# Episode Twenty-Three: Mickey Li

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2022-10-28
- Length: 22m
- Episode: 23
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-10-28-episode-twenty-three-mickey-li
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-twenty-three-mickey-li

## Summary

Mickey Li, a PhD candidate at the University of Bristol, discusses his research on optimal multi-UAV path planning for building inspection, focusing on fault tolerance and reliability. He explains how his work models probabilistic robot failures to create redundant, overlapping flight paths that ensure mission completion even if individual drones fail. Li also details the development of Staling, an open-source infrastructure he built with Rob Clark to simplify multi-UAV deployment at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory by using Docker containerization. The conversation covers applications in infrastructure inspection, such as power plants and bridges, and the challenges of scaling decentralized coordination.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-10-28-episode-twenty-three-mickey-li#t=7) Introduction: Mickey Li and University of Bristol
- [1:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-10-28-episode-twenty-three-mickey-li#t=117) Challenges in Multi-UAV Coordination and Fault Tolerance
- [4:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-10-28-episode-twenty-three-mickey-li#t=259) Centralized vs. Decentralized Planning and Communication
- [6:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-10-28-episode-twenty-three-mickey-li#t=400) Probabilistic Failure Modeling and Redundant Path Planning
- [9:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-10-28-episode-twenty-three-mickey-li#t=568) Scaling to Hierarchical Systems and Infrastructure Applications
- [12:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-10-28-episode-twenty-three-mickey-li#t=737) Developing Staling: Docker-Based Multi-UAV Infrastructure
- [18:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-10-28-episode-twenty-three-mickey-li#t=1103) Future of Civilian Multi-Drone Applications and Drone Shows

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- University of Bristol (company)
- Bristol Robotics Laboratory (company)
- Staling (product)
- ROS (tool)
- Docker (tool)
- EPSRC UK-RAS Network (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [23. Bird-Inspired Drone Wings, Scaling Digital Twins, Tracking Microplastics From Space](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-06-22-23-bird-inspired-drone-wings-scaling-digital-twins-tracking-microplastics-from-s) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [31. Dragonfly Explores Titan, Curing Muscular Dystrophy, NeckFace](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-17-31-dragonfly-explores-titan-curing-muscular-dystrophy-neckface) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Colby Harvey: Drones for Aircraft Inspections, Boeing, Air Force, Air Safety | Hard Tech Podcast #13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-09-24-colby-harvey-drones-for-aircraft-inspections-boeing-air-force-air-safety-hard-te) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [Niels Jul Jacobsen, CEO, Capra Robotics; Spider-Man Robot Fail](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-06-17-niels-jul-jacobsen-ceo-capra-robotics-spider-man-robot-fail) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Ep059: Hydraulic Rockets & Presses, Machine Vision Bounces & Stares, Smart Speakers Listen to You](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-03-19-ep059-hydraulic-rockets-presses-machine-vision-bounces-stares-smart-speakers-lis) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-10-28-episode-twenty-three-mickey-li. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Robot Talk.