# Who Let the Robodogs Out? Meet Swiss-Mile's wheeled quadruped

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2024-11-08
- Length: 1h 01m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-11-08-who-let-the-robodogs-out-meet-swiss-miles-wheeled-quadruped
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/who-let-the-robodogs-out-meet-swiss-miles-wheeled-quadruped

## Summary

Marko Bjelonic, CEO and co-founder of Swiss-Mile, explains how his company transformed an academic quadruped research project into a commercial wheeled-robot product by integrating deep reinforcement learning for complex motion control. He details the engineering challenges of optimizing battery life and speed through a hybrid legged-wheeled morphology, noting that their software allows the robot to achieve five times the range of standard quadrupeds using stock hardware. The discussion covers specific applications in 24/7 security and logistics, where high throughput and rapid emergency response are critical, and highlights the strategic partnership with Unitree for hardware while Swiss-Mile focuses on autonomy and manipulation software.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-11-08-who-let-the-robodogs-out-meet-swiss-miles-wheeled-quadruped#t=0) Introduction: Xpeng Iron and Robotics News
- [9:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-11-08-who-let-the-robodogs-out-meet-swiss-miles-wheeled-quadruped#t=583) Physical Intelligence Funding and IRobot Layoffs
- [19:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-11-08-who-let-the-robodogs-out-meet-swiss-miles-wheeled-quadruped#t=1176) Pipe Dream Labs Underground Delivery and Nvidia Tools
- [28:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-11-08-who-let-the-robodogs-out-meet-swiss-miles-wheeled-quadruped#t=1701) Marko Bjelonic and Swiss-Mile: From PhD to Product
- [35:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-11-08-who-let-the-robodogs-out-meet-swiss-miles-wheeled-quadruped#t=2121) Engineering Challenges: Control, Crashes, and Transformations
- [43:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-11-08-who-let-the-robodogs-out-meet-swiss-miles-wheeled-quadruped#t=2596) Applications: Security, Logistics, and Battery Efficiency
- [50:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-11-08-who-let-the-robodogs-out-meet-swiss-miles-wheeled-quadruped#t=3039) Go-to-Market Strategy and Unitree Partnership

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Swiss-Mile (company)
- Unitree (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Xpeng (company)
- Physical Intelligence (company)
- IRobot (company)
- Nvidia (company)
- Pipe Dream Labs (company)
- RGO Robotics (company)
- Animal (product)
- Spot (product)
- Atlas (product)
- Isaac Lab (tool)
- Project Groot (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [74. Robots Working on the Moon and in Warehouses](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-06-14-74-robots-working-on-the-moon-and-in-warehouses) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Episode Three - Robot Locomotion: getting moving](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2020-11-27-episode-three-robot-locomotion-getting-moving) (Robot Talk)
- [133. Mighty Morphing All Terrain Robots Made By Nature](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-08-01-133-mighty-morphing-all-terrain-robots-made-by-nature) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [229. Teaching Robots to Play Badminton](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-09-23-229-teaching-robots-to-play-badminton) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Episode 156: Rugged robots for dangerous missions - Gavin Kenneally](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-05-15-episode-156-rugged-robots-for-dangerous-missions-gavin-kenneally) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

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