# Episode 163: Robots helping people - Aaron Edsinger

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2026-09-25
- Length: 26m
- Episode: 163
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger#t=6) Introduction: Aaron Edsinger and Hello Robot
- [4:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger#t=267) Stretch Robot Design and Use Cases
- [7:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger#t=420) Design Philosophy: Safety, Form, and Acceptance
- [11:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger#t=674) Navigating Home Environments and Human-in-the-Loop
- [14:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger#t=845) Research Applications and Simulation vs. Reality
- [15:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger#t=946) Safety Layers: Physical Design, Sensing, and Policy
- [20:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger#t=1205) Lessons from Four Robotics Companies
- [22:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger#t=1347) Future Plans: Fundraising and Home Market Entry

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Hello Robot (company)
- Stretch (product)
- Roomba (product)
- Google (company)
- NYU (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Advanced Research + Invention Agency (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep. 20 | Dr. Aaron Edsinger, CEO & Co-founder of Hello Robot and Former Head of Robotics at Google on Humanity in Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-03-18-ep-20-dr-aaron-edsinger-ceo-co-founder-of-hello-robot-and-former-head-of-robotic) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Podcast: Hello Robot exits stealth; White Castle turns to automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-07-15-podcast-hello-robot-exits-stealth-white-castle-turns-to-automation) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [264: Inside Automated: Asking the Right Questions about Robotics and AI with Brian Heater, Managing Editor at A3 and Host of the Automated Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-12-02-264-inside-automated-asking-the-right-questions-about-robotics-and-ai-with-brian) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Shaping the Future: Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas and the Apollo Humanoid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [RoboBusiness Pitchfire winner Glidance helping sight-impaired individuals regain their independence](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-12-15-robobusiness-pitchfire-winner-glidance-helping-sight-impaired-individuals-regain) (The Robot Report 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/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger. 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.