# Steve Crowe, Mike Oitzman and Dan Kara review the top robotics stories of 2021

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2021-12-22
- Length: 49m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-22-steve-crowe-mike-oitzman-and-dan-kara-review-the-top-robotics-stories-of-2021
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/steve-crowe-mike-oitzman-and-dan-kara-review-the-top-robotics-stories-of-2021

## Summary

Steve Crowe, Mike Oitzman, and Dan Kara of The Robot Report review the top robotics stories of 2021, highlighting a shift toward enabling technologies and software in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). The hosts discuss major acquisitions by Zebra, ABB, and Locust Robotics, noting that large players are buying AMR companies because developing the complex fleet management software in-house was too difficult or premature. They also analyze iRobot's pivot toward non-robotic smart home products like air purifiers, signaling a struggle to find viable multi-use home robots, while celebrating successes in space robotics with the Mars 2020 mission and growth in agricultural field robotics.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-22-steve-crowe-mike-oitzman-and-dan-kara-review-the-top-robotics-stories-of-2021#t=8) Introduction: The Robot Report 2021 Recap
- [3:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-22-steve-crowe-mike-oitzman-and-dan-kara-review-the-top-robotics-stories-of-2021#t=225) Dan Kara on Robotics Adoption, Investment, and Enabling Technologies
- [11:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-22-steve-crowe-mike-oitzman-and-dan-kara-review-the-top-robotics-stories-of-2021#t=677) Mike Oitzman on AMR Market Consolidation and Acquisitions
- [20:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-22-steve-crowe-mike-oitzman-and-dan-kara-review-the-top-robotics-stories-of-2021#t=1214) The India Autonomous Challenge and Sensor Fusion at Speed
- [25:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-22-steve-crowe-mike-oitzman-and-dan-kara-review-the-top-robotics-stories-of-2021#t=1504) Steve Crowe on iRobot's Pivot to Smart Home and Air Purifiers
- [36:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-22-steve-crowe-mike-oitzman-and-dan-kara-review-the-top-robotics-stories-of-2021#t=2175) Dan Kara on Edge AI Hardware and Software Ecosystems
- [40:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-22-steve-crowe-mike-oitzman-and-dan-kara-review-the-top-robotics-stories-of-2021#t=2405) Space Robotics: Mars 2020 and Commercial Space Launches
- [42:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-12-22-steve-crowe-mike-oitzman-and-dan-kara-review-the-top-robotics-stories-of-2021#t=2532) Field Robotics: Ag Tech, Autonomous Tractors, and John Deere

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Zebra (company)
- Fetch Robotics (company)
- ABB (company)
- Asti Mobile Robots (company)
- Waypoint (company)
- iRobot (company)
- Mars 2020 (product)
- Nvidia (chip)
- Qualcomm (chip)
- John Deere (company)
- Bear Flag Robotics (company)
- Open Robotics (company)
- ROS (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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: 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)
- [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/2022-06-24-bonus-hear-what-investors-educators-and-high-growth-companies-have-to-say-about) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [The Rise Of Retail Robots With Simbe Robotics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-10-10-the-rise-of-retail-robots-with-simbe-robotics) (Over the Air)
- [A Conversation in Berlin about Robot Operations (#RobOps) with Florian Pestoni, Co-Founder and CEO of InOrbit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-08-09-a-conversation-in-berlin-about-robot-operations-robops-with-florian-pestoni-co-f) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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