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

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2023-09-01
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-09-01-outrider-ceo-on-yard-automation-here-come-gpt-based-cobot-arms
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/outrider-ceo-on-yard-automation-here-come-gpt-based-cobot-arms

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-09-01-outrider-ceo-on-yard-automation-here-come-gpt-based-cobot-arms#t=8) Introduction and Robo Business Promo
- [3:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-09-01-outrider-ceo-on-yard-automation-here-come-gpt-based-cobot-arms#t=213) North American Robot Sales Decline
- [8:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-09-01-outrider-ceo-on-yard-automation-here-come-gpt-based-cobot-arms#t=533) Doosan and Microsoft GPT-Based Cobots
- [14:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-09-01-outrider-ceo-on-yard-automation-here-come-gpt-based-cobot-arms#t=846) Pudu Robotics Open Platform
- [16:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-09-01-outrider-ceo-on-yard-automation-here-come-gpt-based-cobot-arms#t=989) Outrider Yard Automation Overview
- [20:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-09-01-outrider-ceo-on-yard-automation-here-come-gpt-based-cobot-arms#t=1212) Andrew Smith Interview: Background and Vision
- [32:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-09-01-outrider-ceo-on-yard-automation-here-come-gpt-based-cobot-arms#t=1955) The Trailer Tail System and Robotic Arm
- [42:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-09-01-outrider-ceo-on-yard-automation-here-come-gpt-based-cobot-arms#t=2536) Commercial Launch and Go-to-Market Strategy

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Outrider (company)
- Andrew Smith (other)
- Doosan (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- Pudu Robotics (company)
- Agility Robotics (company)
- Nvidia (company)
- UC Berkeley (company)
- All Logic (company)
- Formant (company)
- Kuka (company)
- ABB (company)
- A3 (company)
- GPT (other)
- ChatGPT (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Yard Automation Revolution: Inside Outrider With Ira Renfrew](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-11-07-the-yard-automation-revolution-inside-outrider-with-ira-renfrew) (Over the Air)
- [BONUS: Leaders in Robotics, AMRs, and Logistics, Pt. 2 of 2 (brought to you by A3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-26-bonus-leaders-in-robotics-amrs-and-logistics-pt-2-of-2-brought-to-you-by-a3) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Episode 132: Collaborating with industrial robots - Anthony Jules](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-11-07-episode-132-collaborating-with-industrial-robots-anthony-jules) (Robot Talk)
- [Cracking the code on autonomous trucking](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-05-07-cracking-the-code-on-autonomous-trucking) (Catalyst)
- [Divya Thakur (Founder, Yardbot)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-05-06-divya-thakur-founder-yardbot) (Just Gonna Send It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-09-01-outrider-ceo-on-yard-automation-here-come-gpt-based-cobot-arms. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Robot Report Podcast.