# The Future of Safety in Robotics with Ouster

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2025-04-25
- Length: 1h 10m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-25-the-future-of-safety-in-robotics-with-ouster
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/the-future-of-safety-in-robotics-with-ouster

## Summary

Angus Pacala, CEO and co-founder of Ouster, discusses the launch of Ouster's new 3D zone monitoring feature for its Rev 7 LiDAR sensors, which allows for volumetric obstacle detection and safety alerts onboard the sensor. He explains how Ouster's digital LiDAR technology, which integrates signal processing onto a custom silicon chip, enables software-defined flexibility and iterative hardware improvements. Pacala also addresses the industry's challenge of reducing LiDAR costs to the $100–$500 range through volume scaling in industrial robotics and the potential future impact of automotive adoption.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-25-the-future-of-safety-in-robotics-with-ouster#t=0) Introduction and Robotics Summit Preview
- [5:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-25-the-future-of-safety-in-robotics-with-ouster#t=353) Humanoid Robot Half Marathon and Industry News
- [24:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-25-the-future-of-safety-in-robotics-with-ouster#t=1446) Ouster's 3D Zone Monitoring Feature
- [43:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-25-the-future-of-safety-in-robotics-with-ouster#t=2625) Software-Defined LiDAR and Firmware Upgrades
- [37:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-25-the-future-of-safety-in-robotics-with-ouster#t=2234) LiDAR vs. Camera and Hardware Evolution
- [59:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-04-25-the-future-of-safety-in-robotics-with-ouster#t=3551) Cost Reduction and Future Product Roadmap

## Topics

- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Ouster (company)
- Rev 7 (product)
- NVIDIA (company)
- Sick (company)
- SICK 9000 (product)
- Locust Robotics (company)
- Starship Technologies (company)
- Waymo (company)
- Pony AI (company)
- Robust AI (company)
- Carter (product)
- DHL (company)
- Agility Robotics (company)
- Digit (product)
- Cassie (product)
- Zipline (company)
- Helm AI (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Atlas (product)

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- ["A Turning Point for AVs" - A Special Report](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-04-04-a-turning-point-for-avs-a-special-report) (EE Times Current)
- [Episode 14: The Wide World of Sensors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-04-11-episode-14-the-wide-world-of-sensors) (The Circuit)
- [From the Ground Up—Zoox Turns a Corner with New AV and Sensor System Designs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-10-11-from-the-ground-up-zoox-turns-a-corner-with-new-av-and-sensor-system-designs) (Moore's Lobby)
- [The Seer of Prophesee | CES: The Good, The Bad, and The Weird…, and The Sleepable, The Driveable, The Mixological](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-01-17-the-seer-of-prophesee-ces-the-good-the-bad-and-the-weird-and-the-sleepable-the-d) (EE Times Current)
- [Ep. 48 | Argo AI's Hardware VP Talks Autonomous Vehicles and Single Photon Lidar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-06-21-ep-48-argo-ais-hardware-vp-talks-autonomous-vehicles-and-single-photon-lidar) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

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