The Robot Report Podcast

Join us as Ed Mehr, Co-founder of Machine Labs, explains how he’s building the "software-defined factory." We dive into how robotic-powered automation and strategic partnerships are enabling manufacturers to switch product lines instantly and future-proof hardware production. Discover how Machine Labs is transforming manufacturing with flexible, robotic-powered factories that can switch products instantly. In this episode, Ed Mehr shares insights on software-defined factories, advanced automation, and strategic partnerships shaping the future of hardware production. Learn more at: https://machinalabs.ai/ Show timeline 0:30 - Gene Demaitre recaps Autonomation World 2026 9:43 - News of the week 26:27 - Ed Mehr, co-founder and CEO of Machina Labs ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

On the show this week, our guest is Dinesh Narayanan, Head of Commercialization, General Robotics. Dinesh shares insights into the founding of General Robotics, highlighting the transition from Microsoft and the development of their proprietary platform, Grid. This platform aims to streamline the deployment and scaling of robotics solutions by integrating simulation, AI models, and deployment pipelines. Dinesh emphasizes the importance of adaptability in AI techniques and the company's focus on providing rapid prototyping and deployment capabilities. The conversation also touched on the potential of humanoid robots and the role of Grid in facilitating their development. Dinesh concludes by discussing the company's business model and future aspirations, drawing parallels to the impact of platforms like AWS and Azure in the tech industry. ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

On the show this week, our guests are Andrew Singletary, CEO, and Amir Sharif, COO of 3Laws. They discuss the evolution of the 3Laws technology from academic research to practical applications, the challenges of startup leadership, and the importance of integrating safety into the design process. The conversation highlights the innovative approaches 3Laws is taking to democratize autonomy and ensure safety in robotics, emphasizing the need for deterministic safety systems in an increasingly AI-driven world. We also learn the differences between their products, Supervisor Pro and Supervisor for ROS, and how these solutions cater to different market needs. The discussion highlights the significance of customization in safety solutions, the role of safety certification, and the potential for making robotics more accessible to smaller companies. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes the ongoing evolution of robotics and the importance of safety innovations in this field. To learn more about 3Laws: https://3laws.io/ ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

On the show this week, Gavin Kenneally, CEO and co-founder of Ghost Robotics, discusses the journey of the company from its inception to becoming a leader in legged robotics. He highlights the unique challenges and advantages of legged robots compared to wheeled counterparts, emphasizing their ability to navigate difficult terrains. The discussion also covers the importance of customer feedback in product development, the ruggedization of robots for military applications, and the future of robotics, including the potential for two-armed robots. Gavin shares insights on the impact of global events on robotics innovation and the company's commitment to keeping people out of harm's way. Learn more about Ghost Robotics: https://www.ghostrobotics.io ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre recap their recent trip to attend the Manifest tradeshow in Las Vegas. The show features vignettes from the show floor with executives from many of the industries most innovative warehouse and supply chain robotics companies. Show timeline 8:12 - Zoox autonomous taxi trip recap 6:20 - News of the week 14:33 - Manifest Recap with Gene Demaitre and Mike Oitzman 34:08 - Interview with Sankalp Arora, CEO, Gather AI 41:58 - Interview with Ben Gruettner, Chief Revenue Officer, Robust.AI 49:28 - Interview with Owen Nicholson, CEO, Slamcore 54:21 - Interview with Mason Cole, VP Sales, Slip Robotics 1:00:55 - Interview with Steven McKinley (COO) and Jim Leifer (CEO) with Ambi Robotics 1:10:00 - Interview with Jackie Wu, CEO, from Corvus Robotics 1:16:40 - Interview with Kevin Damoa, founder and CEO Glid Technologies 1:22:37 - Interview with Eric Miller, cofounder and CEO of Autopallet ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

Our guests this week are Mario Mauerer, from Maxon and David Koelle, Charles River Analytics. In this interview from the Humanoid Summit in Silicon Valley, Mike Oitzman speaks with Maxon’s Mario Muerer about how humanoids and mobile manipulation are shaping the company’s actuator strategy, from scalable product design and simulation to safety, commercialization timelines, and the real-world practicality of hands and end effectors. Connect with Marco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-mauerer/ David Koelle, a principal software engineer at Charles River Analytics, discusses his work on applied AI research for government clients, NASA's ASTRA project, and his passion for music programming, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between AI and human decision-making. Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmkoelle/ Learn more about Charles River Analytics: https://cra.com/ ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

Our guest this week is Kevin Damoa, founder and CEO of Glīd Technologies. Damoa discusses Glīd, the world's first autonomous road-to-rail solution, which addresses the problem of ensuring accessibility to both road and rail corridors. Glīd autonomous vehicles pick up fully loaded semi-trailers from the port or road, and then transfer directly to rail. The conversation with Damoa highlights the commercial start of Glīd, driven by the need for quick revenue generation. He also mentions the challenge of securing capital for a robotics startup. Learn more about Glid: https://www.glidtech.us/ ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

On the show this week, our guest is Thomas Pilz, Managing Partner of Pilz GmbH & Co. KG, who dives into the company's evolution from a glass-blowing business to a leader in robotic safety. Thomas emphasizes the importance of adaptability and innovation, highlighting the company's commitment to safety as a core value. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in aligning safety with productivity, the role of international safety standards, and the potential of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. The conversation also touches on the integration of AI in safety systems and the cultural ethos at Pilz that encourages entrepreneurial thinking among employees.

Our guest on the show this week is Spencer Krause, CEO and co-founder of SKA Robotics. A longtime friend of the show, Krause shares insights into the development process for new robotics solutions, and a deep dive into ruggedized field robotics. From automating giant mining trucks to launching “software-defined” actuators, Spencer discusses the “mercenary” engineering mindset, including “war stories” from the field, and why hardware is the next frontier in the Post-AI era. Learn more: https://skarobotics.com/ https://tensiondynamics.com/ ### Register for the 2026 Robotics Summit: https://www.roboticssummit.com/

This week cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the robots of CES 2026, and review the news of the week. Guest appearances by Chris Matthieu, VP, Developer Ecosystem at RealSense and Ahti Heinla , co-founder, CEO, Starship to talk about their predictions for 2026.

Join host Steve Crowe and The Robot Report editorial team (Gene Demaitre, Mike Oitzman, and Brianna Wessling) for the annual end-of-year wrap-up. The team breaks down the most significant stories, trends, and market shifts that defined the robotics industry in 2025 and looks ahead to 2026. Key Topics Discussed: - Business Shake-ups: An analysis of iRobot entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy and ABB selling its mobile robot division to SoftBank. - The Year of the Humanoid: A look at the $3.5B+ invested in humanoid companies and the rise of physical AI. - Autonomous Systems: Updates on Waymo’s scaling challenges, Amazon’s 1M deployed robots, and the impact of autonomous systems in the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts. - Industry Trends: The spin-out of Intel RealSense, the return of a national robotics strategy, and new approaches to home robotics (1X, Sunday, Weave). Featured Guest Vignettes: - John Santagate: On tote-to-man methodologies and multi-agent orchestration. - Chris Matthieu (RealSense): On open-source brains for physical AI and the emergence of robot sports. - Evan Helda (Nebius): On data pipelines, real-world data collection, and world models for training.

In this episode, Mike LeBlanc, co-founder of Foundation and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, particularly his early entrepreneurial experiences with Cobalt Robotics and the lessons learned as a second-time founder. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in the robotics industry, emphasizing the importance of hardware and the potential of humanoid robots in various applications, including military and space exploration. LeBlanc also outlines his ambitious goals for deploying a fleet of 10,000 robots and the significance of effective team building and hiring practices in achieving success. To learn about Foundation goto: https://foundation.bot/ Please like and share the episode to help us grow.

In this episode, Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre interview Rebecca Hu-Thrams, CEO and co-founder of Glacier, about the challenges and innovations in recycling technology. Rebecca discusses the complexities of the recycling process, the role of automation in improving efficiency, and Glacier's mission to modernize recycling systems. She highlights the importance of partnerships with major companies like Amazon and Colgate Palmolive to enhance recycling outcomes and reduce carbon emissions. The conversation also covers Glacier's unique approach to building custom recycling robots and their impact on the circular economy. To learn more about Glacier Robotics goto: https://endwaste.io/ Mike Oitzman catches up with Parallax Worlds CEO Tanmay Agarwal to learn more about its recent funding round. Learn more at: https://www.parallaxworlds.com/

In this episode, Kristian Kassow, co-founder of Universal Robots and managing director of Kassow Robots, discusses the evolution of collaborative robots. He shares insights on the development of seven-axis cobots, the advantages of built-in torque sensors, and the integration of cobots with mobile robots. Kristian also highlights the role of partnerships in expanding Kassow Robots' global reach and the future of collaborative robotics in various industries. Learn more about Kassow Robotics: https://www.kassowrobots.com/ ### Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman also cover the news of the week. Including Sunday Robotics new Memo humanoid: https://www.sunday.ai/ ### Keep up to date on the latest robotics news at The Robot Report and Automated Warehouse: https://www.therobotreport.com/ https://www.automatedwarehouseonline.com

In this episode, we sit down with Fareed Aljawhari, the CEO and founder of Micropolis Robotics, to explore the evolution of robotics in Dubai and the Middle East. Aljawhari shares his unique journey from a creative director to a leader in robotics, discussing the pivotal shift from digital twins to autonomous robots. The conversation explores Micropolis' modular approach, strategic partnerships, and the critical role of Dubai government support in driving technological advancement. Aljawhari also highlights the company's focus on IoT and edge computing as integral components of their automation strategy. To learn more about Micropolis Robotics goto: https://www.micropolis.ai/

In this episode, Mike Oitzman, Gene Demaitre, and Chris Finger discuss the role of Harmonic Drive in space robotics, exploring the challenges and innovations in designing robots for space applications. They examine the history of Harmonic Drive's involvement in space missions, the trends in space commercialization, and the technical considerations for gearing in space environments. *** SPONSORED BY HARMONIC DRIVE To learn more about Harmonic Drive products or contact a sales representative in your area, go to www.harmonicdrive.net or call 978-532-1800

Join us as we explore the critical role of STEM education in reshoring manufacturing and empowering the next generation of engineers. Featuring insights from Dhaval Jadav, CEO of Alliant Group, and Dr. Robert Ambrose, Professor at Texas A&M, and Director of Robotics at Alliant Group, this episode digs into the challenges and opportunities in fostering a diverse and skilled workforce, and how robotics competitions serve as a gateway to STEM fields. Learn how STEM related programs from K-12 and then community colleges and universities are preparing the next generation of engineers, technicians and other professionals necessary to support the growing population of robots and autonomous systems.

This week on the show, we welcome Brian Chereson, an industrial engineer from ODW Logistics, and Cody Upp, head of commercial for Zebra Robotics Automation. Together, they dive into the transformative role of robotics and automation in logistics. The conversation explores the deployment of Zebra's Symmetry Fulfillment Person to Goods AMR system at ODW Logistics, highlighting the strategic benefits of flexible, cost-effective solutions. Key topics include reducing labor costs, improving order accuracy, and enhancing employee engagement through innovative technologies. ### – SPONSOR – Are manual picking operations or idle robots slowing your growth? The cutting-edge Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution is engineered to reduce your costs per unit and give you an unbeatable competitive edge. Autonomous mobile robots guided by Team Intelligence empower your workers to achieve their maximum potential, enabling you to scale efficiently and boost profitability. Don’t settle for less—maximize your profits with Zebra. Discover the future of fulfillment at https://www.zebra.com/fulfillment

Summary This week, Mike Oitzman recaps the FIRA 2025 Ag Robotics event in Woodland, CA, highlighting the latest innovations in new automation solutions for agriculture. Featured guest this week is Danny Bernstein, founder of The Reservoir, an agtech incubator located in Salinas, CA. Danny takes us through the creation of The Reservoir and the vision for the organization to support new Ag automation startups. Also on the show is a brief conversation with Dave Silver, Director of Orchard Autonomy at John Deere, who updates us on the latest orchard solutions from JD. Companies mentioned in the recap:| - Bonzai Robotics - AgScout (vineyard yield management software) - TensorField (hot oil weeding solution) - Pittsburgh Robotics - John Deere - The Reservoir ### – SPONSOR – Are manual picking operations or idle robots slowing your growth? The cutting-edge Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution is engineered to reduce your costs per unit and give you an unbeatable competitive edge. Autonomous mobile robots guided by Team Intelligence empower your workers to achieve their maximum potential, enabling you to scale efficiently and boost profitability. Don’t settle for less—maximize your profits with Zebra. Discover the future of fulfillment at https://www.zebra.com/fulfillment

Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the 2025 RoboBusiness event which took place last week in Santa Clara CA. The show features interviews with ten startups who were present at the show and many of whom participated in the 2025 Pitchfire event. Here’s the list of interviews on the show (in order of appearance: Apporv Shaudri from Roworks AI Chongdu Xu from Forge AI (4rfg.ai) David Ruth from Motogo Doug Langen From 4D1 Katy Bradford from Rotate8 Kevin Hayes from Morelle Lakshay Sharma from Cerulion (2025 Pitchfire winner) Raghavender Sahdev from NuPort Roby Lynn from R2 Labs Toshi Quides from Sensible Robotics ### – SPONSOR – Are manual picking operations or idle robots slowing your growth? The cutting-edge Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution is engineered to reduce your costs per unit and give you an unbeatable competitive edge. Autonomous mobile robots guided by Team Intelligence empower your workers to achieve their maximum potential, enabling you to scale efficiently and boost profitability. Don’t settle for less—maximize your profits with Zebra. Discover the future of fulfillment at https://www.zebra.com/fulfillment