# Amazon Astro underwhelms robotics community; Vicarious Surgical CEO Adam Sachs

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2021-09-30
- Length: 1h 09m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-30-amazon-astro-underwhelms-robotics-community-vicarious-surgical-ceo-adam-sachs
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/amazon-astro-underwhelms-robotics-community-vicarious-surgical-ceo-adam-sachs

## Summary

Steve Crowe and Mike Oitsman discuss the robotics industry, starting with a recap of Pack Expo where they highlight new automation products from Wyzo and Robotique. They then analyze Amazon's Astro home robot, critiquing its high price, limited functionality, and privacy implications, while noting mixed listener reactions. Finally, Adam Sachs, CEO and founder of Vicarious Surgical, joins to discuss his company's next-generation surgical robotics system, its unique decoupled actuator technology, recent SPAC listing on the NYSE, and the path to FDA clearance.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-30-amazon-astro-underwhelms-robotics-community-vicarious-surgical-ceo-adam-sachs#t=7) Introduction: Pack Expo Recap and New Automation Products
- [8:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-30-amazon-astro-underwhelms-robotics-community-vicarious-surgical-ceo-adam-sachs#t=510) Amazon Astro Launch: Features, Price, and Listener Reactions
- [17:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-30-amazon-astro-underwhelms-robotics-community-vicarious-surgical-ceo-adam-sachs#t=1027) Critique of Astro: Cost Performance, Privacy, and Market Fit
- [36:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-30-amazon-astro-underwhelms-robotics-community-vicarious-surgical-ceo-adam-sachs#t=2188) Introduction: Adam Sachs and Vicarious Surgical
- [42:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-30-amazon-astro-underwhelms-robotics-community-vicarious-surgical-ceo-adam-sachs#t=2539) Vicarious Surgical Technology: Decoupled Actuators and Single-Port Design
- [52:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-30-amazon-astro-underwhelms-robotics-community-vicarious-surgical-ceo-adam-sachs#t=3131) Surgical Workflow, VR Integration, and Training
- [57:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-30-amazon-astro-underwhelms-robotics-community-vicarious-surgical-ceo-adam-sachs#t=3466) FDA Breakthrough Designation and Regulatory Path
- [1:00:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-30-amazon-astro-underwhelms-robotics-community-vicarious-surgical-ceo-adam-sachs#t=3643) Going Public: SPAC Strategy and Market Opportunity

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Amazon (company)
- Astro (product)
- Wyzo (company)
- Robotique (company)
- Mujin (company)
- Vicarious Surgical (company)
- D8 Holdings (company)
- Intuitive Surgical (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Desktop Metal (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Axel Krieger | Autonomous Robotics in the Medical Device Field](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-03-25-axel-krieger-autonomous-robotics-in-the-medical-device-field) (Being an Engineer)
- [Episode Twenty-Five: Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-11-episode-twenty-five-ferdinando-rodriguez-y-baena) (Robot Talk)
- [OpenAI's SORA 2 Drops + WE CALLED THE BUBBLE TOP + Shopping Agents Win](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-10-03-openais-sora-2-drops-we-called-the-bubble-top-shopping-agents-win) (Built 2 Scale)
- [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)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-09-30-amazon-astro-underwhelms-robotics-community-vicarious-surgical-ceo-adam-sachs. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Robot Report Podcast.