# Surging North American robot shipments; wireless charging future

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2021-05-13
- Length: 1h 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-05-13-surging-north-american-robot-shipments-wireless-charging-future
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/north-american-robot-shipments-wireless-charging-future

## Summary

Jeff Burnstein, president of A3, discusses Q1 2021 North American robot shipment data, highlighting a 20% surge in orders driven by non-automotive sectors like life sciences and logistics, and the industry's shift away from automotive dependency. Ben Waters and Matt Carlson of WiBotic explain their wireless charging technology for autonomous mobile robots and drones, detailing its interoperability benefits, battery optimization capabilities, and a new NASA contract for lunar rovers. The hosts also review April 2021 robotics investment trends, noting a $4.8 billion total and significant M&A activity involving companies like Lyft and Uber's autonomous divisions.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-05-13-surging-north-american-robot-shipments-wireless-charging-future#t=7) Introduction and Industry News
- [4:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-05-13-surging-north-american-robot-shipments-wireless-charging-future#t=252) April 2021 Robotics Investment Review
- [13:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-05-13-surging-north-american-robot-shipments-wireless-charging-future#t=824) A3 Q1 Shipment Data with Jeff Burnstein
- [33:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-05-13-surging-north-american-robot-shipments-wireless-charging-future#t=1989) WiBotic Wireless Charging Technology
- [48:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-05-13-surging-north-american-robot-shipments-wireless-charging-future#t=2925) WiBotic NASA Lunar Rover Contract
- [57:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-05-13-surging-north-american-robot-shipments-wireless-charging-future#t=3446) WiBotic European Expansion and Software
- [1:11:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-05-13-surging-north-american-robot-shipments-wireless-charging-future#t=4286) Startup Advice and Conclusion

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- A3 (company)
- WiBotic (company)
- AutoStore (company)
- Cruise (company)
- Lyft (company)
- Uber (company)
- Toyota (company)
- Precise Automation (company)
- Brooks Automation (company)
- Universal Robots (company)
- Fetch Robotics (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Spot (product)
- Astrobotic (company)
- Cube Rover (product)
- Wibotic Commander (product)
- NASA (company)
- SoftBank (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [BONUS: Leaders in Robotics, AMRs, and Logistics, Pt. 2 of 2 (brought to you by A3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-26-bonus-leaders-in-robotics-amrs-and-logistics-pt-2-of-2-brought-to-you-by-a3) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [47. Robotic Farming Makes Produce Better & Cheaper](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-07-47-robotic-farming-makes-produce-better-cheaper) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [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)
- [BONUS: Hear what Investors, Educators, and High Growth Companies have to say about the future of Robotics, Automation, and AI, Pt. 1 of 2 (brought to you by Cascadia Capital)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-21-bonus-hear-what-investors-educators-and-high-growth-companies-have-to-say-about) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [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

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