Automate It: A Robotics Podcast

Introducing the reluctant AI episode! First, the guys play the robot invention game and come up with a machine vision robot for urban farms. Then, it's the main topic of the day: is AI useful for robotics? And boy are they reluctant about it.

This week on Automate It, Stefan and Ilia invent a sushi boat robot, giving Stefan an opportunity to rant about about sushi feasts. Then, they're talking about Polymath's April Fools joke - that we were pivoting to humanoid robots - and why some people thought it was real.

Wow, we actually published 2 weeks in a row! This week on Automate It, Stefan & Ilia work on 3d printing at the beach. Then, they unpack Stefan's assertion that robotics projects are "default blocked".

Guess who's back back back again: This week on Automate It, Stefan & Ilia invent a quadcopter for micromanaging your employees. Then, they're talking their favorite VC question: "so, how are you using AI?"

We're back! After a 6 week hiatus (unintentional, we promise) "Automate It" is back with a bang. On Ep 35, Stefan and Ilia play the robot invention game and come up with a spider robot that keeps you cool in the summer. Then, they dig into whether the tech industry is over "autonomy" in general, and what autonomy even means anymore.

This week on Automate It, the co-founders of Polymath Robotics play the robot invention game and mostly end up making fun of kitchen robots. Then, they're breaking down the state of VC in the Robotics industry. Coming to CES in Las Vegas Jan 9-12? Stop by North Hall Booth #10852 to test drive our robots and meet the guys!

On Episode 33 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia try to play the robot game, but mostly just end up talking about trains. Then, they're talking approaches to GPS-denied localization. In other words, how does the robot figure out where it is without GPS?

On Ep 32 of Automate It, the robot game creates a humanoid robot for film sets. Then, the main topic of the day -- in robotics, is it possible to have sensor overkill? Stefan & Ilia break down why MORE is not always a good thing. Got a topic you want to hear about? Shoot us a note at hello@polymathrobotics.com Episode notes: The Spiderman stunt video that Ilia references is here: https://www.y...

In the 31st episode of Automate It - we bought a robot! Stefan and Ilia play with the Astro robot at Polymath HQ, and discuss how it represents both the good and the bad of robotics today.

In the 30th episode of Automate It, the robot invention game generates a Terminator robot to deal with Australia's rabbit problem. Then, it's the main topic of the day: Stefan and Ilia unpack why robot sensor data is a lot less valuable than you might think. Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review to help other robot fans find us! Visit us online at polymathrobotics.com.

It's been a few weeks -- Stefan had a baby! But we're back online. In Episode 29 of Automate It, the robot invention game generates a robotic arm that feeds you sandwiches while you drive. Then, Stefan & Ilia break down the release of our Autonomous Navigation Modules, and the internal battle over whether we should call them products or not. Read our big announcement on the Polymath bl...

On Episode 28 of Automate It, Polymath Robotics co-founders Stefan & Ilia discuss why smaller robots are actually HARDER to build than bigger robots! But first, it's the robot invention game, where they come up with drones that scan paperwork at shipping ports.

On Episode 27 of Automate It, Stefan & Ilia's robot invention game creates a humanoid robot that applies your sunscreen. Then, the main topic of the day (starts around 12:44): why can't you buy software once, and never update it again? Why doesn't software just work forever?

On Episode 26 of Automate It, the robot invention game results in a Caddyshack-inspired gopher hunting drone. Then, in the main discussion (12:50 start), Stefan and Ilia deep dive on how academics think differently about robotics than commercial companies do.

After a whirlwind July in which we moved AND had a baby, Automate It is finally back with a bang! Did you miss us? On Episode 25, Stefan Seltz-Axmacher and Ilia Baranov play the robot invention game and create what I think is a robotic pogo stick(?). Then, the main topic of the week (starting around 15:55) -- Waymo is shutting down it's robotic trucking division. What does it mean for the auto...

On Episode 24 of Automate It, Polymath Robotics co-founders Stefan and Ilia are doing a "deep dive" (sorry) on the OceanGate submersible. In particular: how do you balance innovation with safety? Submarine discussion starts around the 14:20 mark, after the weekly robot-invention game. Plus, breaking news! Polymath announces its integration with Samsara's smart operations platform.

On Episode 23 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia's robotics-business-invention game creates a bartending solution that delivers your drink via robotic arms on rails. Plus, Ilia tells us the secret behind electric fences. Then, their favorite topic: is building robots really THAT much harder than building an app? And what is it that makes it so hard? Connect with us on LinkedIn or at polymathrobot...

On Episode 22 of Automate It, Polymath Robotics co-founders Stefan Seltz-Axmacher and Ilia Baranov discuss whether VR counts as a robot (and if it does, what Apple's VR headset news means for the industry). Plus, the robot invention game gives birth to a humanoid robot for amusement park maintenance.

On Episode 21 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia come up with a belligerent drone surveillance plan for public parks. Then, they're talking o-nroad autonomy again -- the struggles in the industry and how it'll impact robotics as a whole. Main discussion starts around 14:25.

🎉 It's the 20th episode of Automate It! This week, Polymath Robotics co-founders Stefan Seltz-Axmacher and Ilia Baranov use their nerf gun arms race (what else?) to explain why robots are still SO HARD.

This week on Automate It, Stefan and Ilia invent a venison butchering robot(??). Then, they break down another meaty(ha) topic -- our open request for robots. (Request for robots discussion starts around the 10:40 mark) Editor's note: we have NOT built the website yet

On episode 18 - it's our first guest! Steve Macenski, Chief Navigator for ROS2 joins Ilia for a deep dive on the open source robotics community. They get into where the community is today, what contributions Steve would like to see, and where he thinks the community is headed. It's an in-depth technical discussion for all you die hard roboticists out there. Questions? You can tag Steve on...

On ep 17 of Automate It, Stefan and Ilia's robot game invents "Night at the Museum" but for real. Then, they dig into how bank runs and hard-to-get funding impact the robotics landscape (hint: there's a big upside).

On Episode 16 of Automate It, our April Fools episode, we play our improv game seriously, and then make a parody of our serious discussions about robots and VCs.

On Episode 15 of Automate It, the robot improv game imagines a walking robot for construction. Then, Stefan and Ilia reflect on their experience at CONEXPO (the biggest construction convention in the world), and trends they're seeing in heavy equipment automation.