Softbank – Human Robot Interaction

Aldebaran Again

Is this the end of Pepper?

Softbank Robotics sold their Nao and Pepper robots to the United Robotics Group (URG) which reversed the name of this business back to its orginal “Aldebaran”. In this episode Dwain Allan and I discuss the uncertain future of Nao and Pepper based on direct correspondence with URG. We try to answer the question whether you should still invest in this robotic platform. Is Aldebaran another zombie robotic company?

Transcript

The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF.

HRI-Podcast-Episode-024-Aldebaran-Again-Transcript

ISSN 2703-4054

Important Links

The Story Of Boston Dynamics

From military robots to beer commercials.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Boston Dynamics is the rock star of robotics. It recently featured in a beer commercial during the Super Bowl. How did a company that started as a military contractor become a novelty in beer commercials? Dwain Allan and Christoph Bartneck discuss the past, present and future of the company with Robert Cheek and Stephen Hickson.

Transcript

The transcript of the episode is available as a PDF. You can also follow the episode with subtitles through Descript.

HRI-Podcast-Episode-019-The-Story-Of-Boston-Dynamics-Transcript

ISSN 2703-4054

Important Links

CNBC documentary about Boston Dynamics
The petman and atlas robots at Boston dynamics by Gabe Nelson, Aaron Saunders, and Robert Playter
XPeng’s rideable robotic unicorn
Kawasaki’s rideable robotic goat
Tesla’s presentation of the Optimus humanoid robot