We’re promised a future of robot helpers, autonomous drones, and intelligent machines — so where are they?

In this episode of Deep, Ben Kaplan sits down with Vijay Kumar, Dean of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and a world leader in robotics, to ask why we’re still waiting.

They dig into the real obstacles holding back industrial robots, why your toddler might be more dexterous than a factory arm, and how AI is both helping and overhyped.

Vijay explains the difference between coordination, cooperation, and true collaboration in multi-robot systems, shares why aerial robotics are inefficient power hogs (but still vital in places like mines), and gives a sober take on the gap between promise and reality in autonomous vehicles.

Plus, they explore the unexpected connections between science fiction, military tech, and real-world innovation — and where investors should actually be looking next.

If you're curious about the real state of robotics (beyond the hype), this one’s for you.