In Episode 224 of The Robotic Report Podcast, hosts Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre recap the key robotics information of the week. Our visitor this week is Michael LeBlanc, co-founder of Basis Robotics. The corporate is growing humanoid robots for deployment into difficult purposes.
Mike LeBlanc, co-founder of Basis Robotics
Having been a significant within the U.S. Marine Corps and a graduate of Harvard Enterprise College, LeBlanc’s work sits on the intersection of nationwide safety, robotics, and management beneath strain.
Beforehand, LeBlanc co-founded safety robotic supplier Cobalt Robotics, the place he raised $120 million from top-tier traders, led a 250-person staff, and oversaw its acquisition.
At Basis Robotics, LeBlanc is constructing next-generation, rugged humanoids for the U.S. Division of Struggle and first responders. Mike additionally discusses the potential for the firm‘s robots to sometime construct buildings for human exploration of Mars.
Present timeline
- 4:37 – Information of the week
- 15:35 – Interview with Michael LeBlanc, co-founder of Basis Robotics
Information of the week
Melonee Clever to guide KUKA’s new software program and AI group
Robotics business veteran Melonee Clever has taken a brand new place at industrial automation chief KUKA. She is now the chief product officer for the German firm’s new software program and synthetic intelligence group in Silicon Valley.
In 2023, Clever joined humanoid robotics developer Agility Robotics as chief expertise officer, and she or he shifted into the chief product officer function in Might 2024. Clever led Agility’s engineering staff along with its newly shaped product group.
Clever has years of expertise within the robotics business. Previous to becoming a member of Agility in 2023, she was the vp of robotics automation at Zebra Applied sciences. Earlier than that, Clever was CEO of cellular robotic maker Fetch Robotics till its acquisition by Zebra in 2021.
iRobot debt acquired by contract producer as chapter looms
The Robotic Report is continuous to comply with the newest developments round struggling robotic vacuum maker iRobot. In a current SEC submitting, the Bedford, Mass.-based shopper robotic pioneer mentioned a Chinese language firm has acquired its debt and that it’s nonetheless in search of options to chapter.
Santrum Hong Kong Co., a subsidiary of Shenzhen, China-based Picea Robotics Co., has acquired a credit score settlement from associates of The Carlyle Group value $190.6 million in principal and curiosity, in line with the submitting.
“As of November 24, 2025, the corporate owed Picea $161.5 million for the manufacturing of merchandise, $90.9 million of which was late,” mentioned iRobot. “The corporate and Picea are engaged in energetic discussions relating to a mutually agreeable decision of the non-payment by the corporate of quantities owed to Picea.”
In brief, iRobot isn’t at present in a position to pay its contract producer, which is now additionally its major creditor. The Roomba maker owes a complete of greater than $350 million.
Humanoid says its first bipedal robotic can begin strolling simply 48 hours after meeting
Humanoid has introduced the HMND 01 Alpha Bipedal. That is the London-based firm’s first humanoid robotic, which it constructed from an preliminary design to working prototype in simply 5 months.
The Alpha Bipedal achieved steady locomotion solely 48 hours after ultimate meeting, mentioned Humanoid. It has a bimanual payload capability of 15 kg (33 lb.).
Utilizing NVIDIA‘s Isaac Sim and Isaac Lab, the Humanoid staff skilled greater than 52.5 million seconds of reinforcement-learning locomotion information in simulation in solely two days. That is equal to almost 19 months of typical coaching.
