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In Episode 193 of The Robot Report Podcast, co-hosts Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre engage with Angus Pacala, the co-founder and CEO of Ouster Lidar. During this insightful discussion, Pacala elaborates on the latest advancements in lidar technology, spotlighting Ouster’s innovative 3D zone monitoring feature.
Angus Pacala, co-founder and CEO of Ouster Lidar
He articulates the advantages of 3D lidar systems compared to conventional 2D models, particularly in enhancing safety and adaptability in various industrial applications. The conversation also delves into the progression of Ouster’s hardware, the significance of software-defined functionalities, and the growth opportunities in markets such as humanoid robotics.
Pacala underscores the ongoing challenges of reducing costs and emphasizes the necessity for continuous innovation to remain competitive within the fast-developing lidar sector. Ouster, a decade-old company, asserts its position as the largest Western supplier of lidar technology for robotics.
Show Timeline
5:38 – Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman provide a recap of the week’s news.
23:00 – Mike and Gene interview Angus Pacala, CEO and co-founder of Ouster Lidar.
News of the Week
Locus Robotics Reaches 5 Billion Picks as Warehouse Automation Accelerates
This week, Locus Robotics celebrated a notable achievement, announcing that its autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have picked over 5 billion units for clients worldwide. Remarkably, this milestone was reached just 24 weeks after marking its 4 billionth pick in October 2024.
The company highlighted that its past records of pick rates demonstrate substantial growth:
Starship Technologies Completes 8 Million Autonomous Deliveries
Starship Technologies has reported that its autonomous systems have successfully executed over 8 million deliveries, covering more than 10 million miles around the globe.
In comparison, Zipline has utilized drones to fulfill 1.45 million orders across seven countries, including the U.S., Ghana, and Japan, primarily focusing on healthcare and e-commerce deliveries. Furthermore, Waymo, recognized as the 2025 RBR50 Robot of the Year, revealed in late 2024 that it has logged over 5 million driverless trips to date.
Robust.AI Enhances Carter Robot Capabilities and Attracts Investors
Robust.AI announced that its collaborative mobile robot, Carter, can perform multiple functions. The software-driven platform supports point-to-point transport, fulfillment picking, and can even act as a mobile sorting wall.
In partnership with DHL Supply Chain, Robust.AI has deployed Carter across numerous locations. Following a recent initiative in Las Vegas, the robot boosted picking productivity by over 60% from the very first day of operation.
Autonomous Vehicle News: Helm.ai and Pony.ai Updates
Pony.ai Introduces Seventh-Generation Self-Driving Platform with Mass Production Plans
Dr. James Peng, co-founder and CEO of Pony.ai, stated: “2025 marks the inaugural year for the mass production of Pony.ai’s robotaxis.”
The firm shared that ongoing design enhancements have achieved a 70% reduction in the overall bill-of-materials (BOM) costs, an 80% decrease in autonomous driving computation (ADC), and a 68% reduction in solid-state lidar costs, compared to earlier models.
Helm.ai Launches Autonomous Vehicle Software for SAE Level 4 Driving
Helm.ai specializes in artificial intelligence software for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous vehicles (AVs), and robotics. The company offers real-time AI systems, including comprehensive autonomous solutions, along with development and validation tools powered by its Deep Teaching approach and generative AI.
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Source
www.therobotreport.com