# 59. AI For Better Battery Design & Training Microrobots

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2022-03-01
- Length: 29m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-03-01-59-ai-for-better-battery-design-training-microrobots
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/59-ai-for-better-battery-design-training-microrobots-Qf3XeNF1

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Farbode discuss two AI applications in physical engineering: Dean Dang’s use of AI and electron microscopy to reverse-engineer lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery degradation at Stanford, and Michael Barrens and Dr. Warren Rooter’s training of micro-robots to swim autonomously using a soft actor-critic algorithm at Pitt and Carnegie Mellon. They highlight how AI accelerates material discovery and control system development for medical micro-robots, moving beyond simulation to real-world physical learning.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-03-01-59-ai-for-better-battery-design-training-microrobots#t=0) Introduction and Sponsor Read
- [2:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-03-01-59-ai-for-better-battery-design-training-microrobots#t=176) AI for Battery Design and LFP Degradation
- [6:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-03-01-59-ai-for-better-battery-design-training-microrobots#t=394) Inverse Learning and Material Discovery
- [12:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-03-01-59-ai-for-better-battery-design-training-microrobots#t=745) Training Microbots to Swim
- [15:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-03-01-59-ai-for-better-battery-design-training-microrobots#t=934) Soft Actor-Critic and Physical Learning
- [21:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-03-01-59-ai-for-better-battery-design-training-microrobots#t=1289) Impact on Medical Robotics and Conclusion

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mouser Electronics (company)
- Stanford University (company)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (company)
- MIT (company)
- Dean Dang (other)
- William Chu (other)
- LFP batteries (product)
- Rivian (company)
- Michael Barrens (other)
- Warren Rooter (other)
- Carnegie Mellon University (company)
- Pitt (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep 188: Zapping Cockroaches, Tricking AIs, Antique 3D Scanning, and Grinding Chips to QFN](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-10-07-ep-188-zapping-cockroaches-tricking-ais-antique-3d-scanning-and-grinding-chips-t) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Inside a $300 million bet on AI for physical R&D](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-11-06-inside-a-300-million-bet-on-ai-for-physical-r-d) (Catalyst)
- [Ep063: Magnetic Gears, AI Green Screen, Plasma <3 Sharpie, and a Rubbery Drivetrain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-04-17-ep063-magnetic-gears-ai-green-screen-plasma-3-sharpie-and-a-rubbery-drivetrain) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Episode Thirteen – Robot evolution: survival of the fittest](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-01-28-episode-thirteen-robot-evolution-survival-of-the-fittest) (Robot Talk)
- [Ep049: Tiny Machine Learning, Basement Battery Bonanza, and Does This Uranium Feel Hot?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-01-10-ep049-tiny-machine-learning-basement-battery-bonanza-and-does-this-uranium-feel) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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