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Digit on the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo. Credit score: Eugene Demaitre

Agility Robotics right now introduced adjustments 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 Smart is shifting from chief know-how officer to the function of chief product officer (CPO). As well as, Pras Velagapudi is entering 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. “At the moment, we’re strengthening our distinctive management crew to leap on this huge market alternative.”

“Daniel brings an impressive monitor file of main enterprise transformation and company technique, and relating to 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 knowledgeable 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, 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 Yr Award.

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Smart strikes from CTO to chief product officer

Agility Robotics stated that, since becoming a member of it as CTO in Could 2023, Smart has reworked 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, Smart 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 Smart, chief product officer, Agility Robotics

Within the expanded function of CPO, Smart will proceed to guide Agility’s engineering crew along with the newly shaped product group. 

Smart has years of expertise within the robotics business. 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 crew of engineers growing 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 obtained many accolades and awards together with the MIT Expertise Assessment TR35, Provide & Demand Chain Govt’s 2021 Provide Chain Lady of the Yr, the 2022 Engelberger Award, and as certainly one of “eight CEOs altering the best way we work” by Enterprise Insider.

Smart 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 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 business capabilities,” stated the corporate. “As CTO, he’ll proceed to deal with 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 residence, 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 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 obtained 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 accountable for setting Agility’s general enterprise and go-to-market technique, working carefully with Johnson, stated the corporate. On this function, he can even lead all advertising and communications efforts to construct the corporate’s fame 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 accountable 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 marketing consultant for non-profit organizations together with the Advert Council and the Human Rights Marketing campaign.