Why do robots need more than vision to master real-world tasks? Sze Yuan Cheong of Devol Robots explains how combining vision, force, and impedance control could advance physical AI and factory automation.

Join Jake Aaron Villarreal on Born in Silicon Valley for a conversation about robot learning, the shift from hardware to AI, and building a robotics startup that scales.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Sze Yuan Cheong and his work 00:55 Current trends and limitations in robotics perception 01:52 The importance of force and impedance in interaction 03:18 Core hypothesis: combining vision and impedance 04:47 Impedance control and its application in real-world interactions 06:43 Training challenges and preserving geometric data 08:08 Building hardware versus focusing on software and AI 10:04 Market realities and reliability of robotic hardware 12:23 Groundbreaking capabilities of their AI model 14:04 Mathematical foundations: Riemannian geometry and robot planning 16:45 Market opportunities: humanoids versus industrial robots 20:49 Applications in manufacturing and medical robotics 25:08 Hype versus reality in physical AI markets 29:44 Global leadership in AI and robotics innovation 32:48 Team building and hiring strategies in high-tech startups 40:34 Future plans and upcoming deployments 44:22 Closing remarks and contact information

Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com