|
Take heed to this text  |
Digit on the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo. Credit score: Eugene Demaitre
Agility Robotics right this moment introduced adjustments to its government workforce because it productizes and commercializes its Digit humanoid robotic. The corporate added skilled expertise chief Daniel Diez as chief technique officer.
Agility Robotics additionally mentioned that Melonee Sensible is shifting from chief expertise officer to the function of chief product officer (CPO). As well as, Pras Velagapudi is getting into the function of CTO, efficient instantly.
“As the one firm with a humanoid robotic already delivering helpful work to prospects, Agility is shaping the way forward for labor,” acknowledged Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility Robotics. “As we speak, we’re strengthening our distinctive management workforce to leap on this large market alternative.”
“Daniel brings an impressive monitor report of main enterprise transformation and company technique, and in relation to deploying fleet-level robotics options in logistics and manufacturing operations, Melonee’s and Pras’s technical, product, and industrial expertise are unbeatable,” she added. “I’m thrilled to have their knowledgeable management in these new and expanded roles as we put together for industrial scale.”
Corvallis, Ore.-based Agility Robotics mentioned its mission is “to construct robotic companions that increase the human workforce, finally enabling people to be extra human.” The firm described Digit as a “bipedal cellular manipulation robotic” (MMR) and as “the primary multi-purpose, human-centric robotic that’s made for work.” The system has been in trials for logistics duties at Amazon and GXO Logistics.
Jonathan Hurst, co-founder and chief robotic officer of Agility Robotics, delivered a keynote tackle in regards to the technical challenges of constructing humanoids on the Robotics Summit & Expo earlier this month. Digit received the inaugural RBR50 Robotic of the 12 months Award.
Submit your presentation thought now.
Sensible strikes from CTO to chief product officer
Agility Robotics mentioned that, since becoming a member of it as CTO in Could 2023, Sensible has remodeled how the corporate approaches product improvement because it prepares to convey its merchandise to market at scale. Along with main Agility’s engineering and expertise efforts, Sensible created and led the workforce that conceived, constructed, and launched Agility Arc, a cloud platform for deploying and managing fleets of Digits with different automation.
Melonee Sensible, chief product officer, Agility Robotics
Within the expanded function of CPO, Sensible will proceed to guide Agility’s engineering workforce along with the newly shaped product group.
Sensible has years of expertise within the robotics business. Previous to becoming a member of Agility in 2023, she was the vp of robotics automation at Zebra Applied sciences. Earlier than that, Sensible was CEO of Fetch Robotics till its acquisition by Zebra in 2021.
Beforehand, Sensible was the second worker at Willow Storage, the place she led a workforce of engineers growing next-generation robotic {hardware} and software program, together with the Robotic Working System (ROS), the PR2, and TurtleBot. Sensible serves as a robotics board member for the Affiliation for Advancing Automation (A3).
All through her profession, Sensible has acquired many accolades and awards together with the MIT Expertise Overview TR35, Provide & Demand Chain Govt’s 2021 Provide Chain Lady of the 12 months, the 2022 Engelberger Award, and as one among “eight CEOs altering the best way we work” by Enterprise Insider.
Sensible acquired a B.S. in mechanical engineering and physics engineering and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the College of Illinois.
Velagapudi turns into Agility CTO
“Within the 12 months since he joined Agility, Velagapudi has galvanized the corporate’s AI technique and proven repeated breakthroughs in utilizing AI to speed up Digit’s industrial capabilities,” mentioned the corporate. “As CTO, he’ll proceed to give attention to pragmatic product-relevant improvements, operationalizing the corporate’s analysis and improvement efforts, and exploring new applied sciences, with an emphasis on making use of trendy and rising AI to allow industrial scale.”
Pras Velagapudi, CTO, Agility Robotics
Velagapudi has many years of expertise in robotics planning and management, in addition to in creating and deploying robots into residence, industrial, and outside environments. Earlier than becoming a member of Agility as vp of innovation and chief architect in 2023, he was a vp of engineering and chief architect of cellular robotics at Berkshire Gray, deploying fleets of lots of of robots to logistics functions.
As well as, Velagapudi is co-founder of Platypus, a low-cost Android-based fleet infrastructure for small autonomous robotic boats to gather environmental knowledge on our bodies of water. Previous to that, he led electrical techniques design and engineering at RedZone Robotics, a subterranean pipe-inspection robotic supplier.
Velagapudi acquired his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon College, the place he additionally served as adjunct college and undertaking scientist for a few years.
Daniel Diez to set go-to-market technique
As chief technique officer, Diez is chargeable for setting Agility’s total enterprise and go-to-market technique, working intently with Johnson, mentioned the corporate. On this function, he can even lead all advertising and marketing and communications efforts to construct the corporate’s status and develop consciousness and demand for Digit as the corporate enters its subsequent part of business progress.
Daniel Diez, chief technique officer, Agility Robotics
Diez joins Agility from Magic Leap, the place he led its transformation from a shopper expertise startup to an enterprise expertise firm. He was chargeable for the industrial launch of Magic Leap 2.
Most not too long ago, Diez served as chief industrial officer at Magic Leap, overseeing enterprise improvement, gross sales, buyer expertise, ecosystem options, developer relations, advertising and marketing, model, communications, public affairs, and authorities relations. He beforehand held the roles of chief transformation officer and chief advertising and marketing officer at Magic Leap.
Previous to becoming a member of Magic Leap, Diez served as chief advertising and marketing officer and head of product at Rework Manufacturers, the proprietor of the Kenmore equipment model. Earlier than that, he was the worldwide chief advertising and marketing officer for R/GA, a world advertising and marketing and innovation company, and he helped lead the corporate’s transformation from a digital advertising and marketing company to a world promoting and model transformation powerhouse.
All through his profession, Diez has been an advocate for company citizenship and his ardour for creating constructive change extends past the world of enterprise. He serves on the board of the LGBT Neighborhood Middle in New York and has beforehand served as a professional bono advertising and marketing and communications advisor for non-profit organizations together with the Advert Council and the Human Rights Marketing campaign.