In Episode 214 of The Robotic Report Podcast, hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the main robotics information of the week.
Peter Finn, a Managing Director at Brown Gibbons Lang & Firm (BGL)
On this episode, we reconnect with Peter Finn, Managing Director at BGL, to discover the evolving panorama of commercial know-how, robotics, and AI.
Peter shares insights on market developments post-COVID, the challenges and alternatives within the robotics sector, and the important function of AI in shaping the long run.
We delve into the dynamics of mergers and acquisitions, the potential of humanoid robotics, and the significance of adaptability in immediately’s fast-paced technological surroundings. Be a part of us for a thought-provoking dialogue on navigating the way forward for industrial innovation.
Present timeline
- 07:58 – Information of the week
- 28:06 – Dialog with Peter Finn, Managing Director at BGL
Information of the week
Tariff doc open for remark from A3
In a publish by Jeff Burnstein on LinkedIn, the US has opened a nationwide safety investigation into Imports of medical units, Robotics, and Industrial Equipment. The federal government mentioned it’s doing this to minimize reliance on abroad provide chains.
There’s a 21-day deadline for public feedback.
The A3 – Affiliation for Advancing Automation is engaged on its response, and Jeff is encouraging the business to share its ideas.
Jeff asks the query: if vital new tariffs are imposed on all imported robots, will this affect US efforts to reshore manufacturing?
AdvaMed, the commerce group that represents medical know-how and machine makers, harassed in an announcement Thursday that 70% of medical merchandise in U.S. hospitals are already “made in America throughout hundreds of producing services in all 50 states.”
It’s basically the precise reverse for robotics. Most industrial robots used within the US are imported from different international locations.
You’ll want to learn this text printed earlier immediately that includes a number of business specialists’ opinions on the tariff scenario.
IEEE examine group publishes framework for humanoid requirements
The IEEE Humanoid Examine Group printed the ultimate model of its findings earlier this week. The mission was to determine a framework for creating requirements for humanoid robots.
- Classification: Creating a transparent taxonomy to outline humanoid robots, their bodily capabilities, behavioral complexity, utility domains, and humanoid-specific traits. This classification serves as the muse for figuring out relevant requirements and addressing gaps.
- Stability: Creating quantifiable stability metrics, check strategies, and security requirements tailor-made to actively balancing robots. This contains addressing dynamic stability, fall-response behaviors, and predictive danger modeling.
- Human-Robotic Interplay (HRI): Establishing tips for secure and reliable interactions between humanoid robots and people, together with collaborative job security, interpretable habits, and consumer coaching to handle dangers and perceptions.
One of many extra fascinating, thought-provoking, and closely debated sections of the doc was the “Classification of the Humanoid Robots.” This part generated numerous debate concerning the definition of the varied class ranges. In the long run, the group arrived at a well-thought-out methodology to characterize the programs.
Prather expects it can take one other 18 to 36 months for the requirements growth work to be accomplished and the ratified requirements to be printed.
You may obtain a full copy of the report right here.
Drone startup Guardian Agriculture shuts down
Guardian Agriculture, a Woburn, Mass.-based startup creating massive drones for aerial spraying, lately shut down after failing to safe further funding. The corporate ceased operations in late August 2025 following a spherical of layoffs earlier in the summertime.
Based in 2017, Guardian Agriculture captured the eye of the agtech and robotics sectors with its SC1, a totally autonomous quadcopter designed for crop spraying. The SC1 weighed roughly 600 lb. (272.1 kg), might carry as much as 200 lb. (90.7 kg) of fertilizer or pesticides, and was able to protecting 60 acres per hour, the firm mentioned.
Outfitted with 4 80-in. (203.2 cm) propellers, a 20-gal. (75.7 L) tank, and an 18-ft. (5.4 m) spray growth, the drone was described by one supply as being “concerning the measurement of a small SUV.”
Regardless of the technical ambition, Guardian struggled to commercialize its know-how. Based on a supply acquainted with the enterprise, the corporate had only one paying buyer on the time of shutdown. MIT Information lately mentioned Guardian had constructed eight models of the SC1 as of June 2025, which have been delivering payloads over California farms in trials with paying clients.
The Robotic Report obtained an inside e-mail that Guardian Agriculture CEO Ashley Ferguson despatched to workers on Aug. 22 to announce the shutdown:
The Robotic Report reached out to Fall Line Capital, which is managing the wind-down course of, however didn’t hear again. Based on Crunchbase, Guardian Agriculture raised $51.7 million over 5 rounds of funding. This included a $20 million Sequence A that Fall Line Capital led in mid-2023.
Catch the newest on humanoid and surgical robotic growth at RoboBusiness 2025. Be a part of Deepu Talla, vp of robotics and edge AI at NVIDIA, for a keynote titled “Bodily AI for the New Period of Robotics.”
