# Perspectives on Automation, AI, & the Future w/ Andy Lonsberry

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2021-06-08
- Length: 25m
- Episode: 52
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-ea148f48-eaf1-4052-bce8-3232324def42

## Summary

Andy Lonsberry, Founder and CEO of Path Robotics, explains how the company identified a market pain point in high-mix, low-volume welding and developed a fully autonomous robotic system using machine learning and computer vision. He details the journey from a 24-month consulting exploration to securing $15 million in Series A funding by bringing an autonomous robot to Silicon Valley. Lonsberry also discusses the 'Robots as a Service' (RAS) business model, which eliminates upfront capital expenditure for manufacturers by tying payment to system performance, and highlights the abundance of engineering talent in the Midwest.

## Chapters

- [0:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry#t=49) Introduction: Andy Lonsberry and Path Robotics
- [2:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry#t=129) Finding the Welding Pain Point and Consulting Journey
- [7:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry#t=423) Building the First Autonomous System in a Basement
- [11:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry#t=672) Midwest Talent and Robotics Ecosystem
- [14:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry#t=889) AI's Impact on High-Mix Manufacturing
- [19:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry#t=1151) Labor Shortages and Local Manufacturing
- [20:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry#t=1208) Robots as a Service (RAS) Model

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Path Robotics (company)
- Case Western Reserve University (other)
- Ohio State University (other)
- Edition (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How Path Robotics uses AI to optimize robotic welding](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-07-10-how-path-robotics-uses-ai-to-optimize-robotic-welding) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Modularity in Robotics: A Vision for the Future](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-08-03-modularity-in-robotics-a-vision-for-the-future) (Over the Air)
- [Cars, Welding Robots, and Midwest Startups with Path Robotic's Sheena Patterson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-08-cars-welding-robots-and-midwest-startups-with-path-robotics-sheena-patterson) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [What is Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS)?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-04-13-what-is-robotics-as-a-service-raas) (Over the Air)
- [Independent Investment Banking in Robotics, Automation, and AI with Cascadia Capital’s Firdaus Pohowalla](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-02-08-independent-investment-banking-in-robotics-automation-and-ai-with-cascadia-capit) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry. 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 The Manufacturing Executive.