# Episode Nine: Robot Talk Live — Robots into the Wild

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2021-06-25
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 9
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-06-25-episode-nine-robot-talk-live-robots-into-the-wild
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-nine-robot-talk-live-robots-into-the-wild

## Summary

Sophie Armanini of TU Munich and Imperial College London discusses bio-inspired aerial and aquatic robots, while Ben Scott-Robinson of Small Robot Company explains his team of autonomous farming robots (Tom, Dick, and Harry) designed for regenerative agriculture. Matthew Ryan Tucker from the University of Bristol details using a Boston Dynamics Spot robot for radiation mapping in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The panel explores the challenges of deploying robots in wild, unpredictable environments, including weather, wildlife, and regulatory hurdles.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-06-25-episode-nine-robot-talk-live-robots-into-the-wild#t=6) Introduction: Sophie Armanini and Bio-inspired Robotics
- [6:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-06-25-episode-nine-robot-talk-live-robots-into-the-wild#t=414) Ben Scott-Robinson and Small Robot Company's Farming Robots
- [15:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-06-25-episode-nine-robot-talk-live-robots-into-the-wild#t=914) Matthew Ryan Tucker and Chernobyl Radiation Mapping
- [18:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-06-25-episode-nine-robot-talk-live-robots-into-the-wild#t=1118) Environmental Challenges: Weather and Wildlife
- [28:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-06-25-episode-nine-robot-talk-live-robots-into-the-wild#t=1731) Robotics During the Pandemic and Public Acceptance
- [36:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-06-25-episode-nine-robot-talk-live-robots-into-the-wild#t=2165) Hardware Limitations, Cost, and Career Paths
- [45:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-06-25-episode-nine-robot-talk-live-robots-into-the-wild#t=2713) Future of Robotics: Control Systems and Construction
- [52:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-06-25-episode-nine-robot-talk-live-robots-into-the-wild#t=3155) Favorite Fictional Robots and the Uncanny Valley

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Sophie Armanini (other)
- TU Munich (company)
- Imperial College London (company)
- Ben Scott-Robinson (other)
- Small Robot Company (company)
- Tom (product)
- Dick (product)
- Harry (product)
- Wilma (product)
- Matthew Ryan Tucker (other)
- University of Bristol (company)
- Boston Dynamics Spot (product)
- Chernobyl (other)
- Starship (company)
- Mana (company)
- Foundations for Farming (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [From the barn to the bar: AI powered robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-04-19-from-the-barn-to-the-bar-ai-powered-robots) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [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)
- [FIRA 2025 Ag robotics recap](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-24-fira-2025-ag-robotics-recap) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [RoboBusiness and Field Robotics Forum Preview](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-13-robobusiness-and-field-robotics-forum-preview) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Practical Applications of Embodied AI and Humanoid Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-10-23-practical-applications-of-embodied-ai-and-humanoid-robots) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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