Sense Think Act Podcast

Latest Episodes:

State Machines for Complex Robot Behavior Dec 28, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Audrow Nash interviews Brett Aldrich, author of SMACC and CEO of Robosoft AI. Robosoft AI develops and maintains SMACC and SMACC2, which are event–driven, behavior state machine libraries for ROS 1 and ROS 2, respectively. Brett explains SMACC, its origins, other strategies for robot control such as behavior trees, speaks about the challenges of developing software for industry users and hobbists, and gives some advice for new roboticists.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, please consider donating to help us keep it going:
https://donorbox.org/sense–think–act–podcast
EPISODE LINKS:
– Brett Aldrich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett–aldrich–42915b97}
– Robosoft.AI’s website: https://robosoft.ai/}
– SMACC2 on Github: https://github.com/robosoft–ai/SMACC2}
– SMACC blog: https://smacc.dev/}
PODCAST INFO:
– Podcast website: https://sensethinkact.com}
– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sense–think–act/id1582090036}
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52wK4oMDvgijRk6E82tC5d}
– RSS: https://sensethinkact.com/itunes.xml}
– Full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseThinkActPodcast}
– Clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfnCpNwZzYtZ32J–pZvNDg}
OUTLINE:
– (0:00:00) Start
– (0:01:50) Introducing Brett and SMACC
– (0:18:58) Events in State Machines
– (0:21:01) Clients and Client Behaviors
– (0:23:30) State reactors
– (0:29:54) Explaining dance bot + hierarchy in states
– (0:35:14) Recovery states
– (0:38:07) Origins of SMACC
– (0:56:47) SMACC and market pull
– (1:05:31) Robotics domains using SMACC
– (1:08:03) A problem to push the limits of SMACC
– (1:12:50) Making ROS packages smaller
– (1:18:17) SMACC for industry users
– (1:22:23) Making SMACC easy to use?
– (1:27:42) Control in many robotics applications
– (1:31:16) Comparing state machines to behavior trees
– (1:44:40) Future of SMACC
– (1:47:01) Advice for those starting out in robotics
– (1:50:16) Links and getting involved
SOCIAL:
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/sense_think_act}
– Discourse: https://discourse.ros.org/c/sensethinkact/71}

Digitization of Touch and Meta AI Partnership Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Audrow Nash speaks to Youssef Benmokhtar, CEO of GelSight, a Boston–based company that makes high resolution tactile sensors for several industries. They talk about how GelSight’s tactile sensors work, GelSight’s new collaboration with Meta AI (formerly, Facebook AI) to manufacture a low cost touch sensor called DIGIT, on the digitization of touch, touch sensing in robotics, how GelSight is investing in community and open source software, and Youssef’s professional path in several industries.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, please consider donating to help us keep it going:
https://donorbox.org/sense–think–act–podcast
EPISODE LINKS:
– Youssef Benmokhtar’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssef–benmokhtar–85a2403/}
– GelSight’s Website: https://gelsight.com/}
– GelSight’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gelsight/}
– DIGIT’s open source page: https://digit.ml/}
– PyTouch library: https://github.com/facebookresearch/PyTouch}
PODCAST INFO:
– Podcast website: https://sensethinkact.com}
– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sense–think–act/id1582090036}
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52wK4oMDvgijRk6E82tC5d}
– RSS: https://sensethinkact.com/itunes.xml}
– Full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseThinkActPodcast}
– Clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfnCpNwZzYtZ32J–pZvNDg}
OUTLINE:
– (0:00:00) Start
– (0:00:51) Introducing Youssef and GelSight
– (0:07:18) Background of GelSight technology
– (0:08:12) What’s hard about it
– (0:11:56) Miniaturization
– (0:14:40) DIGIT sensor + Collaboration with Meta AI (formerly, Facebook AI)
– (0:21:57) Bringing DIGIT from research to a product
– (0:28:16) Having a camera in your finger
– (0:29:58) DIGIT in robotics applications
– (0:43:04) Meta’s plans with tactile sensing
– (0:49:12) On the digitization of touch
– (0:55:07) On the current state of haptics
– (0:58:06) Haptics to verify products and parts
– (1:01:06) Growing GelSight
– (1:06:03) Open source software and datasets
– (1:14:09) Slipping objects and heavy loads
– (1:22:44) Youssef’s professional path
– (1:32:21) Advice
– (1:34:44) Useful habits
– (1:36:17) Links and getting in touch
SOCIAL:
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/sense_think_act}
– Discourse: https://discourse.ros.org/c/sensethinkact/71}

Flying in Warehouses, Inventory, and Fleet Management Nov 30, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Audrow Nash speaks to Disha Sarawgi and Mohammed Kabir, who are Corvus Robotics’s Head of Special Projects, and Co–founder and CTO, respectively. Corvus makes a robotic drone for warehouse inventory management, which may greatly reduce inventory loss. They speak about flying their drone in warehouses, working with customers, safety, fleet management, how Corvus is funded, and they give advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, please consider donating to help us keep it going:
https://donorbox.org/sense–think–act–podcast
EPISODE LINKS:
– Corvus’s website: https://www.corvus–robotics.com/}
– Demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SzI27FyhQY}
– Disha Sarawgi’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/disha–sarawgi}
– Mohammed Kabir’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammed–kabir–691a1b136}
PODCAST INFO:
– Podcast website: https://sensethinkact.com}
– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sense–think–act/id1582090036}
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52wK4oMDvgijRk6E82tC5d}
– RSS: https://sensethinkact.com/itunes.xml}
– Full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseThinkActPodcast}
– Clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfnCpNwZzYtZ32J–pZvNDg}
SOCIAL:
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/sense_think_act}
– Discourse: https://discourse.ros.org/c/sensethinkact/71}

Robotic Food Delivery, Crowdfunding, and Lawmakers Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Audrow Nash speaks to Jason Richards, CEO at DaxBot. DaxBot makes a charismatic robot for food delivery. Jason speaks on their delivery robot, their crowdfunding campaign, DaxBot’s revenue model, working with lawmakers to have robots on the sidewalks, and Jason teases their realtime operating system, DaxOS.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, please consider donating to help us keep it going:
https://donorbox.org/sense–think–act–podcast
EPISODE LINKS:
– Jason’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason–richards–3821511a2}
– Daxbot’s website: https://daxbot.com/}
– Daxbot’s crowdfunding campaign: https://www.startengine.com/daxbot}
PODCAST INFO:
– Podcast website: https://sensethinkact.com}
– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sense–think–act/id1582090036}
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52wK4oMDvgijRk6E82tC5d}
– RSS: https://sensethinkact.com/itunes.xml}
– Full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseThinkActPodcast}
– Clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfnCpNwZzYtZ32J–pZvNDg}
OUTLINE:
– (0:00:00) Start
– (0:00:39) Introducing Jason and Daxbot
– (0:22:11) Choosing not to have Dax talk
– (0:25:11) Human–in–the–loop and controlling Dax
– (0:36:00) Deploying Dax
– (0:37:00) Daxbot company
– (0:40:09) Crowdfunding
– (0:59:40) Dax and the novelty effect
– (1:06:50) Revenue model, robot–as–a–service, and partnerships
– (1:18:07) Stairs?
– (1:21:20) Laws around robots on the streets and working with lawmakers
– (1:24:32) On not doing silly things to make
– (1:30:07) Timeline for Daxbot
– (1:32:02) DaxOS
– (1:42:55) Links
SOCIAL:
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/sense_think_act}
– Discourse: https://discourse.ros.org/c/sensethinkact/71}

Agriculture Robots, Herbicide Resistance, and Education Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Audrow Nash speaks to Tobias Holmes, Quality Assurance Manager at Blue River Technologies. Blue River uses computer vision and robotics in agriculture and was acquired by John Deere in 2017. Tobias speaks about herbicide resistance, spraying weeds, quality assurance and testing on hardware, and on encouraging kids to learn robotics.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, please consider donating to help us keep it going:
https://donorbox.org/sense–think–act–podcast
EPISODE LINKS:
– Tobias’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobias–holmes–76666369}
– Blue River Technology: https://bluerivertechnology.com/}
– FIRST Robotics: https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc}
– Crystal Ray High School (East Bay): https://cristoreydelasalle.org/}
PODCAST INFO:
– Podcast website: https://sensethinkact.com}
– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sense–think–act/id1582090036}
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52wK4oMDvgijRk6E82tC5d}
– RSS: https://sensethinkact.com/itunes.xml}
– Full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseThinkActPodcast}
– Clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfnCpNwZzYtZ32J–pZvNDg}
OUTLINE:
– (0:00:00) Start
– (0:01:01) Tobias introduces himself
– (0:01:27) About Blue River
– (0:02:49) Agriculture 101
– (0:09:51) How non–row crops are handled
– (0:15:59) Row crops and herbicide resistance
– (0:21:04) How weeds work
– (0:24:20) Strategy for row crops
– (0:27:07) Genetically modified crop
– (0:28:55) Blue River and John Deere
– (0:31:36) What Blue River does best
– (0:37:34) John Deere acquisition
– (0:41:39) Timeline for Blue River
– (0:42:36) What it means to Manage Quality at Blue River
– (0:48:50) Quality assurance in hardware
– (0:52:32) Machine learning in weed spraying
– (1:01:12) Testing systems in the fields
– (1:04:22) Thoughts on robotics and agriculture
– (1:11:07) Using AI in mechanical design
– (1:14:45) Encouraging kids to program + learn robotics
– (1:29:32) Advice for students
– (1:37:14) Links
SOCIAL:
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/sense_think_act}
– Discourse: https://discourse.ros.org/c/sensethinkact/71}

Taking Elevators, Robot Body Language, and Advice for Startups Oct 19, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Audrow Nash interviews Erik Schluntz, co–founder and CTO of Cobalt Robotics, which makes a security guard robot. Erik speaks about how their robot handles elevators, how they have humans–in–the–loop to help their robot make decisions, robot body language, and gives advice for entrepreneurs.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, please consider donating to help us keep it going:
https://donorbox.org/sense–think–act–podcast
EPISODE LINKS:
– Cobalt’s website: https://www.cobaltrobotics.com/}
– Erik’s website: http://www.erikschluntz.com/portfolio/}
– Video introducing the Cobalt robot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PyUjK7JX_c&ab_channel=CobaltRobotics}
– Video of the Cobalt robot using an elevator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUKCI0ynm6s&ab_channel=CobaltRobotics}
PODCAST INFO:
– Podcast website: https://sensethinkact.com}
– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sense–think–act/id1582090036}
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52wK4oMDvgijRk6E82tC5d}
– RSS: https://sensethinkact.com/itunes.xml}
– Full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseThinkActPodcast}
– Clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfnCpNwZzYtZ32J–pZvNDg}
OUTLINE:
– (0:00:00) Start
– (0:03:35) Having their robot take elevators
– (0:18:55) How the sensors are used (aka, fulfilling IoT promises)
– (0:22:17) Training the robot as a security guard
– (0:27:41) Adding a taser on your robot? + What it means to be a security guard
– (0:33:29) On being a technology and security company
– (0:36:32) Stopping a thief with their robot
– (0:38:08) How fleets of security robots are controlled
– (0:40:51) Understanding the human operators
– (0:44:42) Tech stack
– (0:45:34) Experience with ROS
– (0:46:37) Extending ROS packages to work with elevators
– (0:50:48) On open source software
– (0:52:23) Growing the team
– (0:54:13) Manufacturing the Cobalt robot + battle–testing their robots
– (0:56:18) Sourcing components
– (0:58:37) Making people feel safe around the robot
– (1:01:26) Robot body language
– (1:02:22) “Dog–fooding” to improve robot body language
– (1:04:29) Working with the research community
– (1:06:11) Having the Cobalt robot behave like a receptionist during the day
– (1:07:41) Impact on security guard jobs
– (1:11:19) Human–in–the–loop with robotics applications + levels of autonomy
– (1:17:26) How are you using machine learning?
– (1:21:40) Erik’s background in startups
– (1:24:10) Advice on picking a problem
– (1:28:50) Cobalt’s funding
– (1:31:02) Advice for founders looking for investors
– (1:32:41) Advice on avoiding bad investment
– (1:34:44) Advice for a younger you
– (1:35:46) Getting in touch
SOCIAL:
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/sense_think_act}
– Discourse: https://discourse.ros.org/c/sensethinkact/71}

Open Source Visualization and Debugging Tool for Robotics Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Audrow Nash interviews Adrian Macneil, Co–founder and CEO of Foxglove. Foxglove makes Foxglove Studio, an open source visualization and debugging tool for robotics. Adrian speaks about the origin of Foxglove, Foxglove’s business model, web and robotics, and gives advice to those interested in getting more involved in robotics.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, please consider donating to help us keep it going:
https://donorbox.org/sense–think–act–podcast
EPISODE LINKS:
– Adrian Macneil’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianmacneil}
– Foxglove’s website: https://foxglove.dev/}
PODCAST INFO:
– Podcast website: https://sensethinkact.com}
– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sense–think–act/id1582090036}
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52wK4oMDvgijRk6E82tC5d}
– RSS: https://sensethinkact.com/itunes.xml}
– Full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseThinkActPodcast}
– Clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfnCpNwZzYtZ32J–pZvNDg}
OUTLINE:
– (0:00:00) Start
– (0:00:57) Introducing Adrian and Foxglove
– (0:07:54) Origin of Foxglove
– (0:24:51) Developer productivity and the future of robotics
– (0:27:36) Building the Foxglove team
– (0:29:27) Why Adrian’s optimistic about opportunities in robotics
– (0:36:05) On putting 1000 engineers on a problem
– (0:39:35) Role of open source
– (0:42:03) Foxglove’s business model
– (0:45:15) Why Foxglove “Studio”?
– (0:46:53) How name Foxglove?
– (0:48:47) Explaining Foxglove Studio
– (0:50:45) Web and robotics
– (0:57:31) Web technologies on the backend
– (1:00:13) Reflecting on his work at Coinbase and Cruise
– (1:06:27) Timeline for autonomous cars + levels of autonomy
– (1:12:00) Advice for those interested in robotics
– (1:15:09) Info on getting in touch and contributing
– (1:16:33) Outro
SOCIAL:
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/sense_think_act}
– Discourse: https://discourse.ros.org/c/sensethinkact/71}

Growing Clearpath with Open Source Software Sep 20, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Audrow Nash interviews Ryan Gariepy, Chief Technology Officer of both Clearpath Robotics and OTTO Motors. Ryan speaks about the origin of Clearpath, how Clearpath focuses on making reliable robots, and the future of robotics.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, please consider donating to help us keep it going:
https://donorbox.org/sense–think–act–podcast
EPISODE LINKS:
– Ryan Gariepy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgariepy/}
– Clearpath Robotics: https://clearpathrobotics.com/}
– OTTO Motors: https://www.ottomotors.com/}
PODCAST INFO:
– Podcast website: https://sensethinkact.com}
– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sense–think–act/id1582090036}
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52wK4oMDvgijRk6E82tC5d}
– RSS: https://sensethinkact.com/itunes.xml}
– Full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseThinkActPodcast}
– Clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfnCpNwZzYtZ32J–pZvNDg}
SOCIAL:
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/sense_think_act}
– Discourse: https://discourse.ros.org/c/sensethinkact/71}

New directions for the MoveIt project Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Audrow Nash interviews Dave Coleman, Chief Executive Officer at PickNik Robotics. Dave speaks at a high level about what MoveIt is and what problems it helps roboticists solve, they talk about supervised autonomy, including a collaboration with NASA and MoveIt Studio, and Dave talks about MoveIt 3.0.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, please consider donating to help us keep it going:
https://donorbox.org/sense–think–act–podcast
EPISODE LINKS:
– Dave Coleman’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.cn/in/davetcoleman}
– PickNik’s website: https://picknik.ai/}
– MoveIt’s website: https://moveit.ros.org/}
– MoveIt Studio’s website: https://picknik.ai/studio/}
PODCAST INFO:
– Podcast website: https://sensethinkact.com}
– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sense–think–act/id1582090036}
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52wK4oMDvgijRk6E82tC5d}
– RSS: https://sensethinkact.com/itunes.xml}
– Full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseThinkActPodcast}
– Clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfnCpNwZzYtZ32J–pZvNDg}
SOCIAL:
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/sense_think_act}
– Discourse: https://discourse.ros.org/c/sensethinkact/71}

Fetch from startup to exit Aug 24, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Audrow Nash speaks with Melonee Wise, former CEO of Fetch Robotics and current VP of Robotics Automation at Zebra Technologies. Melonee speaks about the origin of Fetch Robotics, her experience at Willow Garage, her experience being acquired by Zebra Technologies, challenges in the warehouse setting, on autonomous cars, and on the future of robotics.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, please consider donating to help us keep it going:
https://donorbox.org/sense–think–act–podcast
EPISODE LINKS:
– Melonee Wise’s website: http://www.meloneewise.com/}
– Fetch Robotics: https://fetchrobotics.com/}
– Zebra Technologies: https://www.zebra.com/}
PODCAST INFO:
– Podcast website: https://sensethinkact.com}
– Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sense–think–act/id1582090036}
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52wK4oMDvgijRk6E82tC5d}
– RSS: https://sensethinkact.com/itunes.xml}
– Full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseThinkActPodcast}
– Clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChfnCpNwZzYtZ32J–pZvNDg}
SOCIAL:
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/sense_think_act}
– Discourse: https://discourse.ros.org/c/sensethinkact/71}

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