# Edge Computing and AI: A Conversation with Ben Wolff

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2025-10-10
- Length: 1h 16m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-10-edge-computing-and-ai-a-conversation-with-ben-wolff
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/edge-computing-and-ai-a-conversation-with-ben-wolff

## Summary

Ben Wolff, CEO of Palladyne AI (formerly Sarcos), discusses the company's pivot from hardware to a software-only model, focusing on Palladyne IQ for industrial robots and Palladyne Pilot for autonomous drone swarming. He explains the strategic advantages of edge computing for latency and security, the challenges of a 12-18 month sales cycle, and the company's commitment to building hardware-agnostic AI solutions that are indispensable to customers.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-10-edge-computing-and-ai-a-conversation-with-ben-wolff#t=0) Introduction and Amazon Drone Crash
- [9:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-10-edge-computing-and-ai-a-conversation-with-ben-wolff#t=552) ABB Robotics Sale to SoftBank
- [21:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-10-edge-computing-and-ai-a-conversation-with-ben-wolff#t=1316) Boston Dynamics Atlas Hand Evolution
- [28:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-10-edge-computing-and-ai-a-conversation-with-ben-wolff#t=1737) Figure 3 Humanoid and Data Challenges
- [36:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-10-edge-computing-and-ai-a-conversation-with-ben-wolff#t=2174) Parallax Systems Simulation Demo
- [43:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-10-edge-computing-and-ai-a-conversation-with-ben-wolff#t=2632) Palladyne IQ Version 2 and User Interface
- [47:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-10-edge-computing-and-ai-a-conversation-with-ben-wolff#t=2826) Palladyne Pilot and Drone Swarming
- [52:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-10-edge-computing-and-ai-a-conversation-with-ben-wolff#t=3141) Hardware-Agnostic AI and Edge Computing
- [1:03:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-10-edge-computing-and-ai-a-conversation-with-ben-wolff#t=3814) Sales Cycles, Funding, and Company Strategy

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Palladyne AI (company)
- Sarcos (company)
- SoftBank (company)
- ABB Robotics (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Atlas (product)
- Figure (company)
- Figure 3 (product)
- Parallax Systems (company)
- NVIDIA (chip)
- Red Cat (company)
- Teal Drones (company)
- FANUC (company)
- Zebra (company)
- Pepper (product)
- Hyundai (company)
- Kuka (company)
- Yaskawa (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Future of Edge Computing and AI | Axelera AI's Fabrizio Del Maffeo | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2025-02-11-the-future-of-edge-computing-and-ai-axelera-ais-fabrizio-del-maffeo-internet-of) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Managing 250 Million Messages Per Day](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-05-12-managing-250-million-messages-per-day) (Over the Air)
- [Edge Computing Benefits and Considerations | Pratexo's CEO Blaine Mathieu](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-01-03-edge-computing-benefits-and-considerations-pratexos-ceo-blaine-mathieu) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Foghorn's Ramya Ravichandar | Ensuring Value with Edge AI in IIoT Applications](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-07-20-foghorns-ramya-ravichandar-ensuring-value-with-edge-ai-in-iiot-applications) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [What is Edge AI? | Barbara's David Purón | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-03-07-what-is-edge-ai-barbaras-david-puron-internet-of-things-podcast) (IoT For All Podcast)

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