Tech Talks by Lawrence Harvey

In this episode of Tech Talks: The BotPod, Danielle Blake, Senior Consultant, Autonomy & Robotics, is joined by Jonathan Laporte, Head of Software and Product Director at Fugro, to explore what happens when robotics and autonomy leave the lab and enter one of the most challenging environments on Earth: the ocean.Drawing on years of experience building autonomous maritime systems, Jonathan explains why the sea pushes robotics to its limits. From unreliable connectivity and GNSS-denied environments to changing currents, drift, and remote supervision, he shares the realities of developing robots that must operate safely and reliably under constant uncertainty.The conversation explores maritime autonomy, edge computing, navigation, and real-world deployment, along with the lessons offshore robotics can teach the wider robotics industry. Jonathan also discusses why designing systems that succeed at sea helps build more resilient autonomous systems for applications on land, from logistics to humanoids.To speak to this episode's host, Danielle Blake, email her at: [email protected]

In this episode of Tech Talks: The BotPod, Danielle Blake, Senior Consultant, Autonomy & Robotics, is joined by Rory Daniels, Head of Emerging Technology and Innovation at techUK, to explore how the UK can turn its world-class robotics research into global commercial success.Drawing on the findings from techUK's first dedicated robotics report, Seizing the Robotics Opportunity, Rory shares where the UK stands in the global robotics landscape, why now is such a pivotal moment for the industry, and what government, industry, and academia need to do to accelerate adoption and scale.The conversation explores the UK's strengths in robotics, the realities of commercialisation, public procurement, skills, policy, and physical AI, as well as why the UK's biggest opportunity lies in playing to its strengths rather than trying to compete in every area of robotics.To speak to this episode's host, Danielle Blake, email her at: [email protected]

In this episode of Tech Talks: The BotPod, Danielle Blake, Senior Consultant, Autonomy & Robotics, is joined by Leo Lesin, Senior Engineering Leader at Humanoid, to explore what it takes to build robots that humans can understand and trust.

With over 20 years of experience across robotics, manufacturing, and complex systems, Leo shares his journey designing real-world robotic systems and working at the intersection of autonomy, human interaction, and system architecture.

The conversation dives into the evolution of humanoids, the idea of a “missing language” in robotics, and why sensors, AI, and autonomy aren’t enough without readable intentions. Leo also shares insights on human-robot interaction, shared autonomy, and what it takes to build robots that can operate effectively in human environments.

To speak to this episode’s host, Danielle Blake, email her at: ⁠[email protected]

In this episode of Tech Talks: The BotPod, Danielle Blake, Senior Consultant, Autonomy & Robotics, is joined by Fernando Fandiño Oliver, Senior Vice President for EMEA at The Mobile Robot Company, to explore what it takes to scale robotics businesses across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

With a career spanning start-ups, scale-ups, and multinational organisations, Fernando shares his journey building go-to-market strategies for robotics companies and helping expand autonomous mobile robot solutions across international markets.

The conversation dives into product–market fit, proving ROI, navigating enterprise partnerships, and the cultural nuances that shape how robotics is adopted across different regions. Fernando also shares lessons founders often underestimate when expanding internationally and what it really takes to build sustainable growth in the robotics industry.

To speak to this episode’s host, Danielle Blake, email her at: [email protected]

In this episode of Tech Talks: The BotPod, Danielle Blake, Senior Consultant, Autonomy & Robotics, is joined by Eleanor Tang-Smith, Co-Founder and COO of OLO Robotics, to explore the journey of women in robotics and what it means to lead with creativity, compassion, and courage in a male-dominated industry.

With 15 years of experience in the software sector and a track record of strategic leadership, Eleanor shares how she transitioned into robotics, the power of non-traditional backgrounds, and how diverse teams are driving innovation across the industry.

The conversation dives into breaking barriers, supporting the next generation of talent, and the role of inclusive leadership in shaping a more representative future for robotics.

To speak to this episode’s host, Danielle Blake, email her at: [email protected]

In this episode of Tech Talks: The BotPod, Danielle Blake, Senior Consultant, Autonomy & Robotics, is joined by Dr. Marcus Schuenemann, Head of Autonomy at Dexory, to explore what it really takes to run ROS 2 in production and scale autonomous robots inside live warehouse environments.With more than 15 years at the cutting edge of robotics and AI, Dr. Schuenemann shares how Dexory made the move to ROS 2, what changes when you go from a single prototype to a full robot fleet, and the engineering and organisational challenges of deploying secure, reliable autonomy at scale.The conversation dives into open‑source robotics, fleet orchestration, navigation, and the trade‑offs required when moving from research to real‑world operations, including how Dexory has grown its autonomous warehouse robots from zero to more than 200 units deployed globally.To speak to this episode’s host, Danielle Blake, email her at: [email protected]

In this episode of Tech Talks: The BotPod, Danielle Blake, Senior Consultant, Autonomy & Robotics, is joined by Oscar Mendez Maldonado, Head of AI & Data Science at Locus Robotics, to explore what it really takes to turn artificial intelligence into real business value.With a career that bridges cutting-edge research and real-world deployment, Oscar shares how Locus uses AI to drive smarter perception, coordination, and autonomy across large-scale robotic fleets. The conversation dives into the importance of domain expertise, why “real data” trumps synthetic, and how applying the right kind of AI in the right place can deliver fast, measurable ROI.From “AI sprinkles” to the role of explainability and workforce readiness, this episode explores the human and technical elements required to successfully scale AI-driven robotics.To speak to this episode’s host, Danielle Blake, email her at: [email protected]

In this episode of Tech Talks, Danielle Blake, Senior Consultant, Autonomy & Robotics, is joined by Marie-Axelle Loustalot-Forest, a GTM and strategy advisor with a global career spanning Disney, Sephora, Staples, Ocado, and more, to explore how robotics and AI are transforming the retail experience.

From warehouse fulfilment and robotic picking to in-store analytics and unmanned nano-stores, this episode looks at the evolving role of automation in tackling labour shortages and redefining customer engagement. Marie-Axelle shares practical insights on scaling, integration, and go-to-market success, and what the future holds for robotics in a post-labour economy.

To speak to this episode’s host, Danielle Blake, please email her at ⁠[email protected]

In the fifth episode of Tech Talks, Danielle Blake, Senior Consultant, Autonomy & Robotics, is joined by Mads Paulin, Founder of Aitera Robotics, to explore the rapid evolution of the robotics industry, and what’s behind the pace shift.

With over two decades of experience across companies like Apple, LEGO, Autodesk, and Mobile Industrial Robots, Mads shares his unique perspective on the technologies, builders, and business models shaping the next wave of intelligent automation.

The conversation dives into what’s changed in the last 8 months, how AI is influencing robot design and development, and what it means for classical robotics companies trying to keep up.

To speak to this episode’s host, Danielle Blake, please email her at [email protected]

In the fourth episode of Tech Talks, Danielle Blake, Senior Consultant - Autonomy & Robotics, is joined by Noé Jenn-Treyer, Co-Founder and CEO of Alsanor, to explore the early-stage journey of building modular humanoid robots for the hospitality industry.Noé shares how his background in Data Science and AI led to the creation of Alsanor, and how the team is tackling one of the industry’s biggest challenges: the shortage of staff for physically demanding, repetitive work. The conversation covers early hardware hurdles, sensor integration, and preparing investor-ready demos, all while building for long-term impact across hotels, healthcare, and independent living.With a vision rooted in practical automation and real-world use cases, Noé and his team are shaping the next generation of service robots, starting with housekeeping, and expanding to where help is needed most.To speak to this episode’s host, Danielle Blake, please email her at [email protected]