# Jenga robot creator reviews chess-playing robot flaws

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2022-07-29
- Length: 49m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-07-29-jenga-robot-creator-reviews-chess-playing-robot-flaws
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/jenga-robot-creator-reviews-chess-playing-robot-flaws

## Summary

Nima Fazeli, assistant professor of robotics at the University of Michigan and creator of a Jenga-playing robot at MIT, analyzes the chess-playing robot incident in Russia that broke a child's finger, attributing the failure to the use of an industrial arm without safety compliance and a primitive vision system. Fazeli explains that the robot likely mistook the child's finger for a chess piece due to a lack of tactile feedback and proper collaborative robot (cobot) design, such as impedance control or robot skin. The hosts also discuss Rice University's 'necrobotics' research using dead wolf spiders as grippers, Teradyne's strong Q2 robotics revenue driven by Universal Robots, and Locust Robotics achieving SOC 2 certification for its cloud-based AMR fleet management.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-07-29-jenga-robot-creator-reviews-chess-playing-robot-flaws#t=7) Introduction: Necrobotics, Teradyne Earnings, and Locust SOC 2
- [21:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-07-29-jenga-robot-creator-reviews-chess-playing-robot-flaws#t=1318) Nima Fazeli on the Chess Robot Incident and Jenga Robot Lessons
- [35:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-07-29-jenga-robot-creator-reviews-chess-playing-robot-flaws#t=2152) Analysis of Gripper Types: Parallel Jaw vs. Suction and Soft Grippers
- [39:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-07-29-jenga-robot-creator-reviews-chess-playing-robot-flaws#t=2360) Public Perception, Ethics, and the Burden on Robotics Researchers

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- University of Michigan (company)
- MIT (company)
- Rice University (company)
- Teradyne (company)
- Universal Robots (company)
- Locust Robotics (company)
- Agility Robotics (company)
- DHL (company)
- Waymo (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Cybernetic Ventures (company)
- Mass Robotics (company)
- In Orbit (company)
- Neurolink (company)
- TRI (company)
- APFL (company)
- Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 105: Working with robots in industry - Gianmarco Pisanelli](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-01-17-episode-105-working-with-robots-in-industry-gianmarco-pisanelli) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 58: Dexterous robotic hands - Lorenzo Jamone](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-10-20-episode-58-dexterous-robotic-hands-lorenzo-jamone) (Robot Talk)
- [65. Pizzaiolo Robot & Autonomous Wheelchairs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-04-12-65-pizzaiolo-robot-autonomous-wheelchairs) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Ep 179: Danger Chess, Corona Motors, an Omni-Walker, and a Fast Talking Telescope](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-07-29-ep-179-danger-chess-corona-motors-an-omni-walker-and-a-fast-talking-telescope) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [229. Teaching Robots to Play Badminton](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-09-23-229-teaching-robots-to-play-badminton) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

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