Hardware Podcasts

Viam opens beta of new robotics platform; Amazon/FedEx end testing of delivery robots

The Robot Report Podcast · 14 Oct 2022 · 1h 07m

What this episode covers

Eliot Horowitz, founder and CEO of Viam Inc., explains the launch of Viam's open-source robotics platform, which aims to simplify robot development by providing simple APIs and integrated cloud services for orchestration. Co-hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman discuss the recent termination of delivery robot field tests by Amazon and FedEx, citing failures to meet customer needs and logistical hurdles like package offloading. The episode also covers an open letter from companies including Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics against weaponizing robots, and Walmart's acquisition of Alert Innovation to enhance its micro-fulfillment capabilities.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Viam, Amazon, FedEx, Waymo, Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, Unitree Robotics, Clear Path Robotics, Open Robotics, Walmart, Alert Innovation, MongoDB, Starship Technologies, Grubhub
Products
Scout, Roxo, Kiva, Universal Robots
Also
ROS

Related episodes from other shows

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.

    Scaling productionPolicy, trade & tariffs
    6 chapters

  • The Next Byte Podcast · 25m

    106. Last Meter Delivery Robots

    Daniel and Forbode discuss Earth Robotics, a Miami-based startup, and their autonomous delivery robot, Lou, designed to solve the 'last meter' delivery problem in apartment complexes and office buildings. They analyze the ecosystem, which includes elevator control systems and ground-level storage, noting that 95% of buildings are currently overwhelmed by package volume. The hosts highlight Lou's technical robustness, such as zero-turn radius steering and redundant power, as key factors for safe human coexistence, comparing the convenience to the futuristic predictions of The Jetsons.

    Robotics & autonomyLogistics & fulfilment
    6 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 40m

    Deploying Intelligent Robots at Scale with Dexterity CEO Samir Menon

    Samir Menon, Founder & CEO of Dexterity, explains how his company uses AI-driven robotics to automate high-speed distribution in logistics and warehousing, aiming to make repetitive manual labor optional. He details Dexterity's evolution from large enterprise clients to democratizing access for small businesses, supported by a recent $140 million Series B funding round. Menon outlines a six-stage spectrum of robotic progress, noting that Dexterity is currently deploying Level 4 systems that collaborate safely with humans, with Level 5 systems on the horizon.

    Robotics & autonomyScaling production
    7 chapters

  • Built 2 Scale · 48m

    Live from LA - Matt and Scotty’s Austin and LA adventures, plus NVIDIA and Google power plays

    Hosts Matt Perrott and Scott Wilcox discuss recent developments in AI, robotics, and hardware, including Google's launch of the Opal no-code platform and Lovable's rapid growth to $100M ARR. They analyze Amazon's acquisition of AI wearable company Bay, the emergence of portable data centers by Amend, and the deflationary pricing of robotics from Unitree and DJI. The episode concludes with an analysis of Jensen Huang's leadership philosophy at NVIDIA and the necessity for workers to adopt AI tools to avoid being replaced.

    AI & machine learningRobotics & autonomy
    7 chapters

  • Robot Talk · 33m

    Episode 158: Autonomous robot deliveries - Ahti Heinla

    Ahti Heinla, co-founder and CEO of Starship Technologies, discusses the company's AI-powered autonomous delivery robots, which have completed over 10 million deliveries across dozens of cities in the UK, US, and Europe. He explains the industrial design choices that prioritize a neutral, friendly aesthetic to integrate into neighborhoods, and details the technical architecture where most safety-critical decisions are made on-board while cloud infrastructure handles long-tail routing optimization. Heinla highlights the regulatory progress in countries like Finland and Estonia, noting how forward-looking policies enabled nationwide scaling, and describes the company's transition from early prototypes to a mature, cost-efficient operation that is now optimizing for higher capacity and smoother user experiences.

    Robotics & autonomyIndustrial & consumer product design
    8 chapters

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.