# 65. Pizzaiolo Robot & Autonomous Wheelchairs

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2022-04-12
- Length: 32m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-04-12-65-pizzaiolo-robot-autonomous-wheelchairs
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/65-pizzaiolo-robot-autonomous-wheelchairs-0QEPivl4

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss two robotics projects: a pizza-making robot from MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and UCSD that uses a teacher-student AI framework to learn dough manipulation, and an autonomous wheelchair study by EPFL that highlights safety risks and the need for assisted navigation in crowds. They analyze the engineering challenges of soft robotics, sensor integration, and the legal implications of human-robot interaction.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-04-12-65-pizzaiolo-robot-autonomous-wheelchairs#t=0) Introduction: Pizza Robots and Autonomous Wheelchairs
- [0:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-04-12-65-pizzaiolo-robot-autonomous-wheelchairs#t=43) The Pizza Robot: Teacher-Student AI Framework
- [9:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-04-12-65-pizzaiolo-robot-autonomous-wheelchairs#t=576) Pizza Robot Outcomes and Future Applications
- [14:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-04-12-65-pizzaiolo-robot-autonomous-wheelchairs#t=892) Autonomous Wheelchairs: Safety and Crash Testing
- [17:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-04-12-65-pizzaiolo-robot-autonomous-wheelchairs#t=1050) Wheelchair Sensor Retrofit and Crowd Navigation
- [22:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-04-12-65-pizzaiolo-robot-autonomous-wheelchairs#t=1326) Conclusion: Assisted vs. Autonomous Navigation

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- MIT (other)
- Carnegie Mellon (other)
- University of California at San Diego (other)
- EPFL (other)
- QOLO (product)
- Tesla (company)
- Wevolver (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 162: The robot doctor will see you now - Robot Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-06-26-episode-162-the-robot-doctor-will-see-you-now-robot-talk-live) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode Fifty: Elena De Momi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-05-26-episode-fifty-elena-de-momi) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode Thirty-One: Chris Atkeson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-01-06-episode-thirty-one-chris-atkeson) (Robot Talk)
- [The Robot Revolution: Top 10 robots of all time](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-01-the-robot-revolution-top-10-robots-of-all-time) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [From the barn to the bar: AI powered robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-04-19-from-the-barn-to-the-bar-ai-powered-robots) (The Robot Report Podcast)

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