# How Next-Gen Robots Are Revolutionizing Manufacturing w/ Nan Li

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2022-02-22
- Length: 24m
- Episode: 90
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-22-how-next-gen-robots-are-revolutionizing-manufacturing-w-nan-li
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-30cfcd0e-bf9a-454a-9c5d-c58bbafccf53

## Summary

Nan Li, Managing Director at Obvious Ventures, explains how next-generation robots are shifting from fixed, pre-programmed tasks to hyper-intelligent, adaptable systems capable of real-time environmental awareness. He details how advancements in computer vision and perception, largely driven by autonomous vehicle R&D from companies like Tesla and Waymo, have lowered costs and accelerated deployment for industrial robotics. Li highlights that these new systems, such as those from Dexterity, are becoming financially accessible through robotics-as-a-service models and can achieve production-ready speeds of 1,000 to 2,000 picks per hour in mixed-bin scenarios.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-22-how-next-gen-robots-are-revolutionizing-manufacturing-w-nan-li#t=0) Introduction and Guest Background
- [4:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-22-how-next-gen-robots-are-revolutionizing-manufacturing-w-nan-li#t=253) Obvious Ventures and Industrial Tech Focus
- [7:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-22-how-next-gen-robots-are-revolutionizing-manufacturing-w-nan-li#t=425) The Shift from Fixed to Intelligent Robotics
- [12:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-22-how-next-gen-robots-are-revolutionizing-manufacturing-w-nan-li#t=773) Autonomous Vehicle Tech in Robotics
- [16:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-22-how-next-gen-robots-are-revolutionizing-manufacturing-w-nan-li#t=976) Hardware Cost Reduction and Accessibility
- [18:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-22-how-next-gen-robots-are-revolutionizing-manufacturing-w-nan-li#t=1089) Robotics as a Service and Deployment Speed
- [20:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-22-how-next-gen-robots-are-revolutionizing-manufacturing-w-nan-li#t=1237) Production Performance and Future Scale

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Obvious Ventures (company)
- Dexterity (company)
- ABB (company)
- Fanuc (company)
- Kuka (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Waymo (company)
- Kawasaki (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Reimagining and Investing in Legacy Industries with Obvious Ventures’ Nan Li](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-30-reimagining-and-investing-in-legacy-industries-with-obvious-ventures-nan-li) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [172: How To Stay Focused on Your Mission and Deliver Robotic Solutions at Scale with Rapid Robotics CEO & Co-Founder Jordan Kretchmer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-02-13-172-how-to-stay-focused-on-your-mission-and-deliver-robotic-solutions-at-scale-w) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [173: Leveraging Robotics in an Unstructured World with Dexterity's Michael Patrick Perry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-02-20-173-leveraging-robotics-in-an-unstructured-world-with-dexteritys-michael-patrick) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Deploying Intelligent Robots at Scale with Dexterity CEO Samir Menon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-28-deploying-intelligent-robots-at-scale-with-dexterity-ceo-samir-menon) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS: Leaders in Machine Vision and Robotics: Live from Boston, Pt. 2 of 2 (brought to you by A3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-12-23-bonus-leaders-in-machine-vision-and-robotics-live-from-boston-pt-2-of-2-brought) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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