# Building a Universal Robotics Platform with BOW

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2025-04-11
- Length: 1h 06m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-11-building-a-universal-robotics-platform-with-bow
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/building-a-universal-robotics-platform-with-bow

## Summary

Nick Thompson, CEO, and Daniel Camilleri, CTO and founder of BOW, discuss their UK-based robotics platform designed to simplify application development across diverse hardware. They explain how BOW’s SDK abstracts robot body representation to allow code written for one robot type, such as a quadruped, to run on others like humanoids without modification. The founders detail their subscription-based business model, partnerships with manufacturers like Advantech and Universal Robotics, and their strategy to complement ROS by decoupling hardware from control software. They also highlight the platform's focus on enabling software developers to build robotic applications using simulation tools like Webots and integrating with emerging AI-driven task-oriented development.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-11-building-a-universal-robotics-platform-with-bow#t=0) Introduction and Industry News Recap
- [10:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-11-building-a-universal-robotics-platform-with-bow#t=629) Tariffs, Waymo, and Drone Funding Updates
- [27:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-11-building-a-universal-robotics-platform-with-bow#t=1674) BOW Introduction: Founders and Mission
- [33:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-11-building-a-universal-robotics-platform-with-bow#t=1998) The Problem with ROS and Hardware Fragmentation
- [36:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-11-building-a-universal-robotics-platform-with-bow#t=2208) BOW SDK Features: Latency, OS, and Languages
- [41:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-11-building-a-universal-robotics-platform-with-bow#t=2504) Relationship with ROS and Simulation Strategy
- [48:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-11-building-a-universal-robotics-platform-with-bow#t=2886) Business Model and OEM Partnerships
- [55:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-11-building-a-universal-robotics-platform-with-bow#t=3346) AI, Reinforcement Learning, and Future Use Cases

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- BOW (product)
- Agility Robotics (company)
- Corvus Robotics (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Symbolic (company)
- Psionic (company)
- Waymo (company)
- Zooks (company)
- Serve Robotics (company)
- Brink Drones (company)
- BOW SDK (product)
- ROS (other)
- Webots (other)
- Advantech (company)
- Universal Robotics (company)
- Sarcamir Dynamics (company)
- Raspberry Pi (other)
- Fiction Labs (company)
- Unitree (company)
- Deep Robotics (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 123: Standardising robot programming - Nick Thompson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-30-episode-123-standardising-robot-programming-nick-thompson) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 142: Collaborative robot arms - Mark Gray](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-01-30-episode-142-collaborative-robot-arms-mark-gray) (Robot Talk)
- [Ep. 47 | Universal Robots CEO Kim Povlsen on Collaborative Robots for the 98%](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-06-07-ep-47-universal-robots-ceo-kim-povlsen-on-collaborative-robots-for-the-98) (Moore's Lobby)
- [New Business Models and User Experiences in Robotics: Highlights from Automate LIVE in Detroit, MI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-05-16-new-business-models-and-user-experiences-in-robotics-highlights-from-automate-li) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [191: The State of Robotics: Live From the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, MA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-06-25-191-the-state-of-robotics-live-from-the-2024-robotics-summit-expo-in-boston-ma) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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