# Argo AI shuts down; Covariant CEO discusses new RaaS performance

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2022-10-28
- Length: 1h 14m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-10-28-argo-ai-shuts-down-covariant-ceo-discusses-new-raas-performance
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/argoai-shuts-down-covariant-ceo-discusses-new-raas-performance

## Summary

Peter Chen, CEO and co-founder of Covariant, discusses the launch of CovariantOne, a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) solution based on performance Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for warehouse automation. The episode also covers the shutdown of Argo AI by Ford and Volkswagen, the hosts' experience riding a Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco, and the discontinuation of Lego Mindstorms. Chen explains how Covariant's AI handles complex intra-logistics picking challenges and guarantees specific KPIs like throughput and error rates.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-10-28-argo-ai-shuts-down-covariant-ceo-discusses-new-raas-performance#t=7) Introduction and Robo Business Recap
- [5:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-10-28-argo-ai-shuts-down-covariant-ceo-discusses-new-raas-performance#t=355) Waymo Robotaxi Experience and Argo AI Shutdown
- [15:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-10-28-argo-ai-shuts-down-covariant-ceo-discusses-new-raas-performance#t=925) Autonomous Driving Industry Analysis and IAC Race
- [32:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-10-28-argo-ai-shuts-down-covariant-ceo-discusses-new-raas-performance#t=1945) Lego Mindstorms Discontinuation and STEM Impact
- [36:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-10-28-argo-ai-shuts-down-covariant-ceo-discusses-new-raas-performance#t=2193) Covariant AI and Warehouse Picking Challenges
- [50:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-10-28-argo-ai-shuts-down-covariant-ceo-discusses-new-raas-performance#t=3014) CovariantOne RaaS and Performance SLAs
- [1:01:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-10-28-argo-ai-shuts-down-covariant-ceo-discusses-new-raas-performance#t=3681) Performance Metrics, KPIs, and System Visibility
- [1:10:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-10-28-argo-ai-shuts-down-covariant-ceo-discusses-new-raas-performance#t=4208) Conclusion and Robotics Engineering Week Promo

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Covariant (company)
- Argo AI (company)
- Waymo (company)
- Ford (company)
- Volkswagen (company)
- Cruise (company)
- Aurora (company)
- Lego Mindstorms (product)
- Tatum Robotics (company)
- Knab (company)
- ABB (company)
- Bastion (company)
- Labrador Systems (company)
- iRobot (company)
- FedEx (company)
- Uber Freight (company)
- Schneider (company)
- Warner (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [What is Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS)?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-04-13-what-is-robotics-as-a-service-raas) (Over the Air)
- [Independent Investment Banking in Robotics, Automation, and AI with Cascadia Capital’s Firdaus Pohowalla](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-02-08-independent-investment-banking-in-robotics-automation-and-ai-with-cascadia-capit) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Sustainability in the Robotics-as-a-Service Industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-10-26-sustainability-in-the-robotics-as-a-service-industry) (Over the Air)
- [Perspectives on Automation, AI, & the Future w/ Andy Lonsberry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [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)

## Citing this page

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