Hardware Podcasts

Outrider CEO on yard automation; Here come GPT-based cobot arms

The Robot Report Podcast · 1 Sept 2023 · 45m

What this episode covers

Andrew Smith, CEO and co-founder of Outrider, explains how his company commercializes yard automation by turning electric yard trucks into autonomous vehicles that use a patented robotic arm to couple and uncouple tractor-trailers without human intervention. The episode also covers industry news, including declining industrial robot sales in North America, a partnership between Doosan and Microsoft to build GPT-based cobot arms, and Pudu Robotics launching an open platform for AMR fleet management. Smith details Outrider's focus on solving the 'last mile' logistics pain point of yard congestion and safety through deep learning and precise sensor integration.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Outrider, Doosan, Microsoft, Pudu Robotics, Agility Robotics, Nvidia, UC Berkeley, All Logic, Formant, Kuka, ABB, A3
Products
ChatGPT
Also
Andrew Smith, GPT

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Over the Air · 31m

    The Yard Automation Revolution: Inside Outrider With Ira Renfrew

    Ira Renfrew, CPO of Outrider, discusses the company's mission to automate distribution yards using autonomous electric yard trucks. He details the technical challenge of automating the connection of 'glad hand' air lines using a custom robotic arm and AI vision, and explains why Outrider focuses on the constrained environment of private property rather than public roads. Renfrew also covers the company's scaling strategy, customer adoption hurdles, and the broader industry shift toward electric and autonomous logistics.

    Robotics & autonomyScaling production
    6 chapters

  • 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

  • Robot Talk · 30m

    Episode 132: Collaborating with industrial robots - Anthony Jules

    Anthony Jules, CEO and co-founder of Robust.AI, discusses the design and deployment of Carter, an AI-driven collaborative mobile robot for warehouses. Jules explains how Carter uses cameras instead of LIDAR to achieve semantic understanding, allowing it to navigate safely alongside humans and empower floor associates rather than replace them. He details the company's 'fleet learning' strategy, where data from individual robots is aggregated in the cloud to improve AI models offline, ensuring consistent productivity for clients like DHL without disrupting live operations.

    Robotics & autonomySensors & measurement in products
    8 chapters

  • Catalyst · 43m

    Cracking the code on autonomous trucking

    Eyal Cohen, founder and CEO of Humble Robotics, explains why autonomous trucking has lagged behind passenger vehicles due to the high stakes of highway edge cases and the limitations of retrofitting existing tractors. He details Humble's clean-sheet design of a fully cabless, electric Class 8 truck that combines the tractor and trailer into a single smart platform to optimize unit economics and safety. Cohen discusses the company's shift from LiDAR-heavy systems to a camera-centric approach leveraging Visual Language Models (VLMs) and the regulatory challenges of deploying a vehicle with no windshield or steering wheel.

    Robotics & autonomyPricing, margins & unit economics
    6 chapters

  • Just Gonna Send It · 46m

    Divya Thakur (Founder, Yardbot)

    Divya Thakur, founder of Yardbot, explains how he pivoted from a failed Bitcoin startup and a career at Cruise (General Motors) to building a hybrid landscaping business in Huntsville, Alabama. He details the five generations of robot iterations, highlighting mechanical failures in drivetrains and decks, and the strategic decision to combine human crews with autonomous mowing robots rather than pursuing full automation. Thakur also discusses using LLMs for training blue-collar workers and computer vision for obstacle detection, while outlining plans to expand the model to other Sun Belt cities.

    Mechanical engineeringValidation & product-market fit
    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.