Ep 31 - Let's Play with the Astro Robot
In the 31st episode of Automate It - we bought a robot! Stefan and Ilia play with the Astro robot at Polymath HQ, and discuss how it represents both the good and the bad of robotics today.
Dec 01, 2023•55 min
Automate It: A Robotics Podcast
Each week, the co-founders of Polymath Robotics sit down to give you the inside scoop on the robotics industry. They'll share war stories, weird facts, and little-known approaches to working with robots (with a special focus on autonomous vehicles).
About the hosts:
Stefan Seltz-Axmacher is the CEO of Polymath Robotics, and is best known as the founder of Starsky Robotics, an early autonomous trucking pioneer. Ilia Baranov, CTO, was employee # 10 at Clearpath Robotics, has led teams at Amazon's home robot division, and owned the ROS repo after Willow Garage shut down.
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Episodes
Ep 30 - Is Robotics Data the New Oil?
In the 30th episode of Automate It, the robot invention game generates a Terminator robot to deal with Australia's rabbit problem. Then, it's the main topic of the day: Stefan and Ilia unpack why robot sensor data is a lot less valuable than you might think. Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review to help other robot fans find us! Visit us online at polymathrobotics.com.
Nov 17, 2023•30 min
Ep 29 - Is Autonomy a Product?
It's been a few weeks -- Stefan had a baby! But we're back online. In Episode 29 of Automate It, the robot invention game generates a robotic arm that feeds you sandwiches while you drive. Then, Stefan & Ilia break down the release of our Autonomous Navigation Modules, and the internal battle over whether we should call them products or not. Read our big announcement on the Polymath blog: https://www.polymathrobotics.com/blog/introducing-autonomous-navigation-modules...
Nov 03, 2023•35 min
Ep 28 - Why Are Small Robots So Hard?
On Episode 28 of Automate It, Polymath Robotics co-founders Stefan & Ilia discuss why smaller robots are actually HARDER to build than bigger robots! But first, it's the robot invention game, where they come up with drones that scan paperwork at shipping ports.
Sep 22, 2023•36 min
Ep 27 - No Code Lasts Forever
On Episode 27 of Automate It, Stefan & Ilia's robot invention game creates a humanoid robot that applies your sunscreen. Then, the main topic of the day (starts around 12:44): why can't you buy software once, and never update it again? Why doesn't software just work forever?
Sep 14, 2023•31 min
Ep 26 - Academic vs Commercial Approaches in Robotics
On Episode 26 of Automate It, the robot invention game results in a Caddyshack-inspired gopher hunting drone. Then, in the main discussion (12:50 start), Stefan and Ilia deep dive on how academics think differently about robotics than commercial companies do.
Sep 05, 2023•34 min
Ep 25 - Waymo Trucking Shuts Down
After a whirlwind July in which we moved AND had a baby, Automate It is finally back with a bang! Did you miss us? On Episode 25, Stefan Seltz-Axmacher and Ilia Baranov play the robot invention game and create what I think is a robotic pogo stick(?). Then, the main topic of the week (starting around 15:55) -- Waymo is shutting down it's robotic trucking division. What does it mean for the autonomy industry as a whole? Missed us while we were gone? Subscribe to the podcast and write us a review!...
Aug 04, 2023•42 min
Ep 24 - Deep Diving on the OceanGate Submarine
On Episode 24 of Automate It, Polymath Robotics co-founders Stefan and Ilia are doing a "deep dive" (sorry) on the OceanGate submersible. In particular: how do you balance innovation with safety? Submarine discussion starts around the 14:20 mark, after the weekly robot-invention game. Plus, breaking news! Polymath announces its integration with Samsara's smart operations platform.
Jun 30, 2023•42 min
Ep 23 - Is Robotics Really THAT Much Harder than SaaS?
On Episode 23 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia's robotics-business-invention game creates a bartending solution that delivers your drink via robotic arms on rails. Plus, Ilia tells us the secret behind electric fences. Then, their favorite topic: is building robots really THAT much harder than building an app? And what is it that makes it so hard? Connect with us on LinkedIn or at polymathrobotics.com ....
Jun 20, 2023•34 min
Ep 22 - Is a VR Headset a Robot?
On Episode 22 of Automate It, Polymath Robotics co-founders Stefan Seltz-Axmacher and Ilia Baranov discuss whether VR counts as a robot (and if it does, what Apple's VR headset news means for the industry). Plus, the robot invention game gives birth to a humanoid robot for amusement park maintenance.
Jun 09, 2023•35 min
Ep 21 - Onroad Autonomy Woes (&Does it Matter?)
On Episode 21 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia come up with a belligerent drone surveillance plan for public parks. Then, they're talking o-nroad autonomy again -- the struggles in the industry and how it'll impact robotics as a whole. Main discussion starts around 14:25.
May 24, 2023•29 min
Ep 20 - Nerf Guns Explain Why Robots are Hard
🎉 It's the 20th episode of Automate It! This week, Polymath Robotics co-founders Stefan Seltz-Axmacher and Ilia Baranov use their nerf gun arms race (what else?) to explain why robots are still SO HARD.
May 16, 2023•28 min
Ep 19 - Request for Robots
This week on Automate It, Stefan and Ilia invent a venison butchering robot(??). Then, they break down another meaty(ha) topic -- our open request for robots. (Request for robots discussion starts around the 10:40 mark) Editor's note: we have NOT built the website yet
May 02, 2023•28 min
Ep 18 - The Top Contributions Open Source Robotics Needs Now (Steve Macenski, Chief Navigator for ROS2)
On episode 18 - it's our first guest! Steve Macenski, Chief Navigator for ROS2 joins Ilia for a deep dive on the open source robotics community. They get into where the community is today, what contributions Steve would like to see, and where he thinks the community is headed. It's an in-depth technical discussion for all you die hard roboticists out there. Questions? You can tag Steve on https://answers.ros.org/questions/ or on the Nav2 Slack channel: navigation2.slack.com....
Apr 21, 2023•28 min
Ep 17 - How Do the Current Economic Conditions Impact Robotics?
On ep 17 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia's robot game invents "Night at the Museum" but for real. Then, they dig into how bank runs and hard-to-get funding impact the robotics landscape (hint: there's a big upside).
Apr 08, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Ep 16 - Roombas & VCs - The Battle for Clean Floors and Funding
On Episode 16 of Automate It, our April Fools episode, we play our improv game seriously, and then make a parody of our serious discussions about robots and VCs.
Apr 01, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Ep 15 - Construction Robots at CONEXPO
On Episode 15 of Automate It, the robot improv game imagines a walking robot for construction. Then, Stefan and Ilia reflect on their experience at CONEXPO (the biggest construction convention in the world), and trends they're seeing in heavy equipment automation.
Mar 25, 2023•22 min•Ep. 15
Ep 14 - The Downsides of Consultants Building your Robots
On Episode 14 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia's imaginary-robot game invents a robot that steals your towel if you're hogging chairs at the pool. Then, they unpack why building robots is NOT something to outsource.
Mar 10, 2023•35 min
Ep 13 - The Shutdown of Everyday Robots (& Why Big Companies aren't Safer for Robotics)
On Episode 13 of Automate It, Stefan & Ilia's imaginary-robot game invents a robot for putting the dishes away. Then, they discuss why Google shut down Everyday Robots, and why big companies aren't always a "safer" bet for robotics engineers.
Mar 02, 2023•34 min
Ep 12 - Robotics Demos Gone Wrong
On Episode 12 of Automate It, the robot invention game winds up combining VR with transportation for some ... interesting results. Then, Stefan and Ilia swap stories of important robotics demos gone wrong. What happens when your robot acts up in front of an investor, a customer, or the press? They break down why this happens so often, and how you can avert demo disasters before they happen. Links: Video compilation of DARPA robots falling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0TaYhjpOfo...
Feb 17, 2023•33 min
Ep 11 - How to Choose the Right Sensors
In Episode 11 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia's robot-invention game ends with them boring to the center of the Earth ... or something. Then, they break down how to choose the right sensors for your robot, and why a bigger budget can actually make your performance worse .
Feb 09, 2023•30 min
Ep 10 - Is Teach-and-Repeat Really Autonomy?
In Episode 10 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia invent a robotic arm that sorts office mail. Then, this week's hot topic is whether teach-and-repeat systems have a leg up (or a leg ... down?) on fully autonomous navigation.
Feb 03, 2023•27 min
Ep 9 - Why MVPs in Robotics are Different than SaaS
In episode 9 of Automate It, Stefan & Ilia break down why "minimum viable product" in robotics is totally different than in SaaS. Plus, their start-of-episode game gets weird when they invent autonomous vehicles ... for space.
Jan 19, 2023•32 min
Ep 8 - CES & the State of Autonomy
In Ep 8 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia invent a hypothetical tunnel for conference transportation (any resemblance to current companies, living or dead, is purely coincidental). Then, they unpack their experience at CES and what it suggests about the state of the autonomy industry.
Jan 13, 2023•28 min
Ep 7 - Did Google Just Buy ROS?
On Episode 7 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia generate robot ideas for humanoid robots in stadiums. Then ,they discuss the Intrinsic's acquisition of Open Source Robotics Corporation, and what it might mean for the robotics industry as a whole. Episode outline: 1:25 - "Automate It" game 12:54 - Wait ... did Google just buy ROS? 13:50 - Hasn't this happened before? 15:20 - Is ROS really that important? 20:00 - How Intrinsic fits in 27:55 - What if ROS gets shut down? 33:30 - Predicting what's next...
Dec 20, 2022•40 min
Ep 6 - How to Measure Robots
Op Episode 6 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia play their favorite game and invent a robot that helps you with teambuilding events. Then, they deep dive on how to choose the right metrics for your robots (and why the wrong metrics can undermine your ultimate goals). Hosted by Polymath Robotics co-founders Stefan Seltz-Axmacher and Ilia Baranov. Follow us on Linkedin for regular updates. Episode outline: 0:40 - "Automate It" Game 15:45 - How to Measure Robots...
Dec 15, 2022•42 min
Ep 5 - Is the Autonomy Industry Dead?
On episode 5 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia use their favorite game as an excuse to dig into the problem of indoor localization. Then, they debate hot takes about whether autonomy as an industry is truly "dead" (and come up with a few hot takes themselves).
Dec 09, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Ep 4 - How to Kill an Autonomy Project
On episode 4 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia invent a robot that helps ... uh ... lift you over obstacles. Then, they discuss a hypothetical "autonomous oil field" to explain common problems that can kill autonomy projects before they even get off the ground.
Dec 02, 2022•30 min
Ep 3 - Teleoperation and art
In Episode 3 of Automate It, Ilia and Stefan draw another random use case and discuss how they'd automate it, this time teleoperation and senior care. Plus, Ilia talks about making fun demos with robot arms and art.
Nov 16, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Ep 2 - The Time Ilia Danced with a Robot
On the 2nd episode of Automate It, Polymath Robotics co-founders Stefan and Ilia come up with a genius business model for walking robots doing home delivery. Then, it's Ilia's turn to share robot stories from his time at Clearpath Robotics and Amazon's Home Robot division.
Nov 14, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 2
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