Grace Brown, founder of Andromeda, and Maria Piechnik, co-founder of Wandelbots, discuss how robots are advancing, where they may help people, and what limits they still face with Ella Al-Shamahi on BBC World Service’s The Conversation.
Grace describes robotics as having grown from factory machines that repeat set tasks to systems that use sensors and, increasingly, AI. Maria says industrial robots are precise but can be difficult to program, and that companies are putting more effort into accessible interfaces. Wandelbots aims to help people teach robots tasks without needing specialist programming skills.
Grace says Abi’s expressive, curious character surprises people and argues that animation skills can help robots form more natural connections with users. Built during Melbourne’s COVID lockdowns, Abi was designed as a colorful, child-sized companion for people who may experience isolation, including residents of care homes. Grace says the design aims to make Abi approachable and trustworthy.
Wandelbots works with small and medium-sized businesses that need flexible automation but may lack robotics expertise. One project lets a pastry chef demonstrate cake decoration for a robot to repeat; another uses robots to dismantle ammunition after it has been defused. Grace recounts how Abi’s conversations helped a care-home resident, John, share memories of his late best friend.
Maria says the many kinds of robots and components lack shared interfaces, and Wandelbots is working toward a common operating system. Grace points to the difficulty of making robots reliable in unpredictable environments. She says Abi is meant to support care teams amid staffing shortages, while acknowledging that residents can form lasting attachments and that this raises ethical questions.
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Grace Brown, founder and CEO of Andromeda, discusses building Abby as a socially intelligent humanoid companion deployed in nursing homes in Australia and the United States.
Grace Brown, co-founder and CEO of Andromeda Robotics, joins Dan Robbins on Tech Careers Hotline to discuss building Abby, a companion robot for aged care, and growing a robotics company.
Grace Brown, founder of Andromeda Robotics, and Manny Thu, chief commercial officer, discuss Abi’s development and potential roles in care with Dr. Louise Masara on NSW Health’s Future Health Podcast.
