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Digit on the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo. Credit score: Eugene Demaitre
Agility Robotics at the moment introduced modifications to its govt group 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 Smart is transferring 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 clients, Agility is shaping the way forward for labor,” said Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility Robotics. “In the present day, we’re strengthening our distinctive management group to leap on this huge market alternative.”
“Daniel brings an excellent observe report of main enterprise transformation and company technique, and in the case of deploying fleet-level robotics options in logistics and manufacturing operations, Melonee’s and Pras’s technical, product, and business expertise are unbeatable,” she added. “I’m thrilled to have their skilled management in these new and expanded roles as we put together for business 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 cell 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 concerning 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.
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Smart strikes from CTO to chief product officer
Agility Robotics mentioned that, since becoming a member of it as CTO in Could 2023, Smart 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, Smart created and led the group that conceived, constructed, and launched Agility Arc, a cloud platform for deploying and managing fleets of Digits with different automation.
Melonee Smart, chief product officer, Agility Robotics
Within the expanded function of CPO, Smart will proceed to steer Agility’s engineering group along with the newly shaped product group.
Smart has years of expertise within the robotics trade. Previous to becoming a member of Agility in 2023, she was the vice chairman of robotics automation at Zebra Applied sciences. Earlier than that, Smart was CEO of Fetch Robotics till its acquisition by Zebra in 2021.
Beforehand, Smart was the second worker at Willow Storage, the place she led a group of engineers creating next-generation robotic {hardware} and software program, together with the Robotic Working System (ROS), the PR2, and TurtleBot. Smart serves as a robotics board member for the Affiliation for Advancing Automation (A3).
All through her profession, Smart has acquired many accolades and awards together with the MIT Know-how Evaluation TR35, Provide & Demand Chain Govt’s 2021 Provide Chain Lady of the 12 months, the 2022 Engelberger Award, and as one in every of “eight CEOs altering the way in which we work” by Enterprise Insider.
Smart 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 yr since he joined Agility, Velagapudi has galvanized the corporate’s AI technique and proven repeated breakthroughs in utilizing AI to speed up Digit’s business 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 fashionable and rising AI to allow business 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 dwelling, industrial, and outside environments. Earlier than becoming a member of Agility as vice chairman of innovation and chief architect in 2023, he was a vice chairman of engineering and chief architect of cell robotics at Berkshire Gray, deploying fleets of tons of of robots to logistics purposes.
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 methods 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 school and venture scientist for a few years.
Daniel Diez to set go-to-market technique
As chief technique officer, Diez is accountable for setting Agility’s total enterprise and go-to-market technique, working carefully with Johnson, mentioned the corporate. On this function, he may also lead all advertising and communications efforts to construct the corporate’s popularity and develop consciousness and demand for Digit as the corporate enters its subsequent section of economic development.
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 accountable for the business launch of Magic Leap 2.
Most just lately, Diez served as chief business officer at Magic Leap, overseeing enterprise improvement, gross sales, buyer expertise, ecosystem options, developer relations, advertising, model, communications, public affairs, and authorities relations. He beforehand held the roles of chief transformation officer and chief advertising officer at Magic Leap.
Previous to becoming a member of Magic Leap, Diez served as chief advertising officer and head of product at Remodel Manufacturers, the proprietor of the Kenmore equipment model. Earlier than that, he was the worldwide chief advertising officer for R/GA, a world advertising and innovation company, and he helped lead the corporate’s transformation from a digital advertising 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 Heart in New York and has beforehand served as a professional bono advertising and communications advisor for non-profit organizations together with the Advert Council and the Human Rights Marketing campaign.