Commercial UAV update; Product leadership at Bershire Grey with Kishore Boyalakuntla

The Robot Report Podcast · 9 Sept 2022 · 1h 21m

What this episode covers

Mike Oitzman and Steve Crowe discuss the commercial UAV show, highlighting Matternet's FAA type certification and Amazon Prime Air's waiver-based operations, before detailing the FTC's investigation into Amazon's acquisition of iRobot over data privacy concerns. Kishore Boyalakuntla, VP of Products at Berkshire Grey, explains the company's transition from software to hardware product management and their focus on complex warehouse automation. He details Berkshire Grey's solution-oriented approach, including the Hyper Scanner for package identification and the flexible BG Flex system for micro-fulfillment, emphasizing how these technologies address labor shortages and high turnover in the logistics sector.

Mentioned

Companies
Matternet, iRobot, Berkshire Grey, FedEx
Products
Amazon Prime Air, Roomba, Hyper Scanner, BG Flex

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 1h 21m

    BONUS: Leaders in Robotics, AMRs, and Logistics, Pt. 2 of 2 (brought to you by A3)

    Host Chris Luecke and co-host Jake Hall interview leaders from Vecna Robotics, Waypoint Robotics, WiBotic, Fetch Robotics, Dexterity, and FedEx at the 2021 AMRs and Logistics Conference. Daniel Theobald of Vecna Robotics discusses the critical need for AMR interoperability and the role of Mass Robotics in setting standards. Jason Walker of Waypoint Robotics explains the company's acquisition by Locust Robotics and the importance of flexibility in AMR deployment. Ben Waters of WiBotic details wireless charging solutions for diverse fleets, including space applications, while Melonee Wise of Fetch Robotics reflects on her company's acquisition by Zebra Technologies and the evolving safety standards for AMRs. Michael Patrick Perry of Dexterity outlines the stages of autonomous transformation in warehousing, and Aaron Prather of FedEx emphasizes the industry's return to in-person collaboration and the necessity of solving specific customer pain points.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 54m

    BONUS: Leaders in Machine Vision and Robotics: Live from Boston, Pt. 1 of 2 (brought to you by A3)

    Chris Luecke and Jake Hall interview leaders from Plus One Robotics, IDS Imaging, Calvary Robotics, CMES Robotics, Lincode Labs, KUKA, and Locus Robotics at the A3 Vision Show and AMRL Conference in Boston. The guests discuss the persistent 'technology hesitancy' in warehouse automation, the critical role of machine vision in enabling mobile robots to operate in unstructured environments, and the workforce shortages driving adoption. They also share insights on market entry strategies, AI deployment for quality inspection, and the cultural differences between scaling a startup and operating within an enterprise.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 30m

    BONUS: The Future of Intralogistics featuring Siemens' Joel Thomas and Markus Thiel

    Joel Thomas and Markus Thiel from Siemens Intralogistics discuss the evolution of warehouse operations from manual handling to digital-first design, driven by e-commerce growth and labor shortages. They explain how Siemens uses its own European factory to test and refine technologies like AMRs, edge computing, and digital twins before offering them to customers. The conversation highlights the industry's shift toward standardization to manage multi-vendor fleets and the emerging role of software-defined automation and IT/OT convergence in solving engineering challenges.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 39m

    Overcoming Technology Hesitancy with Plus One Robotics CEO Erik Nieves

    Erik Nieves, CEO and Co-Founder of Plus One Robotics, discusses his transition from manual labor to robotics and the company's vision software for logistics robots. He explains the concept of 'supervised autonomy' and 'robots work, people rule,' where robots handle standard tasks and humans intervene for exceptions in high-variability environments like package sorting. Nieves addresses 'technology hesitancy' among small-to-medium manufacturers, arguing that empathy and understanding root causes like financial risk are key to adoption. He also highlights the importance of open-source standards like ROS Industrial to lower barriers to entry and improve workforce retention by elevating jobs to 'crew chief' roles.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 50m

    173: Leveraging Robotics in an Unstructured World with Dexterity's Michael Patrick Perry

    Michael Patrick Perry, Dexterity’s VP of Marketing, discusses how the company has scaled from a small team to nearly 260 employees, moving from bread packing to full warehouse automation. He explains Dexterity’s software-first approach, which allows robots to handle complex, unstructured tasks like truck loading and palletizing by combining vision, force control, and planning. Perry highlights the democratization of robotics, enabling smaller companies to deploy flexible solutions quickly without massive capital expenditure, while also detailing how AI is used to create customized marketing experiences for enterprise clients.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Robot Report Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.