# Episode 159: Robot sensing and manipulation - Maria Koskinopoulou

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2026-06-05
- Length: 34m
- Episode: 159
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-06-05-episode-159-robot-sensing-and-manipulation-maria-koskinopoulou
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-159-robot-sensing-and-manipulation-maria-koskinopoulou

## Summary

Maria Koskinopoulou, an Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University and co-leader of the ARM²Lab, discusses integrating perception and manipulation in robotics for medical and sustainability applications. She details autonomous needle-based procedures that use real-time ultrasound and haptic feedback to assist surgeons, and robotic systems for sorting waste and disassembling electronics like hard drives and batteries. Koskinopoulou explains how these systems handle unstructured environments by combining computer vision with adaptive grasping strategies, such as vacuum suction, to manage overlapping and deformable objects.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-06-05-episode-159-robot-sensing-and-manipulation-maria-koskinopoulou#t=7) Introduction: Maria Koskinopoulou and the ARM²Lab
- [2:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-06-05-episode-159-robot-sensing-and-manipulation-maria-koskinopoulou#t=174) Dexterous Manipulation and Robotic Disassembly
- [8:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-06-05-episode-159-robot-sensing-and-manipulation-maria-koskinopoulou#t=511) Integrating Perception and Action in Robotics
- [12:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-06-05-episode-159-robot-sensing-and-manipulation-maria-koskinopoulou#t=764) Autonomous Medical Robotics and Haptic Feedback
- [17:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-06-05-episode-159-robot-sensing-and-manipulation-maria-koskinopoulou#t=1060) Clinical Autonomy vs. Human Supervision
- [24:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-06-05-episode-159-robot-sensing-and-manipulation-maria-koskinopoulou#t=1459) Robotic Waste Sorting and Recycling Challenges

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Heriot-Watt University (company)
- ARM²Lab (other)
- National Robotarium (other)
- UKRI (other)
- EU (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [When robots recycle with Matanya Horowitz of AMP Robotics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-06-when-robots-recycle-with-matanya-horowitz-of-amp-robotics) (How I Built This)
- [Ken Goldberg on robotic grasping; Carbon Robotics’ new weeding robot](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-04-16-ken-goldberg-on-robotic-grasping-carbon-robotics-new-weeding-robot) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [490: Wait Until Physics Has Happened](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-11-28-490-wait-until-physics-has-happened) (Embedded.fm)
- [How AMP Robotics is changing recycling; Festo wins GM gripper challenge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-01-06-how-amp-robotics-is-changing-recycling-festo-wins-gm-gripper-challenge) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Inside Glacier's Mission to Modernize Recycling](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-11-26-inside-glaciers-mission-to-modernize-recycling) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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