Supporting Variscite customers in the development of edge AI/ML applications
This Peridio webinar is dedicated to supporting Variscite customers in developing cutting-edge AI/ML applications. Explore the strengths of their platform, overcome common hurdles, and elevate your projects with expert insights tailored to Variscite's ecosystem.
Meet the experts
The panel features industry experts who are redefining the future of robotics and AI-driven automation:
- Austin Deric (Director of Software, Tailos) – An authority on advanced robotics software development.
- Mirza A. Shah (Co-Founder & CTO, Simbe Robotics) – Shaping the future of AI-driven retail automation.
- Jariullah Safi (Director of AI and Computer Vision, Simbe Robotics) – A specialist in cutting-edge computer vision technology.
- Tom Hummel (CTO, Rapid Robotics) – At the forefront of AI in industrial automation.
Build vs. Buy: Smarter Scaling
One of the key debates was build vs. buy. Tom explained how Rapid Robotics shifted from using off-the-shelf hardware to developing custom solutions. "Off-the-shelf doesn't cut it anymore," Tom said, stressing how Rapid Robotics needed hardware capable of managing complex logistics automation. However, the company still relies on external partners like MoveIt for software, enabling faster scaling without reinventing everything.
At Simbe Robotics, Mirza and Jariullah have taken a different path. They emphasized the benefits of building everything in-house. Their robot, Tally, is fully integrated, with both hardware and software designed internally to ensure seamless operation. "Owning the whole stack lets us control everything, making Tally a retail powerhouse," Mirza explained, noting how this approach eliminates the friction often caused by third-party components.
AI and LLMs: Supercharging Autonomy
Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) are redefining the way robots think and interact. Austin highlighted how edge AI enables Tailos' robots to process data in real time without relying on cloud servers, making their autonomous cleaning robots more efficient. By navigating complex environments autonomously, these robots drive down operational costs.
At Simbe, Mirza and Jariullah described how AI enhances Tally's ability to scan shelves, detect stock issues, and verify prices in real time. The future? Robots interacting with humans using natural language. "Imagine talking to your robot fleet like you would a colleague," Mirza said, pointing to a future where robots become more intuitive and user-friendly.
The Future: Scaling with Edge AI
Looking to the future, scalability was a dominant theme. Tom emphasized that Rapid Robotics' customers rely on 99.999% uptime. "When our robots go down, it's not just a problem for us—it's a problem for our customers' bottom line." Edge AI and practical machine learning help ensure real-time decision-making and keep operations running smoothly.
Mirza and Jariullah shared similar challenges with scaling, particularly in retail environments where robots operate 24/7. As AI becomes more powerful and cost-effective, the challenge will be finding ways to scale without sacrificing reliability or increasing costs.
Key Takeaways
The Autonomous 2.0 webinar made it clear: scaling autonomous systems requires both innovation and smart strategy. Whether building solutions from scratch or partnering with external providers, companies are finding ways to leverage AI and robotics to revolutionize industries. With the rise of edge computing and LLMs, the future of autonomy is smarter, faster, and closer than ever.
