# The Wild Robot: Where Nature Meets Technology with Peter Brown

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2024-12-03
- Length: 52m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/cbdef85a-2c74-41c2-a96f-b57ac5068ad4

## Summary

Author and illustrator Peter Brown discusses the creation of his children's book series The Wild Robot and its adaptation into a DreamWorks animated film that has grossed over $320 million worldwide. Brown explains his intentional design choices for the protagonist, Roz, including her humanoid form inspired by C-3PO to foster empathy, and his research into robotics at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He details how he balanced scientific accuracy with narrative needs, such as giving Roz specific limitations like battery life to create tension, while aiming to present a positive, non-dystopian view of robots in society.

## Chapters

- [0:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown#t=12) Introduction: The Wild Robot Movie Success
- [6:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown#t=396) Peter Brown's Creative Process and DreamWorks Deal
- [10:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown#t=635) Designing Roz: Humanoid Form and Capabilities
- [16:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown#t=1000) Research: JPL Tour and Robotics Inspiration
- [19:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown#t=1194) Relatability: C-3PO vs. R2-D2 and Storytelling
- [25:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown#t=1513) Subverting the Robot Uprising Trope
- [29:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown#t=1769) Humor, Animal Behavior, and Knowledge Gaps
- [34:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown#t=2079) Favorite Book Moment: The Power Button Scene
- [38:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown#t=2288) Adapting to Film: Working with DreamWorks
- [45:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown#t=2702) Educational Goals and Future Projects

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- The Wild Robot (product)
- DreamWorks (company)
- C-3PO (other)
- R2-D2 (other)
- Wally (other)
- Rossum's Universal Robots (other)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (company)
- Peter Brown Studio (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 62: Making robots at home - Jorvon Moss](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-11-17-episode-62-making-robots-at-home-jorvon-moss) (Robot Talk)
- [406: R2D2 Is a Trash Can](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-03-17-406-r2d2-is-a-trash-can) (Embedded.fm)
- [142: New and Improved Appendages (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-20-142-new-and-improved-appendages-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode Fifty-Four: Robot Talk Live - Robotics and Science Fiction](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-06-23-episode-fifty-four-robot-talk-live-robotics-and-science-fiction) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 112: Getting creative with robotics - Vali Lalioti](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-03-07-episode-112-getting-creative-with-robotics-vali-lalioti) (Robot Talk)

## 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/2024-12-03-the-wild-robot-where-nature-meets-technology-with-peter-brown. 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.