Welcome to Episode 46 of The Robot Report Podcast, where each week Robot Report editor Steve Crowe and Mobile Robot Guide editor Mike Oitzman review the latest robotics, automation and intelligent systems news and announcements, and interview leading roboticists, leaders of innovative robotics companies, and other key members of the robotics community.
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In Episode 46 of The Robot Report Podcast, Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman discuss the layoffs and new direction for Softbank’s robotics efforts. Since the podcast was recorded, however, the news has become worse for the Pepper humanoid robot. Softbank reportedly stopped production of Pepper in 2020. Softbank, which manufactured 27,000 Pepper robots since it was introduced in 2014, is focusing more on its Whiz cleaning robot and others that’ll have more commercial and financial success.
Mike Oitzman also has two great interviews for the podcast. The first is with Jason dePreaux, a market analyst for Interact Analysis, one of the leading analysis firms covering the robotics industry. Mike and Jason discuss the robotics industry services market and why it’s vital to both robotics manufacturers and customers.
Oitzman also sat down with Mike Demko, head of AutoStore’s micro-fulfillment center business line. AutoStore is a leading provider of AS/RS systems. The 2021 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award winner recently sold a 40% stake in its business to Softbank for US $2.8 billion. The Norwegian robotics firm is now reportedly eyeing an IPO at a $10 billion valuation. To view the complete list of RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award winners, click HERE.
Crowe and Oitzman also discuss the new Robotics Week program launched by WTWH Media’s Robotics Group. The Robotics Week program consists of three digital events, each focused on on a key robotics issue and enabling technology, which runs over the course of one week.
Additional Robot Report Podcasts
- A Review of the 2021 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards
- InOrbit’s Florian Pestoni & Brain Corps.’ Joe Wieciek Discusses the Robot Operations Group. Also, Vecnas’ Mike Bearman on the ANSI/RIA R15.08 Mobile Robot Standard.
- A3’s Jeff Burnstein on Q1 NA Robot Orders, NYPD Jettisons Spot Quad & Wireless AMR Charging
- Ambi Robotics’ Sorting / Kitting Systems Trained in Simulation
- OnRobot’s Enrico Krog Iversen on EOAT Innovation, Plus READY Robotics’ VP Juan Aparicio Ojea
- Calibrate Ventures’ Kevin Dunlap on Berkshire Grey’s SPAC Play and Locus Robotics’ $150M Round
- Locus Robotics CEO Rick Faulk on $150M Series E and Unicorn Status, Plus Wilder Systems’ Cobots and Waymo’s Robotaxi
- Tertill CEO Helen Greiner on Gardening Robots, Plus Aurora Partners With Toyota
- Motiv Develops Perseverance Rover’s Arm, Oxbotica’s AV Software, & Boston Dynamics, Waymo News
- A3’s President Jeff Burnstein on North American Robot Sales, Plus Canvas Robotic Drywall Solution, More
- American Robotics’ FAA Approval and BLOS Operations, Boston Dynamics Dancing Humanoids, and Cruise’s New $2B Round
- Teradyne’s Acquisition Strategy, Plus Mobile Manipulation and Bossa Nova Robotics Falters
- AMP Robotics & Recycling Automation; Festo & the MassRobotics-GM Gripper Challenge
- Boston Dynamics’s Future Following Hyundai’s Acquisition, DARPA’s SubT Challenge, More
- Pittsburgh Robotics Cluster, Aurora Acquires Uber ATG, AutoX’s Driverless Fleet, More
