In Episode 227 of The Robotic Report Podcast, hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the main 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 new robotic methods and takes a deep dive into ruggedized discipline 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 battle tales from the sphere, and why {hardware} is the subsequent 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 corporations growing superior discipline robots. Spencer stated he just lately co-founded Stress 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 individuals doing fascinating 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 Stress 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 similar to Samsung and LG.
Based in 2023, the corporate is growing the Skild Mind, a basis mannequin designed for a number of robotic physique varieties. Not like AI methods requiring programming for particular {hardware}, this mannequin controls methods together with humanoids, quadrupeds, and mechanical arms—with out prior data of the machine’s kind.
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 methods in houses for duties like cooking and cleansing, its present focus is on enterprise functions in safety, manufacturing, warehouse logistics, and building.
Robotaxi providers broaden to London
London is about to turn out to be one of many first main cities the place the world’s main autonomous car corporations — particularly from the U.S. and China — instantly compete by launching robotaxi providers as early as 2026.
Waymo has begun testing its self-driving automobiles in London and plans a industrial launch there. Baidu’s Apollo Go is getting ready to convey its robotaxis to London by way of partnerships with corporations like Uber and Lyft. The Chinese language autonomous ride-hailing service operator is already working at scale in Asia.
