Let's Talk Robotics

Joining me today (eps 150) is Gail Chatziyakoumis.

Gail was born and schooled in Melbourne. After HSC at Kilbreda Ladies College, she went on to obtain a degree in Electrical/Electronics from Monash Uni Caulfield (then C.I.T).

Her first job was repairing computers peripherals and from there she was employed as an application Engineer for ASEA Robotics where she worked with several dedicated and capable people including Per Stigsson. During this time, she did a part time Diploma in Robotics also at Monash. ASEA changed to ABB just around the time of a recession in the early 1990s.

Gail was moved within ABB to the Capacitors division where she was responsible for the design of LV Capacitors that were made onsite. After about 4 years she took 10 months off to have her daughter and returned to the role of tendering for HV Capacitor banks.

After Robotics recovered, she moved back to the Robots division, this time in sales which had more fixed hours, so it was easier to be a working Mum. Some years later she was headhunted to be a project manager at a little company that manufactures Industrial Ultrasonic baths.

Gail had her son and stopped work, only returning to work when he was 18mths old, when ABB asked her to return to the Capacitor division, to project manage the manufacture of Harmonic banks to take over from a specialist who had died in a tragic parachuting accident.

Gail later returned to ABB Robots division, this time as a logistic and resources coordinator, managing the spare parts and service. ABB took the decision to close its engineering centres and downsize, she then moved on to being a technical consultant to an Automation company before teaching herself how to make websites. After doing that for a couple of years, Per, at Robot Spares, asked her to rebuild his website and after she finished he asked Gail to help in his business which he and his son Mik have steadily grown, even through the pandemic!

Joining me today (eps 149) is Chris Flatau. Chris is the CEO and founder of Servbotics. Servbotics was established in 2023 and headquartered in Adelaide, is at the forefront of revolutionising industries with cutting-edge robotic solutions. As the official distributor of Pudu Robotics, AOTINGBOTS, and other leading brands, Servbotics offers a diverse range of robots designed to enhance operational efficiency, reduce labour costs, and improve customer satisfaction. Their portfolio includes delivery robots, cleaning robots, cocktail machines, and fully automatic beer dispensers, catering to various sectors. Servbotics provides both outright purchase and Robots as a Service (RaaS) models, ensuring businesses can seamlessly integrate robotics into their workflows. For more information, visit the website at www.servbotics.au

Joining me today is Paris Cockinos. Paris is the CEO of Sphere Drones, a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary technology company delivering an end-to-end ecosystem across the commercial drone market.

Joining me today (eps 147) is Andrew Short! Andrew is the co-founder and Technical Director of Verbotics, where they create automatic programming software for welding robots. Their focus is to make complex industrial robot programming simple. Andrew is an expert in industrial robotics, motion planning, collision avoidance and automated programming. He has a PhD in robotics from the University of Wollongong, degrees in Mechatronic Engineering and Computer Science, and a background in software and web development.

Joining me today (eps 146) is Gregory Hunter and Michelle Keegan.

Gregory Mohamad Hunter is a young and strategic leader in the Australian space industry. He has served as Vice President of the National Space Society in Australia and actively engaged with committees of the US-based National Space Society. His leadership of the New Horizons Summit has been pivotal in the sector, attracting global attention and key stakeholders. As a past board member and Director of Innovation at the United Nations Association in Australia, and co-founder of Arbiter, a robotics company, Gregory has exhibited exceptional strategic skills. His contributions to various successful startups and his extensive consulting experience with top management firms, advising on technology and space, further underscore his significant impact on the industry.

Michelle has over 20 years of mining industry experience. Prior to joining AROSE, Michelle was Program Director Technology Development, and leader of the Next Generation Mine Innovation Program, at South 32. Michelle was responsible for leading the identification, design and delivery of new technology and innovation for all greenfield projects as well as translation into brownfield operations.

With a non-traditional technology background, Michelle brought her strong strategic and mining experience to deliver programs, and help drive the future competitiveness of the company. Her team monitored new developments in the industry and worked closely with technology partners and external institutes to develop, pilot and implement emerging technologies that could materially improve the outcomes of new projects and operations.

Michelle graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining (Hons) and a Master of Science (Mineral Economics) from Curtin University. In 2023, Michelle was awarded the Space Professional of the Year at the Australian Space Industry Awards, recognising her work connecting the resources and space industries together in Australia and with the US.

Joining me today (eps 145) is Bern Grush. Bern is the Executive Director of the Urban Robotics Foundation and project lead for the draft technical standard ISO 4448 (Public-area Mobile Robots and automated pathway devices). Since 2002, Bern has been involved with transportation-related innovation and regulatory research for road pricing, parking management, automated vehicles, and now the robots that will ply our sidewalks. Before that, he co-founded PCI Geomatics to develop AI for image analysis systems for earth-imaging satellites. He has degrees in Human Factors Psychology from the University of Toronto and Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

Joining me today is Mark Pivac. Mark is the primary inventor of FBR’s automated bricklaying technology. He is an aeronautical and mechanical engineer with over 32 years’ experience working on the development of high-technology equipment ranging from lightweight aircraft to heavy off-road equipment. He has 27 years’ experience working with pro/engineer 3D CAD software as well as high-level mathematics, including matrix mathematics, robot transformations and vector mathematics for machine motion. Mark has also worked extensively with design, commissioning and fault finding on servo-controlled motion systems achieving very high dynamic performance.

Joining me today (eps 143) is Mark Setrakian. Mark is one of the world’s leading experts in animatronics and robotics. His career spans nearly four decades of innovation in film, television, theme park attractions, and the art world. Mark’s creations are evocative robotic beings that move with uncanny fluidity, existing at the nexus of sound, motion, form, and cutting-edge technology.

Joining me today is Daniel Milford. Daniel is the Founding CEO of Chironix, a Software and Robotics Engineering company which develops technology to support deployed workforces around the world, with specific interests in the Defence, Manufacturing, Resources and Utilities sectors.

Daniel has extensive experience in complex capability development, disruptive technologies, robotics, virtual and augmented reality, policy, strategy and cyber operations. His professional experience includes work for the Department of Defence and the Australian Army, as well as specialising in machine learning, robotics, emerging technology and augmented/virtual reality in the private sector.

Commencing employment with the Federal Government in 2010, Daniel served as the Project Manager for JP2008 Phase 3H (Wideband Global Satellite), completing Defence trials and developing the acquisition case for a range of terminals to utilise the constellation. Additionally, Daniel served for two years in the Navy Strategy Executive where he was Awarded a Finalist position in the Young ICT Professional of the Year 2015. In addition to his Public Service career, Daniel has served with the Army in a Reserve capacity since 2001 in a variety of roles, including coalition environments.

Since 2018, Daniel has grown Chironix from a small startup to a leading technology developer in applied Robotics and wearable systems, and continues to develop solutions that enhance human robot teaming capabilities. Daniel has also been instrumental in developing a range of applications for numerous robot types, enabling clients of Chironix to become more productive, effective and safer. Daniel draws upon his background in Defence to create innovative new solutions working with emerging technologies and industry leaders.

His academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts (History/Psychology Hons); a Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology, two Masters from The University of New South Wales in Capability and Technology Management and Systems Engineering, and a third Masters from the Australian National University in Defence and Strategic Studies. He is a graduate of the Royal Military College Duntroon; Capability and Technology Management College (Joint); and the Australian Command and Staff College (Joint). Daniel was also a research fellow with the Perth U.S. Asia centre, with a key focus on strategy and disruptive technology. He was also a Finalist in the Young ICT Professional of the Year Awards in 2015.

Joining me today (eps 141) is Greg Peters. Greg is the Robotics and Automation Lead at Laing O’Rourke

Greg is an innovator, engineer and roboticist. He is the principal product engineer at the Laing O’Rourke Technology and Innovation group, leading the Robotics and Automation function.

His career spans disruptive innovation for enterprise, academic and industry partnerships, start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises. He has over 15 years covering product invention and innovation, field robotics in construction, equipment hire, environmental and sustainable technology innovation.

Greg has an honours degree in mechatronic engineering and a masters degree in engineering management from the University of Technology, Sydney.