In Episode 182 of The Robotic Report Podcast, editors Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre interview Erin Linebarger co-founder and CEO of Robotics 88. Linebarger discusses the revolutionary use of drones in wildfire administration, notably by way of prescribed hearth strategies. The dialogue covers the genesis of the corporate, the significance of knowledge in hearth administration, the know-how behind their drones, and the way forward for wildfire mitigation efforts globally.
The Robotics88 drone is a custom-designed quadcopter outfitted with a number of sensors to picture the forest ground beneath the tree cover. | Credit score: Robotics88
Linebarger gained the Pitchfire startup competitors on the 2024 Robotics Summit along with her presentation in regards to the firm and its software. The judges had been impressed not solely with the element of the marketing strategy and the poise of Linebarger but in addition with the robust advantages that is perhaps derived from the success of the corporate constructing robots for good.
Present timeline
- 9:51 – Information of the week
- 35:12 – Interview with Erin Linebarger co-founder and CEO of Robotics 88
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Information of the week
VDMA: Germany’s robotics trade ‘has misplaced competitiveness’
The German robotics and automation trade is dealing with a downturn, with the VDMA R+A forecasting a 9% drop in whole turnover for 2025, reaching €13.8 billion ($14.4 billion U.S.). This follows a 6% lower in 2024, with turnover closing at €15.2 billion ($15.8 billion). VDMA R+A Chairman, Dietmar Ley, attributes this decline to structural weaknesses inside the trade, together with over-reliance on the German automotive sector and broader competitiveness points. These weaknesses had been evident in 2024, with a 16% home lower in comparison with 2023. One key occasion that has impacted the German robotics trade is the sale of KUKA to the Midea Group. Whereas a 2022 settlement ensured KUKA’s headquarters and roughly 3,500 worker jobs in Augsburg till at the very least 2025, the long-term results of this acquisition and its potential affect on the German robotics panorama stay to be seen.
Ambi Robotics launches AmbiStack robotic palletizer
AmbiStack, an overhead gantry palletizing system, automates the method of stacking objects onto pallets or into containers. At its core is a four-axis gantry robotic positioned above an infeed conveyor. This robotic makes use of a digicam, machine imaginative and prescient, and synthetic intelligence to establish, purchase, and stack objects shifting alongside the conveyor. Ambi Robotics employs reinforcement studying to coach the AI mannequin that controls the palletizing robotic, in keeping with firm co-founder and CTO, Jeff Mahler.
1X Applied sciences acquires Form Humanoid to speed up work towards family robots
1X Applied sciences introduced the acquisition of Form Humanoid to assist speed up its roadmap in creating and productizing humanoid robots to be used within the house. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Form Humanoid developed Mona, a bipedal humanoid supposed to work in properties and in fields resembling healthcare. The three-person firm labored with famend designer Yves Béhar on the bio-inspired kind issue. The corporate additionally utilized synthetic intelligence and huge language fashions (LLMs) to allow Mona to work together with and help individuals in on a regular basis conditions.
1X Applied sciences has been creating general-purpose robots for households. The firm‘s said mission is “to create an abundance of labor by way of secure, clever humanoids that work alongside individuals.” 1X is already nicely alongside its path to market, and the acquisition of Form Humanoid most certainly falls into the class of an “acqui-hire”, bringing the talents and expertise of the Form Humanoid workforce onboard with 1X.
