Sometimes the best humanoid is a superhumanoid
Tips and tricks for ROS with AI, last chance for Hard Tech Venture Summit Silicon Valley, and Peter Corke and Gill Pratt on humanoids, funding rounds and animal-robot interaction
Evan Ackerman’s IEEE Spectrum article with Gill Pratt on why humanoids make sense now is a great read. Gill points out that it’s the brain of the robots that has really made giant strides in the last ten years since the DARPA Robotics Challenge, and that we should look to history (ie. DARPA Grand Challenge for self-driving vehicles) to see that while humanoids have hit an inflection point ten years post DRC, it is likely to be ten more years before real commercial adoption.
What I especially enjoyed was the opening photo of Gill Pratt with RoboSimian, one of my favorite superhumanoid robots. RoboSimian foreshadowed the quadruped stunts of LimX and others by a good ten years. This robot cartwheeled out of the drivers seat in the DRC and swapped between bipedal, quadrupedal and wheeled movement as and when needed. RoboSimian didn’t need to maintain a clear up/down orientation, or maintain a head/face.
One of the robotics memes I have trouble with is the “humanoids bad - other robots much better” because other robot morphologies can take advantage of all the extra specialties that robots can have. Other robots can be created specifically to optimally perform certain jobs. Well, humanoids don’t need to be limited. I think we’ll eventually see more of these RoboSimian style superhumanoids, and we’ll revel in their extra abilities.
Of course heads/faces are pretty compulsory for communication with humans. We are biased that way. But it doesn’t mean that a superhumanoid needs to maintain a bipedal posture or limit to only face type sensors, orientations or communication modes.
Can’t resist this video for the awesome soundtrack, but full run (including the advanced car exit moves) are in the video below from UCSB Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering.
Ryan Gariepy on using ROS with AI - tips and tricks
Copied from Ryan’s Linked In post here - so if you like this please go click, like, comment, etc.
Starting your robotics software development journey by writing your own ROS package (which has been the way of the docs since ~2010) is _really_ not user friendly, especially if you're (A) using AI and (B) not wanting to let your AI mess with your filesystem and run the semi-arbitrary commands needed to create one.
However, here's a fact about ROS which is shockingly not well known at all (and for which I'll take some of the blame for this given how many people have learned the basics from the Clearpath Robotics by Rockwell Automation Turtlebot docs 😅 ):
➡️ Package creation is optional, you can treat ROS & Gazebo like a system library!
For ROS Jazzy/Ubuntu/Python, three steps:
1A) Install ROS using apt-get (https://lnkd.in/eqE6WGZg); don't forget to source /opt/ros/jazzy/setup.bash in your environment
2A) Create a Python file. import a few things:
import rclpy
from rclpy.node import Node
from geometry_msgs.msg import TwistStamped
2B) Draw the rest of the owl (comments stripped for brevity):
class CircleSpinner(Node):
def __init__(self):
super().__init__('circle_spinner')
self.publisher_ = self.create_publisher(TwistStamped, '/cmd_vel', 10)
self.timer = self.create_timer(0.1, self.publish_velocity)
def publish_velocity(self):
msg = TwistStamped()
msg.twist.linear.x = 0.2
msg.twist.angular.z = 0.5
self.publisher_.publish(msg)
def main(args=None):
rclpy.init(args=args)
node = CircleSpinner()
try:
rclpy.spin(node)
except KeyboardInterrupt:
node.publisher_.publish(Twist())
node.destroy_node()
rclpy.shutdown()
if __name__ == '__main__':
main()
3) Run it!
Or, if you want to use AI from the get go, I suggest telling it things like 'don't create a package, just import rclpy' as well as the specific topics and types you want (ex. there's a lot of training data which insists /cmd_vel is a Twist message, but these days TwistStamped is also quite common)
Happy coding!
Want to host an event or reach the robotics community?
Many companies are reaching out about hosting events, outreach or hiring and we have a great community network, of people looking for work, of investors interested in deal flow and of technologists interested in learning about the latest advances.
Would you be interested in hosting the next Bots, Bevs and Devs? Or something customized specifically for your goals? Reach out here!
Top 100 Medical Device Companies by market cap
To download the complete list of the top 100 medical device companies of the year, register for free at Informa’s Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry.
Sources: INFORMA - Capital IQ, Yahoo Finance, www.multpl.com
The list ranks companies according to their annual revenues from medical devices and supply segments (in U.S. dollars). Market caps are for whole companies. Companies that focus on distribution, protective equipment, and software are excluded.
Meet ONLY Hard Tech funds & several angels in one place—over a full-day.
IEEE Hard Tech Venture Summit, April 16-17, SRI - Menlo Park
Join a curated group of startups and investors to spend the day chatting and sharing opinions in structured roundtables, plus informal networking during coffee breaks and lunch.
This is not a typical pitch event. It’s a format designed by Hard Tech investors and entrepreneurs to boost key relationships and accelerate the path to capital and commercialization.
Much more than transactional pitching.
Confirmed investors include: Intel Capital, Yamaha Motor Ventures, At One Ventures, TSVC, Monozukuri Ventures, i3 Ventures, Departure Ventures, REDDS Capital, Ecosystem Ventures, Corelabs Capital, Althing Ventures, Navis Capital, Samsung Next, Sony, Bosch Ventures, and a number of active angel investors.
Startup seats are limited to maintain a 2:1 startup-to-investor ratio, and fast.
Click here to learn more and register - the URL also activate a $60 Discount dedicated to the Silicon Valley Robots community.
https://sv.vsummit.ieeesystemscouncil.org/?c=Csvrobo
(Advance pricing ends April 6)
Silicon Valley Robotics Investor/Startup Database
Are you a startup fundraising atm? Fill out our “For Investors Eyes Only” sheet.
These investors write checks anywhere from angel and seed stage to $5-50 million.
Feedback from the startups - high quality inbound interest from investors.
Feedback from the investors - incredible depth and range of robotics startups.
If you’re an accredited investor and haven’t already signed up for the spreadsheet - Sign up here for great robotics deal flow!
Robotics News
How Space Junk, Brain Implants, and Advanced Robots Could Reshape Society - US Government Accountability Office (It’s kind of scary that this is what Congress was briefed on! I hope the report was more nuanced. )
Under the Skin of America’s Humanoid Robots: Chinese Technology - WSJ
Humanoid Robots Offer Europe Path to Stay in Tech Race - Yahoo Finance
‘The frontline is like Terminator’: fighting robots give Ukraine hope in war with Russia - The Guardian
The gig workers who are training humanoid robots at home - MIT News
Autonomous vehicles are driving the auto industry toward humanoid robots - WardsAuto
Where Robotics Is Headed: From Tools to Teammates on the Factory Floor - Assembly
AI Body Gap: Why Robots Need “Internal Feelings” to be Safe - Neuroscience News
How understanding human-dog interaction can help make better robots - Brown Daily Herald
Teaching robots to fly like birds - Rutgers Today
Robots learn to ask humans for help - Axios
Meet Abi: Human‑companionship robot for senior communities debuts from Australia to Bay Area - ABC7
Intuition Robotics secures Medicaid coverage for social AI robot ElliQ in Washington State - FierceHealthCare
How Disney Imagineers are using AI and robotics to reshape the companies theme parks - Fast Company
Generalist Bets Its Robot-Training Gloves Will Usher In Robotics’ ChatGPT Moment - National Today
Exclusive: Anvil Robotics Raises $5.5M to Build ‘Legos for Robots’ Platform For Physical AI Teams - Crunchbase
Y Combinator P25 Startup Mbodi AI Builds Robotics Team - Startup Fortune
Chinese Robotics Startup Galaxea AI Raises $290M USD in Series B+ Funding, Valued at $29B USD - AI Insider
Restore Robotics cleared to remanufacture 2 more da Vinci Xi instruments - MedTechDive
Would you want a robot teacher? - NYT
A great podcast from Untangling Web3 with Peter Corke that goes all the way back through the development of robotics, from Karel Capek, through industrial robots, to today’s humanoids.
Robotics Events
Hard Tech in the AI Era: What Investors Really Look For + Networking
April 9 - 9am - Palo Alto - IEEE Systems Council
Raising capital in hard tech comes with unique challenges—long development cycles, deep technical risk, and capital-intensive development—but it’s also where some of the most exciting innovations are happening.
Meet investors with perspectives spanning corporate venture, founder-turned-investors, and specialist hard tech funds. We’ll explore how AI is reshaping hardware investing, what investors look for, and how founders can navigate the journey from lab to market.
Panelists
Spencer Greene — General Partner at TSV Capital (TSVC)
Muffi Ghadiali — Partner at i3 Ventures (serial entrepreneur turned investor)
Michael Harries — Partner at The Robotics Hub Fund (robotics-focused fund)
Alexander Fries — General Partner at Ecosystem Ventures
More panelists will be added.
Moderated by Andra Keay, Managing Director of Silicon Valley Robotics.
What We Will Ask the Investors
How AI is influencing their hardware investment strategies
Why hardware is regaining importance in the AI stack
What they look for in hard tech founders and teams
How to navigate technical risk, capital intensity, and time-to-market
Differences across corporate VC, founder-led funds, and specialist investors
ChatGPT for Robots Summit - National Robotics Week
April 12 - 12pm to 6pm - SF - Run Robot & Women in Robotics
ChatGPT for Robots Summit is a day celebrating the Bay’s vibrant robotics ecosystem during National Robotics Week . We’re bringing together the founders, researchers, engineers, operators, and infrastructure builders moving intelligence out of the screen and into the physical world.
Hosted by RunRobot and Women in Robotics. Apply to join here.
IEEE Hard Tech Venture Summit and Robotics Manufacturing Workshop at SRI International - April 16-17 - use “Csvrobo” for $90 discount
AMBayArea Summit 2026 (from the Association of Manufacturers Bay Area) - Chabot Space & Science Center - April 21
Keynote Speaker Andra Keay on Humanoids, Humans, and the Workforce
Revolution No One Is Talking About
Physical AI Industry Night: San Francisco
April 23 - 5.30-8.30 - SF - presented by Foxglove and Eclipse
Join us for an invite-only evening for developers and engineering leaders building the future of robotics and physical Al in San Francisco.
Schedule
5:30pm: Doors open/Networking
6:30pm: Panel Discussion
7:15pm : Networking
Topic: From Automation to Autonomous Machines: The convergence between traditional industrial robotics and modern autonomy.
Panelists:
[Host] Adrian Macneil - Co-Founder & CEO, Foxglove
Behrad Toghi - AI & Robotics Lead, GM
Kevin Peterson - CTO, Bedrock Robotics
Pete Florance - Co-Founder & CEO, Generalist
Ruijie He - Founding Technical Member, Mind Robotics
Expect a casual atmosphere, great conversations, and a chance to connect with others pushing the frontier of real-world Al systems.
More Robotics Events:
Robotics Invest - Boston - May 26-27
ICRA 2026 - Vienna, Austria - Jun 01 - Jun 05
Automate - Chicago - June 22 - Jun 25
Deep Tech Week - SF - Jun 21 - Jun 25
Robot Fringe Festival - London - Jul 2
Robotics: Science and Systems - Sydney, Australia - Jul 13 - Jul 16
Open Sauce - San Francisco - Jul 17 - Jul 19
ROSCon Global - Toronto - Sep 22 - Sep 24
IROS 2026 - Pittsburgh - Sep 27 - Oct 1
IEEE Humanoids 2026 - Silicon Valley - Dec 6-9
The annual IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots is the internationally recognized prime event of the humanoid robotics community. The conference is sponsored by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society and coordinated by the Technical Committee on Humanoids.
Send me your 2026 progress, plans or posts for potential inclusion in Robots&Startups. Or join the organizing team at Silicon Valley Robotics - bots&beer@svrobo.org
