating Isaac Gym, Lu details how Vsim overcomes the scalability and performance limitations of traditional CPU-based reinforcement learning frameworks. The discussion highlights specific challenges in simulating tactile sensors, deformable objects, and tendon systems for the ARIA Robot Dexterity program, aiming to enable complex dexterous manipulation tasks.

    Robotics & autonomyEmbedded firmware
    7 chapters

  • · 26m

    Episode 163: Robots helping people - Aaron Edsinger

    Aaron Edsinger, CEO and Co-Founder of Hello Robot, discusses the design and deployment of their Stretch robot, a mobile manipulator designed to assist people with mobility impairments. He explains how the robot's utilitarian, non-humanoid form factor prioritizes safety, cost-effectiveness, and home integration over anthropomorphic aesthetics. Edsinger details the company's strategy of using a 'human-in-the-loop' approach with severely mobility-impaired users to validate the technology while physical AI capabilities mature. The conversation covers the robot's hardware architecture, safety layers, and the company's current fundraising efforts to expand into the consumer home assistance market.

    Industrial & consumer product designRobotics & autonomy
    8 chapters

  • · 20m

    Bonus Episode: Giving robots the power of human touch

    Vladimir Ivan, Vice President of Robotics at Touchlab, explains how his company develops e-skins to give robots the sense of touch, moving beyond visual-only perception. He details their new product, Tacto, a generalizable tactile fingertip with 16 sensing elements that detects pressure, vibration, and texture to enable dexterous manipulation in healthcare and manufacturing. Ivan discusses the engineering trade-offs between material robustness and sensitivity, highlighting the sensor's ability to withstand abuse while maintaining high-resolution data for AI-driven robot control.

    Sensors & measurement in productsRobotics & autonomy
    7 chapters

  • · 18m

    Bonus Episode: Revolutionising agriculture with 'grain-swimming' robots

    Lorenzo Conti, Founder and CEO of Crover, explains how his company developed the world's first subterranean drone to monitor grain storage, addressing safety risks like 'green entrapment' and spoilage. He details the mechanical engineering challenges of moving through granular materials, the discovery of coupled rotational-translational motion, and the development of proprietary propulsion systems. Conti also discusses the company's current stage, recent commercial launch, and ongoing efforts to achieve ATEX certification and deploy autonomous navigation software.

    Robotics & autonomyMechanical engineering
    8 chapters

  • · 1h 09m

    Bonus Episode: Behind the scenes at the UK's leading robotics centre

    Steve Maclaren, Chief Operating Officer at The National Robotarium, explains the centre's mission to bridge the gap between UK robotics research and commercial adoption through its five pillars: talent, research, adoption, data, and entrepreneurship. Thomas McGravie, Senior Technician, tours the facility, showcasing diverse robotics applications including the Ameca humanoid by Engineered Arts, a Cheeky Robotics whale, and various agricultural and medical devices. The episode highlights the Robotarium's role in supporting resident startups like Touchlab and Robocean, while addressing the practical challenges of prototyping, testing, and managing 3D printing waste.

    Robotics & autonomyDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    11 chapters

  • · 17m

    Bonus Episode: Drones in Challenging Environments (ERF 2026)

    Claire Asher interviews Radika (Arya Advanced Research and Invention Agency), Francisco Perez (Aerospace Research Center, Spain), Karolina Johannesen (Oslo University Hospital), and Adam Norton (New England Robotics Validation Experimentation Center) about drones in challenging environments at the European Robotics Forum. They discuss specific applications including organ transport by APN, tunnel inspection by Francisco's team, and regulatory hurdles for healthcare drones. The conversation highlights cross-sector learning, the technical difficulties of GPS-denied and toxic environments, and the need for standardized measurement and testing protocols.

    Robotics & autonomySensors & measurement in products
    5 chapters

Every episode

179 episodes with a summary and chapters, by year.

202637 episodes
  1. 9 OctEpisode 165Robots behind the research - Kushant Patel19m
  2. 7 OctBonus Episode: Marine robotics' journey through different lenses1h 01m
  3. 5 OctBonus Episode: Restoring marine ecosystems with robots19m
  4. 2 OctEpisode 164Accelerating robot learning - Michelle Lu29m
  5. 25 SeptEpisode 163Robots helping people - Aaron Edsinger26m
  6. 21 SeptBonus Episode: Giving robots the power of human touch20m
  7. 21 SeptBonus Episode: Revolutionising agriculture with 'grain-swimming' robots18m
  8. 17 SeptBonus Episode: Behind the scenes at the UK's leading robotics centre1h 09m
  9. 13 AugBonus Episode: Drones in Challenging Environments (ERF 2026)17m
  10. 13 AugBonus Episode: Robotics for Sustainability (ERF 2026)32m
  11. 26 JunEpisode 162The robot doctor will see you now - Robot Talk Live50m
  12. 19 JunEpisode 161Collaborative haptic systems - Allison Okamura39m
  13. 12 JunEpisode 160Robotic blacksmiths - Edward Mehr31m
  14. 5 JunEpisode 159Robot sensing and manipulation - Maria Koskinopoulou34m
  15. 1 JunBonus Episode: Empowering Robotics with 6G (ERF 2026)37m
  16. 1 JunBonus Episode: Resilient Supply Chains for Robotics (ERF 2026)34m
  17. 29 MayEpisode 158Autonomous robot deliveries - Ahti Heinla33m
  18. 22 MayEpisode 157Generating new robot designs - Josie Hughes28m
  19. 15 MayEpisode 156Rugged robots for dangerous missions - Gavin Kenneally33m
  20. 8 MayEpisode 155Making aerial robots smarter - Melissa Greeff24m
  21. 1 MayEpisode 154Visual navigation in insects and robots - Andrew Philippides33m
  22. 24 AprEpisode 153Origami-inspired robots - Chenying Liu20m
  23. 17 AprEpisode 152Dexterous robot hands - Rich Walker35m
  24. 10 AprEpisode 151Robots to study the ocean - Simona Aracri28m
  25. 27 MarEpisode 150House building robots - Vikas Enti31m
  26. 20 MarEpisode 149Robot safety and security - Krystal Mattich25m
  27. 18 MarBonus Episode: The Future of Home Assistant Robots45m
  28. 13 MarEpisode 148Ethical robot behaviour - Alan Winfield38m
  29. 6 MarEpisode 147Miniature living robots - Maria Guix31m
  30. 27 FebEpisode 146Embodied AI on the ISS - Jamie Palmer24m
  31. 20 FebEpisode 145Robotics and automation in manufacturing - Agata Suwala26m
  32. 13 FebEpisode 144Robot trust in humans - Samuele Vinanzi29m
  33. 6 FebEpisode 143Robots for children - Elmira Yadollahi35m
  34. 30 JanEpisode 142Collaborative robot arms - Mark Gray26m
  35. 23 JanEpisode 141Our relationship with robot swarms - Razanne Abu-Aisheh23m
  36. 16 JanEpisode 140Robot balance and agility - Amir Patel21m
  37. 9 JanEpisode 139Advanced robot hearing - Christine Evers28m
202537 episodes
  1. 19 DecEpisode 138Robots in the environment - Stefano Mintchev29m
  2. 12 DecEpisode 137Getting two-legged robots moving - Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi30m
  3. 5 DecEpisode 136Making driverless vehicles smarter - Shimon Whiteson33m
  4. 28 NovEpisode 135Robot anatomy and design - Chapa Sirithunge26m
  5. 21 NovEpisode 134Robotics as a hobby - Kevin McAleer37m
  6. 14 NovEpisode 133Creating sociable robot collaborators - Heather Knight35m
  7. 7 NovEpisode 132Collaborating with industrial robots - Anthony Jules30m
  8. 31 OctEpisode 131Empowering game-changing robotics research - Edith-Clare Hall26m
  9. 24 OctEpisode 130Robots learning from humans - Chad Jenkins29m
  10. 17 OctEpisode 129Automating museum experiments - Yuen Ting Chan25m
  11. 13 OctBonus Episode: Smart City Robotics Competition1h 28m
  12. 10 OctEpisode 128Making microrobots move - Ali K. Hoshiar19m
  13. 3 OctEpisode 127Robots exploring other planets - Frances Zhu32m
  14. 17 SeptRobot Talk Season 6 coming soon!1m
  15. 20 JunEpisode 126Why are we building humanoid robots? - Robot Talk Live51m
  16. 13 JunEpisode 125Chatting with robots - Gabriel Skantze27m
  17. 6 JunEpisode 124Robots in the performing arts - Amy LaViers22m
  18. 30 MayEpisode 123Standardising robot programming - Nick Thompson18m
  19. 23 MayEpisode 122Bio-inspired flying robots - Jane Pauline Ramos Ramirez27m
  20. 16 MayEpisode 121Adaptable robots for the home - Lerrel Pinto33m
  21. 9 MayEpisode 120Evolving robots to explore other planets - Emma Hart26m
  22. 2 MayEpisode 119Robotics for small manufacturers - Will Kinghorn24m
  23. 25 AprEpisode 118Soft robotics and electronic skin - Miranda Lowther36m
  24. 11 AprEpisode 117Robots in orbit - Jeremy Hadall34m
  25. 4 AprEpisode 116Evolved behaviour for robot teams - Tanja Katharina Kaiser23m
  26. 28 MarEpisode 115Robot dogs working in industry - Benjamin Mottis23m
  27. 21 MarEpisode 114Reducing waste with robotics - Josie Gotz27m
  28. 14 MarEpisode 113Soft robotic hands - Kaspar Althoefer32m
  29. 7 MarEpisode 112Getting creative with robotics - Vali Lalioti34m
  30. 28 FebEpisode 111Robots for climate action - Patrick Meier35m
  31. 21 FebEpisode 110Designing ethical robots - Catherine Menon35m
  32. 14 FebEpisode 109Building robots at home - Dan Nicholson24m
  33. 7 FebEpisode 108Giving robots the sense of touch - Anuradha Ranasinghe22m
  34. 31 JanEpisode 107Animal-inspired robot movement - Robert Siddall25m
  35. 24 JanEpisode 106The future of intelligent systems - Didem Gurdur Broo27m
  36. 17 JanEpisode 105Working with robots in industry - Gianmarco Pisanelli33m
  37. 10 JanEpisode 104Robot swarms inspired by nature - Kirstin Petersen22m
202438 episodes
  1. 20 DecEpisode 103Delivering medicine by drone - Keenan Wyrobek28m
  2. 13 DecEpisode 102Soft robots inspired by plants - Isabella Fiorello23m
  3. 6 DecEpisode 101Microscopic surgical robots - Christos Bergeles21m
  4. 29 NovEpisode 100Robots in space - Mini Rai23m
  5. 22 NovEpisode 99Robots mapping the deep ocean - Joe Wolfel27m
  6. 15 NovEpisode 98Robotic chemists to discover new materials - Gabriella Pizzuto24m
  7. 8 NovEpisode 97Robot swarms for environmental monitoring - Pratap Tokekar31m
  8. 1 NovEpisode 96Soft robots in medicine and healthcare - Maria Elena Giannaccini28m
  9. 25 OctEpisode 95Helping companies grow with robotics - Jonathan Walker28m
  10. 18 OctEpisode 94Humanoid robots for health and social care - Esyin Chew30m
  11. 11 OctEpisode 93Robots and AI in the workplace - Matt Beane38m
  12. 4 OctEpisode 92Trust and acceptance of robots - Gisela Reyes-Cruz21m
  13. 27 SeptEpisode 91Robot navigation on land and in water - John Leonard30m
  14. 20 SeptRobot Talk Season 5 coming soon!1m
  15. 21 JunEpisode 90Robotically Augmented People - Robot Talk Live51m
  16. 14 JunEpisode 89Medicinal microrobots - Simone Schuerle23m
  17. 7 JunEpisode 88Robotic surgery - Lord Ara Darzi15m
  18. 31 MayEpisode 87Human-centred design - Isabelle Ormerod26m
  19. 24 MayEpisode 86Robotics at CERN - Mario Di Castro17m
  20. 17 MayEpisode 85Drone vision and navigation - Margarita Chli25m
  21. 10 MayEpisode 84Art and robotics - Steve Benford30m
  22. 3 MayEpisode 83Life-like artificial systems - Estelle Raffy25m
  23. 26 AprEpisode 82Software for teleoperation - Chang Liu31m
  24. 19 AprEpisode 81Vision for self-driving cars - Vassia Simaiaki18m
  25. 12 AprEpisode 80Resilient robot teams - Danesh Tarapore30m
  26. 5 AprEpisode 79The social side of robot design - Ella Maule22m
  27. 22 MarEpisode 78Connecting science fiction and fact - Stephen Oram28m
  28. 15 MarEpisode 77Social robots that learn from experience - Patricia Shaw22m
  29. 8 MarEpisode 76Robots on the railways - Andrew Starr34m
  30. 1 MarEpisode 75Robot hands and exoskeletons - Antonia Tzemanaki22m
  31. 23 FebEpisode 74Teaching robots to grasp - Edward Johns29m
  32. 16 FebEpisode 73Making robots more accessible - Marisé Galvez Trigo28m
  33. 9 FebEpisode 72Smart mobile robots for industry - Rafael Lopez19m
  34. 2 FebEpisode 71Assistive robots inspired by biology - Virginia Ruiz Garate27m
  35. 26 JanEpisode 70Developing better robotic prostheses - Josh Caputo29m
  36. 19 JanEpisode 69Robots on the farm - Elizabeth Sklar36m
  37. 12 JanEpisode 68Bat-inspired robots - Rolf Mueller28m
  38. 5 JanEpisode 67Wearable soft robots - Kris Dorsey18m
202337 episodes
  1. 15 DecEpisode 66Healthcare robots you can trust - Jims Marchang29m
  2. 8 DecEpisode 65Robotic arms for healthcare - Katarzyna Szopinska23m
  3. 1 DecEpisode 64Robots for nuclear decommissioning - Rav Chunilal19m
  4. 24 NovEpisode 63Working effectively with robots - Ayse Kucukyilmaz29m
  5. 17 NovEpisode 62Making robots at home - Jorvon Moss26m
  6. 10 NovEpisode 61Culturally sensitive robots - Masoumeh (Iran) Mansouri30m
  7. 3 NovEpisode 60Making robots look human - Carl Strathearn27m
  8. 27 OctEpisode 59Robots at sea - Ffion Llewellyn18m
  9. 20 OctEpisode 58Dexterous robotic hands - Lorenzo Jamone27m
  10. 13 OctEpisode 57The ethics of new technology - Kate Devlin31m
  11. 6 OctEpisode 56Intelligent warehouse robots - Guillaume Doisy18m
  12. 29 SeptEpisode 55Adaptable robots inspired by nature - Sara Adela Abad Guaman27m
  13. 21 SeptNew season of Robot Talk coming soon!1m
  14. 23 JunEpisode Fifty-Four: Robot Talk Live - Robotics and Science Fiction52m
  15. 16 JunEpisode Fifty-Three: Robert Richardson35m
  16. 9 JunEpisode Fifty-Two: Sara Bernardini29m
  17. 2 JunEpisode Fifty-One: James Kell19m
  18. 26 MayEpisode Fifty: Elena De Momi17m
  19. 19 MayEpisode Forty-Nine: Nick Hawes33m
  20. 12 MayEpisode Forty-Eight: Georgia Chalvatzaki24m
  21. 5 MayEpisode Forty-Seven: Helmut Hauser33m
  22. 28 AprEpisode Forty-Six: Carlotta Berry19m
  23. 21 AprEpisode Forty-Five: Francesco Giorgio-Serchi26m
  24. 14 AprEpisode Forty-Four: Kat Thiel17m
  25. 31 MarEpisode Forty-Three: Maitreyee Wairagkar29m
  26. 24 MarEpisode Forty-Two: Thom Kirwan-Evans29m
  27. 17 MarEpisode Forty-One: Alessandra Rossi28m
  28. 10 MarEpisode Forty: Edward Timpson32m
  29. 3 MarEpisode Thirty-Nine: Maria Bauza Villalonga20m
  30. 24 FebEpisode Thirty-Eight: Jonathan Aitken37m
  31. 17 FebEpisode Thirty-Seven: Yang Gao25m
  32. 10 FebEpisode Thirty-Six: Ignazio Maria Viola18m
  33. 3 FebEpisode Thirty-Five: Emily S. Cross25m
  34. 27 JanEpisode Thirty-Four: Sabine Hauert31m
  35. 20 JanEpisode Thirty-Three: Dan Stoyanov25m
  36. 13 JanEpisode Thirty-Two: Mollie Claypool21m
  37. 6 JanEpisode Thirty-One: Chris Atkeson36m
202218 episodes
  1. 16 DecEpisode Thirty: Ana Cavalcanti24m
  2. 9 DecEpisode Twenty-Nine: Sina Sareh16m
  3. 2 DecEpisode Twenty-Eight: Amanda Prorok21m
  4. 25 NovEpisode Twenty-Seven: Simon Wanstall20m
  5. 18 NovEpisode Twenty-Six: Séverin Lemaignan29m
  6. 11 NovEpisode Twenty-Five: Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena24m
  7. 4 NovEpisode Twenty-Four: Gopal Ramchurn19m
  8. 28 OctEpisode Twenty-Three: Mickey Li22m
  9. 21 OctEpisode Twenty-Two: Iveta Eimontaite20m
  10. 14 OctEpisode Twenty-One: Sean Katagiri14m
  11. 7 OctEpisode Twenty: Paul Dominick Baniqued10m
  12. 30 SeptEpisode Nineteen: Roopika Ravikanna19m
  13. 24 JunEpisode Eighteen: Robot Talk Live — Robotics in the Home59m
  14. 13 JunEpisode Seventeen – Bioinspired Robots: learning from nature44m
  15. 29 AprEpisode Sixteen – Disaster Response: robots to the rescue33m
  16. 25 MarEpisode Fifteen – Trustworthy Robots: building rapport42m
  17. 25 FebEpisode Fourteen – Aerial Robotics: taking flight28m
  18. 28 JanEpisode Thirteen – Robot evolution: survival of the fittest39m
20219 episodes
  1. 26 NovEpisode Twelve – Manufacturing Robotics: onto the factory floor38m
  2. 29 OctEpisode Eleven – Self-Driving Cars: behind the wheel34m
  3. 24 SeptEpisode Ten – Robot Swarms: flocking together28m
  4. 25 JunEpisode Nine: Robot Talk Live — Robots into the Wild59m
  5. 28 MayEpisode Eight - Soft Robotics: a new kind of robot32m
  6. 30 AprEpisode Seven - Agricultural Robotics: Farming for the future28m
  7. 27 MarEpisode Six - Human-Robot Collaboration: working together38m
  8. 26 FebEpisode Five - Robots for hazardous environments: into the extremes27m
  9. 29 JanEpisode Four - Robot Senses: perceiving the world34m
20203 episodes
  1. 27 NovEpisode Three - Robot Locomotion: getting moving31m
  2. 30 OctEpisode Two - Space Robotics: out of this world33m
  3. 25 SeptEpisode One – Medical Robotics: into the operating theatre27m

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