In Episode 227 of The Robotic Report Podcast, hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the key robotics information of the week.
Our visitor on the present this week is Spencer Krause, co-founder and CEO of SKA Robotics. A longtime buddy of the present, he shares insights into the event course of for brand spanking new robotic programs and takes a deep dive into ruggedized area robotics.
Spencer Krause, co-founder and CEO of SKA Robotics.
From automating large mining vehicles to launching “software-defined” actuators, Krause discusses the “mercenary” engineering mindset, together with conflict tales from the sector, and why {hardware} is the following frontier within the post-AI period.
Krause has been engineering and constructing robots for greater than 23 years. SKA Robotics has served a number of Fortune 100 firms growing superior area robots. Spencer mentioned he not too long ago co-founded Pressure Dynamics as a result of he acknowledged a chance to revolutionize the marketplace for linear actuators and movement platforms.
As well as, Krause hosts the podcast “Collaborative With Spencer Krause,” the place he has casual conversations with folks doing attention-grabbing issues in expertise, analysis, and entrepreneurship.
Present timeline
- 9:12 – Information of the week
- 26:47 – Spencer Krause, co-founder and CEO of SKA Robotics and co-founder of Pressure Dynamics
Information of the week
Skild AI raises $1.4B to construct ‘omni-bodied’ robotic mind
Skild AI has reached a $14 billion valuation after a $1.4 billion funding spherical led by SoftBank Group, with participation from NVIDIA, Jeff Bezos, and strategic companions resembling Samsung and LG.
Based in 2023, the corporate is growing the Skild Mind, a basis mannequin designed for a number of robotic physique sorts. Not like AI programs requiring programming for particular {hardware}, this mannequin controls programs together with humanoids, quadrupeds, and mechanical arms—with out prior information of the machine’s type.
To develop this method, Skild AI trains its mannequin utilizing human motion movies and physics simulations. The expertise makes use of in-context studying to permit robots to adapt to bodily modifications.
Whereas the corporate intends to deploy these programs in houses for duties like cooking and cleansing, its present focus is on enterprise functions in safety, manufacturing, warehouse logistics, and development.
Robotaxi providers develop to London
London is ready to change into one of many first main cities the place the world’s main autonomous automobile firms — particularly from the U.S. and China — immediately compete by launching robotaxi providers as early as 2026.
Waymo has begun testing its self-driving automobiles in London and plans a business launch there. Baidu’s Apollo Go is getting ready to carry its robotaxis to London via partnerships with firms like Uber and Lyft. The Chinese language autonomous ride-hailing service operator is already working at scale in Asia.
