#85: Kobi Marenko of Arbe Robotics
One of the most fascinating things we found while talking to Israeli mobility companies during Mobility Week is that many of them never set out to get into the mobility space. For example, Arbe Robotics originally wanted to make sensors for drones, but found that there were regulatory challenges and that the opportunities in automotive made it an extremely promising sector. Arbe CEO Kobi Marenko sat down with Alex, Kirsten and Ed in Tel Aviv to explain his company's high-resolution radar technology, how "miracles are part of the plan" in Israel and why the future of mobility technology is so bright.
One of the most fascinating things we found while talking to Israeli mobility companies during Mobility Week is that many of them never set out to get into the mobility space. For example, Arbe Robotics originally wanted to make sensors for drones, but found that there were regulatory challenges and that the opportunities in automotive made it an extremely promising sector. Arbe CEO Kobi Marenko sat down with Alex, Kirsten and Ed in Tel Aviv to explain his company's high-resolution radar technology, how "miracles are part of the plan" in Israel and why the future of mobility technology is so bright.
#84: Danny Atsmon and Alon Podhurst of Cognata
As the dangers and downsides of real-world testing of experimental autonomous drives systems become better understood, companies are turning to simulation to improve the speed and safety of their testing regimes. Helping them with this effort is Cognata, an Israeli company specializing in simulation for autonomous vehicle testing. Alex, Kirsten and Ed are joined in Tel Aviv by Cognata's founder and CEO Danny Atsmon and VP of Sales, Alon Podhurst, to explore and explain the virtual worlds their simulation technology creates.
As the dangers and downsides of real-world testing of experimental autonomous drives systems become better understood, companies are turning to simulation to improve the speed and safety of their testing regimes. Helping them with this effort is Cognata, an Israeli company specializing in simulation for autonomous vehicle testing. Alex, Kirsten and Ed are joined in Tel Aviv by Cognata's founder and CEO Danny Atsmon and VP of Sales, Alon Podhurst, to explore and explain the virtual worlds their simulation technology creates.
#83: Dr Missy Cummings of Duke University
Alex's mission to talk to everyone with a background in aviation and human-machine interfaces, Dr Missy Cummings joins the show to talk automation, safety and Tesla Autopilot. One of the first women fighter pilots, a former MIT Associate Professor and current Professor at Duke University's schools of Engineering and Brain Sciences, as well as the director of Duke's Humans and Autonomy Laboratory. Her thoughtful criticisms of "semi-autonomous" technology are informed by decades of academic research and deep experience with aviation automation, and they make for a memorable episode of The Autonocast.
Alex's mission to talk to everyone with a background in aviation and human-machine interfaces, Dr Missy Cummings joins the show to talk automation, safety and Tesla Autopilot. One of the first women fighter pilots, a former MIT Associate Professor and current Professor at Duke University's schools of Engineering and Brain Sciences, as well as the director of Duke's Humans and Autonomy Laboratory. Her thoughtful criticisms of "semi-autonomous" technology are informed by decades of academic research and deep experience with aviation automation, and they make for a memorable episode of The Autonocast.
#82: Elliot Katz and Jordan Sanders of Phantom Auto
As the major autonomous drive stack players focus on geofenced driverless (Level 4) deployments of their technology, it's become clear that a control option will be necessary for situations in which the AI breaks down or can't handle certain obstacles. The search for technology that can plug these holes has led to the rise of Phantom Auto, whose Israeli defense-sector technology allows for remote teleoperation over cellular networks. Phantom Auto's Elliot Katz and Jordan Sanders join the Autonocast to explain how their technology enables truly driverless deployments and who they are partnering with.
As the major autonomous drive stack players focus on geofenced driverless (Level 4) deployments of their technology, it's become clear that a control option will be necessary for situations in which the AI breaks down or can't handle certain obstacles. The search for technology that can plug these holes has led to the rise of Phantom Auto, whose Israeli defense-sector technology allows for remote teleoperation over cellular networks. Phantom Auto's Elliot Katz and Jordan Sanders join the Autonocast to explain how their technology enables truly driverless deployments and who they are partnering with.
#81: You-You Xue on Tesla and Autopilot
You-You Xue took early delivery of a Model 3, and rather than sit around the house for Winter break he decided to drive across the country and share his excitement for his new car. After touring the United States, giving hundreds of test drives to fellow fans and becoming an online sensation, he decided to take his Tesla Road Trip to Europe. But when his car crashed due to what he calls an Autopilot malfunction, suddenly his relationship with the driver assist system, Tesla and its fans became a lot more complicated. On this episode of the Autonocast, You-You explains what happened, how he got there, and what he hopes people learn from the situation.
You-You Xue took early delivery of a Model 3, and rather than sit around the house for Winter break he decided to drive across the country and share his excitement for his new car. After touring the United States, giving hundreds of test drives to fellow fans and becoming an online sensation, he decided to take his Tesla Road Trip to Europe. But when his car crashed due to what he calls an Autopilot malfunction, suddenly his relationship with the driver assist system, Tesla and its fans became a lot more complicated. On this episode of the Autonocast, You-You explains what happened, how he got there, and what he hopes people learn from the situation.
#80: Olaf Sakkers of Maniv Mobility
Maniv Mobility is one of the top mobility-focused investment funds in the world, especially when it comes to identifying the best Israel-based mobility technology startups. On today's episode of The Autonocast, we are joined by Maniv partner Olaf Sakkers who jokes around a bit with Alex, Kirsten and Ed before getting into his perspective on the rapidly-evolving mobility technology landscape.
Maniv Mobility is one of the top mobility-focused investment funds in the world, especially when it comes to identifying the best Israel-based mobility technology startups. On today's episode of The Autonocast, we are joined by Maniv partner Olaf Sakkers who jokes around a bit with Alex, Kirsten and Ed before getting into his perspective on the rapidly-evolving mobility technology landscape.
#79: Bryan Salesky of Argo AI
What is it like running a "full stack" autonomous drive company? What's it like coordinating an AD play with a major automaker? How does an AD company CEO think about "winning the race to autonomy"? On this episode of the Autonocast, the crew is joined by Bryan Salesky of Argo AI, who explains how he got into the space via the DARPA Urban Challenge, and how he and his partners at Ford are moving toward the autonomous future.
What is it like running a "full stack" autonomous drive company? What's it like coordinating an AD play with a major automaker? How does an AD company CEO think about "winning the race to autonomy"? On this episode of the Autonocast, the crew is joined by Bryan Salesky of Argo AI, who explains how he got into the space via the DARPA Urban Challenge, and how he and his partners at Ford are moving toward the autonomous future.
#78: Chris and Jason from Renovo, on building the Autonet
With so much focus on companies building the AI "brain" for autonomous drive, we check in with a company that is building a more overlooked (but just as important) aspect of the Autonomobile stack: the nervous system. Chris Heiser and Jason Stinson of Renovo join The Autonocast to talk about what they call "the Autonet," a platform that ties together everything a robotaxi might need to operate, from AI and teleoperation to infotainment and payments and beyond.
With so much focus on companies building the AI "brain" for autonomous drive, we check in with a company that is building a more overlooked (but just as important) aspect of the Autonomobile stack: the nervous system. Chris Heiser and Jason Stinson of Renovo join The Autonocast to talk about what they call "the Autonet," a platform that ties together everything a robotaxi might need to operate, from AI and teleoperation to infotainment and payments and beyond.
#77: Austin Russell of Luminar
Luminar is one of several exciting new startups shaking up the lidar sensor space, and its founder and CEO Austin Russel joins the show from the headquarters of the Human Driving Association in New York City. Russel explains what sets Luminar's sensors apart from the herd, what lidar needs to be capable of, how lidar sensors can interfere with each other and why Luminar needs to manufacture its own products. Plus, Alex attempts to get him off onto a tangent about laser jamming for speeding purposes.
Luminar is one of several exciting new startups shaking up the lidar sensor space, and its founder and CEO Austin Russel joins the show from the headquarters of the Human Driving Association in New York City. Russel explains what sets Luminar's sensors apart from the herd, what lidar needs to be capable of, how lidar sensors can interfere with each other and why Luminar needs to manufacture its own products. Plus, Alex attempts to get him off onto a tangent about laser jamming for speeding purposes.