In Episode 223 of The Robot Report Podcast, hosts Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre recap the major robotics news of the week. Our guest this week is Rebecca Hu-Thrams, co-founder and CEO of Glacier, which is developing systems for the recycling industry.
Rebecca Hu-Thrams, CEO and co-founder of Glacier Robotics.
With experience in management consulting and a focus on technological advancements, Hu-Thrams has guided Glacier’s mission to improve recycling processes.
She discusses the challenges facing material recovery facilities (MRFs) and how her company has designed systems to help detect and sort valuable materials without disrupting existing operations.
Rebecca also focuses on how Glacier is applying artificial intelligence and robotics to improving safety and reducing human error. She explains how the company has partnered with industry players to improve the quality of materials removed from the waste stream.
Glacier’s approach not only supports the economic viability of MRFs but also contributes to a more sustainable future by minimizing waste and lowering carbon emissions, according to Hu-Thrams. She talks about how Glacier’s technology positions it within the circular economy.
Show timeline
- 3:37 – News of the week
- 13:27 – Interview with Tanmay Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of Parallax Worlds
- 30:12 – Interview with Rebecca Hu-Thrams, co-founder and CEO of Glacier
News of the week
Physical Intelligence raises $600M to advance robot foundation models
A year ago, we covered Physical Intelligence’s $400 million round, and the startup has now raised another $600 million, reportedly bringing its valuation to $5.6 billion. San Francisco-based Physical Intelligence said it’s building artificial general intelligence for any robot.
In addition, NVIDIA said it exceeded expectations in its Q3 earnings call last week, but concerns about a so-called AI bubble continue.
Newcastle Systems studies how people plus automation can increase warehouse agility
A survey by Newcastle Systems found that workers plus AI and automation can make warehouse operations more resilient. Picking accounts for 50% of labor costs, making mobile robots critical for safety, flexibility, and productivity, it said.
However, the report cautioned that automation alone won’t fix bad processes. Companies must first optimize manual processes before implementing new technologies. Newcastle Systems provides mobile workstations to enable skilled workers to access critical data from the shop floor, complementing other automation.
The company noted that the next generation of AI and robotics depends on high-quality, real-time data from sources like billions of daily barcode scans. It also discussed ways to mitigate the costs of complex systems for small and midsize businesses.
Parallax Worlds provides hyper-realistic digital twins for robot testing
Parallax Worlds recently secured $4 million in seed funding for a total of $4.9 million raised to date. The company offers a platform that uses digital twins and simulation to test AI-based robots, which can be deployed for welding and pick-and-place operations.
The platform integrates with industry tools such as NVIDIA Omniverse, Unreal, and Unity. Parallax Worlds, which participated in the Pitchfire startup competition at RoboBusiness 2024, is expanding its operations. It is working with companies like Orangewood Labs and BotBuilt and is planning to move into the manufacturing and logistics sectors.
In this podcast episode, Oitzman speaks with CEO Tanmay Agarwal to learn more about the funding round.
Distalmotion raises funding to accelerate U.S. adoption of DEXTER surgical robot
Another big deal of the past week was Distalmotion’s $150 million Series G round. The company said it plans to accelerate U.S. commercialization of its DEXTER robot for soft-tissue procedures.
What makes DEXTER different from, say, Intuitive Surgical’s systems, is its small size, which makes it portable on a wheeled cart. It also allows surgeons to be close to their patients.
Agile Robots launches Agile ONE industrial humanoid, acquires thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering
Agile Robots has launched Agile ONE, its first industrial humanoid robot, which it said is designed for safe and efficient operation alongside people in manufacturing environments.
The robot features a layered approach to AI and dexterous and five-fingered hands with multiple sensors, enabling fine manipulation tasks like operating power tools. The company plans to begin manufacturing the robot in Bavaria early next year.
Agile Robots this week also acquired thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering to expand its industrial automation expertise and access to the U.S. market.
Disney shows off new Olaf character robot for its theme parks
Roboticists at Walt Disney Imagineering took Frozen’s “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” to heart and built a physical version of a character from its popular animated movies.
The company had explained its approach to designing human-scale robots and giving them personality at the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo. It earned a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award.
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