# Inside Samantha Johnson's quest to build robots for deafblind people

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2022-11-11
- Length: 1h 01m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-11-11-inside-samantha-johnsons-quest-to-build-robots-for-deafblind-people
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/inside-samantha-johnsons-quest-to-build-robots-for-deafblind-people

## Summary

Samantha Johnson, founder and CEO of Boston-based startup Tatum Robotics, explains the design of an anthropomorphic robotic hand that replicates tactile sign language for people with deafblindness. She details the mechanical challenges of creating a safe, compliant 18-degree-of-freedom hand using flexible materials and the software challenges of translating English to ASL without sufficient training data. Johnson discusses the company's early-stage validation process, including motion capture with native signers and pilot studies, and highlights the critical need for robust remote diagnostics since users cannot troubleshoot the device themselves.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-11-11-inside-samantha-johnsons-quest-to-build-robots-for-deafblind-people#t=7) Introduction and News: Spacey Deming Robot and LIDAR Consolidation
- [22:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-11-11-inside-samantha-johnsons-quest-to-build-robots-for-deafblind-people#t=1341) Samantha Johnson and Tatum Robotics Background
- [24:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-11-11-inside-samantha-johnsons-quest-to-build-robots-for-deafblind-people#t=1458) The Deafblind Community and Communication Challenges
- [36:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-11-11-inside-samantha-johnsons-quest-to-build-robots-for-deafblind-people#t=2160) Robotic Hand Design: Compliance, Safety, and Materials
- [38:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-11-11-inside-samantha-johnsons-quest-to-build-robots-for-deafblind-people#t=2332) Software, Translation Algorithms, and Motion Capture
- [43:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-11-11-inside-samantha-johnsons-quest-to-build-robots-for-deafblind-people#t=2619) Prototyping Challenges and User Validation
- [52:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-11-11-inside-samantha-johnsons-quest-to-build-robots-for-deafblind-people#t=3160) Pilot Studies, DFM, and Future Roadmap

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Tatum Robotics (company)
- Spacey (company)
- Bossa Nova (company)
- Velodyne (company)
- Ouster (company)
- Perkins School for the Blind (company)
- Mass Robotics (company)
- Northeastern University (company)
- American Sign Language (other)
- Braille (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [178. Talk to The Hand: Meet The Robots With a Human Touch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-06-11-178-talk-to-the-hand-meet-the-robots-with-a-human-touch) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Ep. 17: Today's Humanoid Robots Have Toddler Hands, Not Adult Ones.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-09-08-ep-17-todays-humanoid-robots-have-toddler-hands-not-adult-ones) (The Robo Success Podcast)
- [156. 2023 Recap & First Annual Saucies!🥫🍾](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-01-09-156-2023-recap-first-annual-saucies) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Episode 152: Dexterous robot hands - Rich Walker](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-04-17-episode-152-dexterous-robot-hands-rich-walker) (Robot Talk)
- [S2E10 Working Long, Hard Hours & Finding A Way | Paxson Matthews](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-02-26-s2e10-working-long-hard-hours-finding-a-way-paxson-matthews) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

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