# How software-defined manufacturing fits into real factory operation

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2026-08-21
- Length: 1h 07m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-21-how-software-defined-manufacturing-fits-into-real-factory-operation
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/how-software-defined

## Summary

Roby Lynn, founder and CEO of R2 Labs, explains how his company’s R2 Autonomy Controller bridges the gap between legacy OT systems (PLCs, robots) and modern IT tools (MES, ERP) in industrial manufacturing. He details the product's ability to orchestrate production assets, integrate AI-based vision inspection, and run models locally on GPU-accelerated hardware to avoid cloud dependencies. Lynn also shares lessons from building the company, emphasizing the importance of customer feedback, pragmatic design over 'cool' technology, and addressing the workforce talent crunch in legacy automation.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-21-how-software-defined-manufacturing-fits-into-real-factory-operation#t=7) Introduction: Amazon Drone Failures and Unitree IPO
- [7:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-21-how-software-defined-manufacturing-fits-into-real-factory-operation#t=427) R2 Labs Introduction and Product Overview
- [26:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-21-how-software-defined-manufacturing-fits-into-real-factory-operation#t=1607) R2 Labs Genesis and the R2 Autonomy Controller
- [31:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-21-how-software-defined-manufacturing-fits-into-real-factory-operation#t=1864) Software-Defined Manufacturing and IT/OT Integration
- [39:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-21-how-software-defined-manufacturing-fits-into-real-factory-operation#t=2363) Legacy PLCs, Talent Shortages, and Determinism
- [44:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-21-how-software-defined-manufacturing-fits-into-real-factory-operation#t=2658) AI Vision, Local Processing, and Customer Feedback
- [52:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-21-how-software-defined-manufacturing-fits-into-real-factory-operation#t=3171) Logistics Applications and Integrator Strategy
- [58:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-21-how-software-defined-manufacturing-fits-into-real-factory-operation#t=3504) Lessons for Engineers: Pragmatism and Sales

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- R2 Labs (company)
- R2 Autonomy Controller (product)
- Unitree Robotics (company)
- Fort Robotics (company)
- Logic (company)
- Slip Robotics (company)
- Mitra (product)
- Rockwell (company)
- Bosch Rexroth (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [295: Reindustrialization, AI Agents, and the Future of Manufacturing with First Resonance CEO Karan Talati](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-07-14-295-reindustrialization-ai-agents-and-the-future-of-manufacturing-with-first-res) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Industrial DataOps and Rise of AI Agents w/ Aron Semle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-07-01-industrial-dataops-and-rise-of-ai-agents-w-aron-semle) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [BONUS: Software-Defined Automation: The Future of Industrial Control (sponsored by Siemens)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-07-21-bonus-software-defined-automation-the-future-of-industrial-control-sponsored-by) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Connected Manufacturing: Insights from WESTEC 2023](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-12-07-connected-manufacturing-insights-from-westec-2023) (Over the Air)
- [Bonus - That SCOOP Show Productronica Preview - Rob Raine and Alexander Hagenfeldt from ASM Assembly Solutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2021-10-28-bonus-that-scoop-show-productronica-preview-rob-raine-and-alexander-hagenfeldt-f) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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