In Episode 214 of The Robotic Report Podcast, hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the key robotics information of the week.
Peter Finn, a Managing Director at Brown Gibbons Lang & Firm (BGL)
On this episode, we reconnect with Peter Finn, Managing Director at BGL, to discover the evolving panorama of commercial know-how, robotics, and AI.
Peter shares insights on market tendencies post-COVID, the challenges and alternatives within the robotics sector, and the essential position of AI in shaping the longer term.
We delve into the dynamics of mergers and acquisitions, the potential of humanoid robotics, and the significance of adaptability in right now’s fast-paced technological setting. Be part of us for a thought-provoking dialogue on navigating the way forward for industrial innovation.
Present timeline
- 07:58 – Information of the week
- 28:06 – Dialog with Peter Finn, Managing Director at BGL
Information of the week
Tariff doc open for remark from A3
In a put up by Jeff Burnstein on LinkedIn, the US has opened a nationwide safety investigation into Imports of medical units, Robotics, and Industrial Equipment. The federal government mentioned it’s doing this to minimize reliance on abroad provide chains.
There’s a 21-day deadline for public feedback.
The A3 – Affiliation for Advancing Automation is engaged on its response, and Jeff is encouraging the trade to share its ideas.
Jeff asks the query: if important new tariffs are imposed on all imported robots, will this influence US efforts to reshore manufacturing?
AdvaMed, the commerce group that represents medical know-how and system makers, careworn in a press release Thursday that 70% of medical merchandise in U.S. hospitals are already “made in America throughout 1000’s of producing services in all 50 states.”
It’s basically the precise reverse for robotics. Most industrial robots used within the US are imported from different international locations.
Remember to learn this text revealed earlier right now that includes a number of trade consultants’ opinions on the tariff scenario.
IEEE examine group publishes framework for humanoid requirements
The IEEE Humanoid Research Group revealed the ultimate model of its findings earlier this week. The mission was to determine a framework for creating requirements for humanoid robots.
- Classification: Creating a transparent taxonomy to outline humanoid robots, their bodily capabilities, behavioral complexity, utility domains, and humanoid-specific traits. This classification serves as the inspiration for figuring out relevant requirements and addressing gaps.
- Stability: Creating quantifiable stability metrics, take a look at strategies, and security requirements tailor-made to actively balancing robots. This consists of addressing dynamic steadiness, fall-response behaviors, and predictive threat modeling.
- Human-Robotic Interplay (HRI): Establishing pointers for secure and reliable interactions between humanoid robots and people, together with collaborative process security, interpretable habits, and person coaching to handle dangers and perceptions.
One of many extra fascinating, thought-provoking, and closely debated sections of the doc was the “Classification of the Humanoid Robots.” This part generated quite a lot of debate in regards to the definition of the assorted class ranges. In the long run, the workforce arrived at a well-thought-out methodology to characterize the techniques.
Prather expects it can take one other 18 to 36 months for the requirements improvement work to be accomplished and the ratified requirements to be revealed.
You may obtain a full copy of the report right here.
Drone startup Guardian Agriculture shuts down
Guardian Agriculture, a Woburn, Mass.-based startup creating massive drones for aerial spraying, just lately shut down after failing to safe further funding. The corporate ceased operations in late August 2025 following a spherical of layoffs earlier in the summertime.
Based in 2017, Guardian Agriculture captured the eye of the agtech and robotics sectors with its SC1, a totally autonomous quadcopter designed for crop spraying. The SC1 weighed roughly 600 lb. (272.1 kg), might carry as much as 200 lb. (90.7 kg) of fertilizer or pesticides, and was able to overlaying 60 acres per hour, the firm mentioned.
Geared up with 4 80-in. (203.2 cm) propellers, a 20-gal. (75.7 L) tank, and an 18-ft. (5.4 m) spray growth, the drone was described by one supply as being “in regards to the dimension of a small SUV.”
Regardless of the technical ambition, Guardian struggled to commercialize its know-how. In keeping with a supply aware of the enterprise, the corporate had only one paying buyer on the time of shutdown. MIT Information just lately mentioned Guardian had constructed eight items of the SC1 as of June 2025, which had been delivering payloads over California farms in trials with paying prospects.
The Robotic Report obtained an inside e mail that Guardian Agriculture CEO Ashley Ferguson despatched to staff on Aug. 22 to announce the shutdown:
The Robotic Report reached out to Fall Line Capital, which is managing the wind-down course of, however didn’t hear again. In keeping with Crunchbase, Guardian Agriculture raised $51.7 million over 5 rounds of funding. This included a $20 million Sequence A that Fall Line Capital led in mid-2023.
Catch the most recent on humanoid and surgical robotic improvement at RoboBusiness 2025. Be part of Deepu Talla, vice chairman of robotics and edge AI at NVIDIA, for a keynote titled “Bodily AI for the New Period of Robotics.”
