Manifest 2026 Recap

Join us as Ed Mehr, Co-founder of Machine Labs, explains how he’s building the "software-defined factory." We dive into how robotic-powered automation and strategic partnerships are enabling manufacturers to switch product lines instantly and future-proof hardware production. Discover how Machine Labs is transforming manufacturing with flexible, robotic-powered factories that can switch products instantly. In this episode, Ed Mehr shares insights on software-defined factories, advanced automation, and strategic partnerships shaping the future of hardware production. Learn more at: https://machinalabs.ai/ Show timeline 0:30 - Gene Demaitre recaps Autonomation World 2026 9:43 - News of the week 26:27 - Ed Mehr, co-founder and CEO of Machina Labs ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

On the show this week, our guest is Dinesh Narayanan, Head of Commercialization, General Robotics. Dinesh shares insights into the founding of General Robotics, highlighting the transition from Microsoft and the development of their proprietary platform, Grid. This platform aims to streamline the deployment and scaling of robotics solutions by integrating simulation, AI models, and deployment pipelines. Dinesh emphasizes the importance of adaptability in AI techniques and the company's focus on providing rapid prototyping and deployment capabilities. The conversation also touched on the potential of humanoid robots and the role of Grid in facilitating their development. Dinesh concludes by discussing the company's business model and future aspirations, drawing parallels to the impact of platforms like AWS and Azure in the tech industry. ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

On the show this week, our guests are Andrew Singletary, CEO, and Amir Sharif, COO of 3Laws. They discuss the evolution of the 3Laws technology from academic research to practical applications, the challenges of startup leadership, and the importance of integrating safety into the design process. The conversation highlights the innovative approaches 3Laws is taking to democratize autonomy and ensure safety in robotics, emphasizing the need for deterministic safety systems in an increasingly AI-driven world. We also learn the differences between their products, Supervisor Pro and Supervisor for ROS, and how these solutions cater to different market needs. The discussion highlights the significance of customization in safety solutions, the role of safety certification, and the potential for making robotics more accessible to smaller companies. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes the ongoing evolution of robotics and the importance of safety innovations in this field. To learn more about 3Laws: https://3laws.io/ ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

On the show this week, Gavin Kenneally, CEO and co-founder of Ghost Robotics, discusses the journey of the company from its inception to becoming a leader in legged robotics. He highlights the unique challenges and advantages of legged robots compared to wheeled counterparts, emphasizing their ability to navigate difficult terrains. The discussion also covers the importance of customer feedback in product development, the ruggedization of robots for military applications, and the future of robotics, including the potential for two-armed robots. Gavin shares insights on the impact of global events on robotics innovation and the company's commitment to keeping people out of harm's way. Learn more about Ghost Robotics: https://www.ghostrobotics.io ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre recap their recent trip to attend the Manifest tradeshow in Las Vegas. The show features vignettes from the show floor with executives from many of the industries most innovative warehouse and supply chain robotics companies. Show timeline 8:12 - Zoox autonomous taxi trip recap 6:20 - News of the week 14:33 - Manifest Recap with Gene Demaitre and Mike Oitzman 34:08 - Interview with Sankalp Arora, CEO, Gather AI 41:58 - Interview with Ben Gruettner, Chief Revenue Officer, Robust.AI 49:28 - Interview with Owen Nicholson, CEO, Slamcore 54:21 - Interview with Mason Cole, VP Sales, Slip Robotics 1:00:55 - Interview with Steven McKinley (COO) and Jim Leifer (CEO) with Ambi Robotics 1:10:00 - Interview with Jackie Wu, CEO, from Corvus Robotics 1:16:40 - Interview with Kevin Damoa, founder and CEO Glid Technologies 1:22:37 - Interview with Eric Miller, cofounder and CEO of Autopallet ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

Our guests this week are Mario Mauerer, from Maxon and David Koelle, Charles River Analytics. In this interview from the Humanoid Summit in Silicon Valley, Mike Oitzman speaks with Maxon’s Mario Muerer about how humanoids and mobile manipulation are shaping the company’s actuator strategy, from scalable product design and simulation to safety, commercialization timelines, and the real-world practicality of hands and end effectors. Connect with Marco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-mauerer/ David Koelle, a principal software engineer at Charles River Analytics, discusses his work on applied AI research for government clients, NASA's ASTRA project, and his passion for music programming, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between AI and human decision-making. Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmkoelle/ Learn more about Charles River Analytics: https://cra.com/ ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

Our guest this week is Kevin Damoa, founder and CEO of Glīd Technologies. Damoa discusses Glīd, the world's first autonomous road-to-rail solution, which addresses the problem of ensuring accessibility to both road and rail corridors. Glīd autonomous vehicles pick up fully loaded semi-trailers from the port or road, and then transfer directly to rail. The conversation with Damoa highlights the commercial start of Glīd, driven by the need for quick revenue generation. He also mentions the challenge of securing capital for a robotics startup. Learn more about Glid: https://www.glidtech.us/ ### – SPONSOR – Download the 2026 State of the Robotics Industry Report: https://www.therobotreport.com/state-of-robotics-industry-report-2026/

On the show this week, our guest is Thomas Pilz, Managing Partner of Pilz GmbH & Co. KG, who dives into the company's evolution from a glass-blowing business to a leader in robotic safety. Thomas emphasizes the importance of adaptability and innovation, highlighting the company's commitment to safety as a core value. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in aligning safety with productivity, the role of international safety standards, and the potential of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. The conversation also touches on the integration of AI in safety systems and the cultural ethos at Pilz that encourages entrepreneurial thinking among employees.

Our guest on the show this week is Spencer Krause, CEO and co-founder of SKA Robotics. A longtime friend of the show, Krause shares insights into the development process for new robotics solutions, and a deep dive into ruggedized field robotics. From automating giant mining trucks to launching “software-defined” actuators, Spencer discusses the “mercenary” engineering mindset, including “war stories” from the field, and why hardware is the next frontier in the Post-AI era. Learn more: https://skarobotics.com/ https://tensiondynamics.com/ ### Register for the 2026 Robotics Summit: https://www.roboticssummit.com/

This week cohosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the robots of CES 2026, and review the news of the week. Guest appearances by Chris Matthieu, VP, Developer Ecosystem at RealSense and Ahti Heinla , co-founder, CEO, Starship to talk about their predictions for 2026.