Robotics in Review: Editors look back at 2025

In episode 225 of The Robot Report Podcast, Steve Crowe, along with Mike, Brianna, and Eugene, recaps the major robotics stories of 2025, starting with the rise of humanoid robots and the substantial investments in the sector, while also questioning their real-world utility. They discuss Waymo's expansion and safety concerns, particularly regarding school bus stops, and Intel's spin-off of RealSense. The panel also analyzes iRobot's bankruptcy and its implications for U.S. competitiveness, ABB's acquisition by SoftBank, and the role of autonomous robots in military conflicts. They touch on the increasing importance of AI in robotics, Amazon's deployment of one million robots, and the overall trends and challenges facing the robotics industry, including tariffs and the need for a national robotics strategy. The episode also includes insights from Evan Helda, Chris Matthieu, and John Santagate.

Outlines

Part 1: Humanoid Investment, Data, and Safety

Part 2: Autonomous Vehicles, Waymo, and Safety

Part 3: Vision Systems and RealSense Spinoff

Part 4: Consumer Robotics and iRobot's Decline

Part 5: Policy, Tariffs, and Global Acquisitions

Part 6: Defense, Warfare, and Dual-Use Tech

Part 7: AI Integration and Amazon's Dominance

Part 8: Startups and Year-End Reflections

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The Robot Report Podcast

Part 1: Humanoid Investment, Data, and Safety

Introduction to the 2025 Robotics Recap and Humanoid Investment

Progress in Data Pipelines and Safety Standards for Humanoids

Humanoid Deployments, Advancements, and Disappointments

Unitree's Visibility and the Slow Creep Towards Humanoid Inflection Point

Part 2: Autonomous Vehicles, Waymo, and Safety

Waymo's Expansion and Safety Concerns

Waymo's School Bus Incident and Power Outage Issues

Waymo's Scaling, Competition, and Future Challenges

Part 3: Vision Systems and RealSense Spinoff

RealSense Spinoff from Intel and its Future

RealSense's Focus on Humanoids and Vision Sensors

Part 4: Consumer Robotics and iRobot's Decline

iRobot's Bankruptcy and the Amazon Deal Failure

iRobot's Lack of Innovation and Chinese Competition

iRobot's Challenges and the Consumer Robotics Market

iRobot's Failed Products and the Difficulty of Consumer Robotics

Part 5: Policy, Tariffs, and Global Acquisitions

John Santagate's Perspective on Market Sentiment

Tariffs and the Congressional Robotics Caucus

Building a Robotics Ecosystem in the U.S. and iRobot's Sale

A3's Efforts and ABB's Sale to SoftBank

SoftBank's History in Robotics and ABB's Potential

Part 6: Defense, Warfare, and Dual-Use Tech

ABB's Opportunity as a Standalone Company and Robotics in Warfare

Dual-Use Technologies and the Nature of Warfare

Military Service and Robotics

Part 7: AI Integration and Amazon's Dominance

The Buzz Around AI and its Impact on Robotics

AI Flywheel and the Right Application for Humanoids

AI Development Stages and Amazon's Robot Deployment

Amazon's Robotics Expansion and Strategy

Amazon's Humanoid Rumors and the Trickle-Down Effect

Part 8: Startups and Year-End Reflections

Teradyne Robotics and Amazon's Impact on Smaller Companies

Closing Thoughts and Thank You

Robotics in Review: Editors look back at 2025

The Robot Report Podcast

Part 1: Humanoid Investment, Data, and Safety

00:07Introduction to the 2025 Robotics Recap and Humanoid Investment

Introduction to the 2025 Robotics Recap and Humanoid Investment

04:29Progress in Data Pipelines and Safety Standards for Humanoids

Progress in Data Pipelines and Safety Standards for Humanoids

07:01Humanoid Deployments, Advancements, and Disappointments

Humanoid Deployments, Advancements, and Disappointments

11:41Unitree's Visibility and the Slow Creep Towards Humanoid Inflection Point

Unitree's Visibility and the Slow Creep Towards Humanoid Inflection Point

Part 2: Autonomous Vehicles, Waymo, and Safety

15:16Waymo's Expansion and Safety Concerns

Waymo's Expansion and Safety Concerns

18:11Waymo's School Bus Incident and Power Outage Issues

Waymo's School Bus Incident and Power Outage Issues

21:21Waymo's Scaling, Competition, and Future Challenges

Waymo's Scaling, Competition, and Future Challenges

Part 3: Vision Systems and RealSense Spinoff

24:01RealSense Spinoff from Intel and its Future

RealSense Spinoff from Intel and its Future

27:20RealSense's Focus on Humanoids and Vision Sensors

RealSense's Focus on Humanoids and Vision Sensors

Part 4: Consumer Robotics and iRobot's Decline

30:39iRobot's Bankruptcy and the Amazon Deal Failure

iRobot's Bankruptcy and the Amazon Deal Failure

32:58iRobot's Lack of Innovation and Chinese Competition

iRobot's Lack of Innovation and Chinese Competition

35:54iRobot's Challenges and the Consumer Robotics Market

iRobot's Challenges and the Consumer Robotics Market

39:34iRobot's Failed Products and the Difficulty of Consumer Robotics

iRobot's Failed Products and the Difficulty of Consumer Robotics

Part 5: Policy, Tariffs, and Global Acquisitions

43:38John Santagate's Perspective on Market Sentiment

John Santagate's Perspective on Market Sentiment

45:12Tariffs and the Congressional Robotics Caucus

Tariffs and the Congressional Robotics Caucus

48:40Building a Robotics Ecosystem in the U.S. and iRobot's Sale

Building a Robotics Ecosystem in the U.S. and iRobot's Sale

53:15A3's Efforts and ABB's Sale to SoftBank

A3's Efforts and ABB's Sale to SoftBank

56:07SoftBank's History in Robotics and ABB's Potential

SoftBank's History in Robotics and ABB's Potential

Part 6: Defense, Warfare, and Dual-Use Tech

59:20ABB's Opportunity as a Standalone Company and Robotics in Warfare

ABB's Opportunity as a Standalone Company and Robotics in Warfare

1:02:51Dual-Use Technologies and the Nature of Warfare

Dual-Use Technologies and the Nature of Warfare

1:06:06Military Service and Robotics

Military Service and Robotics

Part 7: AI Integration and Amazon's Dominance

1:07:11The Buzz Around AI and its Impact on Robotics

The Buzz Around AI and its Impact on Robotics

1:10:01AI Flywheel and the Right Application for Humanoids

AI Flywheel and the Right Application for Humanoids

1:13:13AI Development Stages and Amazon's Robot Deployment

AI Development Stages and Amazon's Robot Deployment

1:14:41Amazon's Robotics Expansion and Strategy

Amazon's Robotics Expansion and Strategy

1:17:03Amazon's Humanoid Rumors and the Trickle-Down Effect

Amazon's Humanoid Rumors and the Trickle-Down Effect

Part 8: Startups and Year-End Reflections

1:21:34Teradyne Robotics and Amazon's Impact on Smaller Companies

Teradyne Robotics and Amazon's Impact on Smaller Companies

1:25:33Closing Thoughts and Thank You

Closing Thoughts and Thank You