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Digit on the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo. Credit score: Eugene Demaitre
Agility Robotics right now introduced modifications to its govt crew because it productizes and commercializes its Digit humanoid robotic. The corporate added skilled know-how chief Daniel Diez as chief technique officer.
Agility Robotics additionally stated that Melonee Clever is shifting from chief know-how officer to the position of chief product officer (CPO). As well as, Pras Velagapudi is moving into the position 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. “Right this moment, we’re strengthening our distinctive management crew to leap on this large market alternative.”
“Daniel brings an impressive monitor report of main enterprise transformation and company technique, and on the subject 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 stated its mission is “to construct robotic companions that increase the human workforce, in the end 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 gained the inaugural RBR50 Robotic of the 12 months Award.
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Clever strikes from CTO to chief product officer
Agility Robotics stated that, since becoming a member of it as CTO in Might 2023, Clever has remodeled how the corporate approaches product growth because it prepares to carry its merchandise to market at scale. Along with main Agility’s engineering and know-how efforts, Clever created and led the crew that conceived, constructed, and launched Agility Arc, a cloud platform for deploying and managing fleets of Digits with different automation.
Melonee Clever, chief product officer, Agility Robotics
Within the expanded position of CPO, Clever will proceed to guide Agility’s engineering crew along with the newly fashioned product group.
Clever has years of expertise within the robotics trade. Previous to becoming a member of Agility in 2023, she was the vp of robotics automation at Zebra Applied sciences. Earlier than that, Clever was CEO of Fetch Robotics till its acquisition by Zebra in 2021.
Beforehand, Clever was the second worker at Willow Storage, the place she led a crew of engineers creating next-generation robotic {hardware} and software program, together with the Robotic Working System (ROS), the PR2, and TurtleBot. Clever serves as a robotics board member for the Affiliation for Advancing Automation (A3).
All through her profession, Clever has obtained many accolades and awards together with the MIT Know-how Overview TR35, Provide & Demand Chain Govt’s 2021 Provide Chain Girl of the 12 months, the 2022 Engelberger Award, and as one among “eight CEOs altering the best way we work” by Enterprise Insider.
Clever obtained 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,” stated the corporate. “As CTO, he’ll proceed to give attention to pragmatic product-relevant improvements, operationalizing the corporate’s analysis and growth efforts, and exploring new applied sciences, with an emphasis on making use of trendy 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 vp of innovation and chief architect in 2023, he was a vp of engineering and chief architect of cell robotics at Berkshire Gray, deploying fleets of a whole lot 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 programs design and engineering at RedZone Robotics, a subterranean pipe-inspection robotic supplier.
Velagapudi obtained his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon College, the place he additionally served as adjunct school and mission 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 carefully with Johnson, stated the corporate. On this position, he may also lead all advertising and communications efforts to construct the corporate’s repute and develop consciousness and demand for Digit as the corporate enters its subsequent part of economic development.
Daniel Diez, chief technique officer, Agility Robotics
Diez joins Agility from Magic Leap, the place he led its transformation from a client know-how startup to an enterprise know-how firm. He was chargeable for the business launch of Magic Leap 2.
Most just lately, Diez served as chief business officer at Magic Leap, overseeing enterprise growth, 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 optimistic change extends past the world of enterprise. He serves on the board of the LGBT Group 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.