# #009 - Commercializing the first robotic touch sensing that uses light, with Ákos Dömötör of OptoForce, Hungary

- Show: [The Hardware Entrepreneur](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur)
- Published: 2017-01-18
- Length: 34m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-01-18-009-commercializing-the-first-robotic-touch-sensing-that-uses-light-with-akos-do
- Listen: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thehardwareentrepreneur/009.mp3

## Summary

Ákos Dömötör, CEO of OptoForce, explains how the company commercialized its unique optical force/torque sensors for collaborative robots, differentiating itself from competitors using strain gauges or capacitive sensing. He details the company's evolution from a university spinoff with a technically mature but market-mismatched product to a scalable business by iterating on its business model and focusing on industrial customers. Dömötör discusses the challenges of shifting an engineering-heavy team to customer-centricity, managing in-house production of critical components while outsourcing standard parts like PCBs to local suppliers, and the importance of empathy in navigating cultural differences in international business.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-01-18-009-commercializing-the-first-robotic-touch-sensing-that-uses-light-with-akos-do#t=1) Introduction: Ákos Dömötör and OptoForce
- [2:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-01-18-009-commercializing-the-first-robotic-touch-sensing-that-uses-light-with-akos-do#t=149) OptoForce Technology and Robotics Trends
- [9:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-01-18-009-commercializing-the-first-robotic-touch-sensing-that-uses-light-with-akos-do#t=562) Optical Sensing vs. Strain Gauge and Capacitive Methods
- [12:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-01-18-009-commercializing-the-first-robotic-touch-sensing-that-uses-light-with-akos-do#t=775) Company Maturity and Market Validation
- [17:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-01-18-009-commercializing-the-first-robotic-touch-sensing-that-uses-light-with-akos-do#t=1039) Business Model Iterations and Customer Development
- [19:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-01-18-009-commercializing-the-first-robotic-touch-sensing-that-uses-light-with-akos-do#t=1197) Early Phase Challenges and Production Strategy
- [23:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-01-18-009-commercializing-the-first-robotic-touch-sensing-that-uses-light-with-akos-do#t=1386) Manufacturing Location and Supplier Relationships
- [25:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-01-18-009-commercializing-the-first-robotic-touch-sensing-that-uses-light-with-akos-do#t=1532) Advice, Books, and Cultural Differences

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- OptoForce (company)
- LEGO (company)
- DARPA (company)
- 3Dconnexion (company)
- High Performance Management (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Kristian Kassow: A Pioneer in the Cobot Industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-11-21-kristian-kassow-a-pioneer-in-the-cobot-industry) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [112: Designing & Commercializing Robotics Inventions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-02-112-designing-commercializing-robotics-inventions) (Product Startup)
- [The startup journey, from prototype to production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-22-the-startup-journey-from-prototype-to-production) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Converting to “Robotics-as-a-Service” with Michael Senske, Chairman & CEO of Pearson Packaging Systems](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-10-13-converting-to-robotics-as-a-service-with-michael-senske-chairman-ceo-of-pearson) (Over the Air)
- [Four robot companies pull in $531M in funding; Interview with Photoneo CTO, Tomas Kovacovsky](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-14-four-robot-companies-pull-in-531m-in-funding-interview-with-photoneo-cto-tomas-k) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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