# Boston Dynamics' VP of Product Engineering on Developing Stretch

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2021-04-03
- Length: 55m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-04-03-boston-dynamics-vp-of-product-engineering-on-developing-stretch
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/boston-dynamics-vp-of-product-engineering-on-developing-stretch

## Summary

Kevin Blankespoor, VP of Product Engineering at Boston Dynamics, details the development of Stretch, a mobile manipulator designed for warehouse logistics. He explains the robot's evolution from the Atlas and Handle prototypes, highlighting the integration of a 7-DOF arm, mobile base, and Kinema vision system to achieve high-speed box handling. Blankespoor discusses the system engineering challenges, particularly managing power consumption for the onboard vacuum system, and outlines the roadmap for truck unloading and order building applications.

## Chapters

- [11:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-04-03-boston-dynamics-vp-of-product-engineering-on-developing-stretch#t=710) Introduction to Stretch and Warehouse Applications
- [14:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-04-03-boston-dynamics-vp-of-product-engineering-on-developing-stretch#t=852) Evolution from Atlas and Handle to Stretch
- [17:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-04-03-boston-dynamics-vp-of-product-engineering-on-developing-stretch#t=1030) Autonomy Levels and Semi-Autonomous Operation
- [21:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-04-03-boston-dynamics-vp-of-product-engineering-on-developing-stretch#t=1267) Vision Systems, Payloads, and Kinema Integration
- [23:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-04-03-boston-dynamics-vp-of-product-engineering-on-developing-stretch#t=1411) Mechanical Design: Arm, Base, and Perception Mast
- [29:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-04-03-boston-dynamics-vp-of-product-engineering-on-developing-stretch#t=1760) Safety, Grippers, and Vacuum System Challenges
- [34:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-04-03-boston-dynamics-vp-of-product-engineering-on-developing-stretch#t=2061) Boston Dynamics' Shift from R&D to Product Commercialization
- [41:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-04-03-boston-dynamics-vp-of-product-engineering-on-developing-stretch#t=2516) Product Roadmap and Future Applications

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Stretch (product)
- Atlas (product)
- Handle (product)
- Spot (product)
- Kinema (company)
- Otto Motors (company)
- Hyundai (company)
- Google X (company)
- SoftBank (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Why “Spot” the Mobile Robot is Made for Manufacturing with Boston Dynamics’ Michael Perry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-07-13-why-spot-the-mobile-robot-is-made-for-manufacturing-with-boston-dynamics-michael) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Episode 163: Robots helping people - Aaron Edsinger](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger) (Robot Talk)
- [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)
- [Ep. 20 | Dr. Aaron Edsinger, CEO & Co-founder of Hello Robot and Former Head of Robotics at Google on Humanity in Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-03-18-ep-20-dr-aaron-edsinger-ceo-co-founder-of-hello-robot-and-former-head-of-robotic) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

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