Celebrating 200 podcast episodes; robotics evolve in space exploration

In Episode 200 of The Robot Report Podcast, our guest is Dr. Robert Ambrose, chairman of robotics and artificial intelligence at Alliant; associate director of the Texas A&M Space Institute; and former chief of software, robotics, and simulation at NASA.

Ambrose discusses his extensive experience in robotics and AI, particularly during his time at NASA. He highlights the evolution of robotics in space exploration, the transition to commercial applications, and the importance of education in fostering the next generation of engineers.

Rob also emphasizes the need for the U.S. to regain its leadership in robotics amidst growing competition from countries like China, and he advocates for a proactive approach to innovation and automation in various industries.

Ambrose’s career spans more than 20 years across academic research, federal service, and startup innovation, giving him a unique perspective on what it takes to drive robotics from the lab to real-world impact. From 2000 to 2021, his team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center team developed pioneering robotic platforms and technologies that continue to shape the future of human and robotic space exploration.

Selected NASA projects led by Dr. Ambrose:

• Robonaut – NASA’s humanoid robot designed to work alongside astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS)
• Valkyrie – A next-generation humanoid robot built for disaster response and potential planetary missions
• Centaur – A hybrid rover combining the mobility of a wheeled platform with humanoid manipulation capabilities
• Chariot rovers – Modular mobility platforms for lunar exploration
• LTV rover (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) – A new generation surface mobility rover being developed for the Artemis program
• MRV (Modular Robotic Vehicle) – An electric, drive-by-wire ground vehicle platform developed with automotive applications in mind
• Resource Prospector / VIPER Rover – A robotic mission to search for lunar ice and resources critical for sustained exploration
• Wearable robotics – Including exoskeletons, powered gloves, and jetpacks for astronaut augmentation and rehabilitation
• ISS support systems – Robotic arms, cranes, and manipulation tools for spacecraft operations and astronaut support
• Software and simulation – Systems supporting commercial partners including SpaceX, Boeing, and Orion missions

In addition to his work at Johnson Space Center, Ambrose served for seven years at NASA headquarters as the principal technologist for robotics and autonomous systems, shaping national strategy for robotics in space exploration. Now at Texas A&M, he directs programs in robotic manipulation, surface mobility, and human augmentation as associate agency director at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and project office director for Space in the Strategic Advanced Research Unit.

Historical facts about the podcast

This 200th episode marks a milestone in The Robot Report Podcast’s history. This show features testimonials from prior guests and friends of the show, including Jonathan Hurst (Episode 1), Aaron Prather (Episodes 24 and 104), Kevin Lawton (The New Warehouse Podcast), Victor Splittgerber (Episode 118), and Joe Wieciek (Episode 44).

• The first episode was published on June 2, 2020.
• Show stats as of June 18, 2025:
  • 13,500+ minutes uploaded
  • Average 1,670 plays per episode
  • 334,000 plays since the podcast launched
  • More than 250 guests
• Mike Oitzman joined the show on Episode 39 on April 2, 2021, as co-host and producer.
• Episode 100 on Dec 1, 2022, featured Nic Radford when he was at Nauticaus. He was just on Episode 198, discussing his newest venture with Persona AI.
• Our longest episode ever was when Eugene Demaitre returned to the show on Episode 132, Nov. 17, 2023, at 1 hour, 53 minutes. It featured interviews with Craig Van den Avont, president of GAM Enterprises, and Mor Peretz, co-founder and CEO of CaPow.
• The most listened-to episode, at over 5,800 plays, was Episode 166 on Oct. 4, 2024: “Inside 1x’s plan to test humanoids in homes,” featuring a conversation with Berndt Børnich, 1X founder and CEO.

If you’d like to listen to Jeff Chapman’s band play “Gedda Life,” listen to the interview with Jeff and then stay until the end of Episode 49.

Show timeline

• 0:00 – Jonathan Hurst Testimonial
• 2:08 – Steve Crowe, Eugene Demaitre, and Mike Oitzman recap the history of the podcast
• 25:18 – Aaron Prather testimonial
• 47:49 – Kevin Lawton testimonial
• 1:06:05 – Victor Splittgerber testimonial
• 1:07:36 – Mike and Gene interview Dr. Robert Ambrose
• 2:03:44 – Joe Wieciek testimonial

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