In this episode of Beyond the Bench, Bill Brock sits down with Dhruv Diddi, Founder of Solo Tech, to explore how Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models are transforming robotics.
Dhruv breaks down how these models enable robots to see, understand, and act, bridging AI and the physical world. The conversation covers real-world training challenges, hardware integration, and the rise of open-source robotics powered by edge AI and community innovation.
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In this episode of Beyond the Bench, host Bill Brock talks with Henrik Flodell, Senior Marketing Director at Alif Semiconductor, a company redefining embedded AI. They discuss how AI is evolving in the semiconductor industry and how Alif’s architecture - combining neural processing units (NPUs) with microcontroller cores, enables low-power, hardware-accelerated intelligence at the edge.
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In this episode of Beyond the Bench, host Bill Brock sits down with Chris Matthieu, VP of Developer Ecosystem and Chief Hacker at RealSense, to discuss the company’s spinout from Intel and its recent $50 million Series A raise. They explore how RealSense balances developer creativity with production readiness, advances in robotics and AI, the power of open source, and the growing importance of domestic tech manufacturing.
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In this conversation, Bill Brock interviews Alexander Schwartz, the Embedded Business Line Manager of SolidRun, discussing the company's innovative embedded solutions and the evolving landscape of AI and hardware technology. Alex shares his journey as a tech entrepreneur, the importance of performance in AI on-device applications, and the development of the SolidSense AIoT platform inspired by wildlife monitoring.
The discussion also covers the challenges of choosing the right chipsets, the ARM vs x86 debate, and emerging applications in low Earth orbit. Alex emphasizes the need for customer flexibility and the exciting advancements in the ARM space, as well as the role of NVIDIA in high-end applications.
Connect with Bill - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
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In this episode of Beyond the Bench, Bill Brock interviews Rob Taylor, the CTO of Chip Flow. They discuss Rob's journey in the semiconductor industry, the evolution of open source in chip design, the challenges faced by companies in this space and the decision-making process for companies when it comes to chip design.
Connect with Bill - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
Talk to Peridio: https://www.peridio.com/contact
In this conversation, Guy Forster, CEO of ipXchange, discusses the complexities of engaging with design engineers in today's chaotic market. He reflects on the evolution of Silicon Valley's culture from wild west to corporate, the importance of in-person connections post-COVID, the rise of Edge AI, and the need for companies to adapt to the changing landscape by engaging more deeply with their audiences.
Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
Talk to Peridio: https://www.peridio.com/contact
In this episode of Beyond the Bench, Bill sits down with Mirza Shah, Co-Founder & CTO of Simbe Robotics, the company behind the popular retail robot Tally.
Simbe recently closed a $50M Series C round led by Goldman Sachs, tripled its team, and is pioneering the future of retail intelligence with AI-powered robotics. They discuss how Simbe is transforming retail with AI, robotics and computer vision, the challenges of scaling from startup to enterprise, and how Tally has become a beloved presence in grocery stores.
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Talk to Peridio: https://www.peridio.com/contact
In this episode of Beyond the Bench: Hardware Stories that Matter, host Bill Brock sits down with Bill Flaherty, VP of Technology Development at Alloy Enterprises.
They dive deep into stack forging, a breakthrough manufacturing process for high-performance thermal management parts powering the future of AI, GPUs, and data centers. From diffusion bonding to liquid cooling challenges, this conversation uncovers how Alloy is pushing the limits of hardware innovation at production scale.
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In this episode of Beyond the Bench, Bill Brock sits down with Yan Suleyman, VP of Global IoT Solutions at 1NCE, to explore the challenges and opportunities of scaling IoT from a handful of devices to millions worldwide.
Yan shares how 1NCE grew from a 12-person startup to serving 25,000+ customers and 30M+ connected devices, the key hurdles in global connectivity, and why simplicity is the foundation of their success.
Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
Talk to Peridio: https://www.peridio.com/contact
In this episode, Bill Brock sits down with Z, a pioneer in IoT long before it was called IoT. Syed shares the story of founding Aeris Communications in 1996, literally from his dining table, and growing it into a global leader in IoT connectivity, culminating in the acquisition of Ericsson’s IoT business.
Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
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In this episode, Bill Brock sits down with Matt St. Onge, Associate Principal Solution Architect at Red Hat, veteran of the Linux community since the mid-90s, and author of The Embedded Linux Security Handbook.
We dive into Matt’s fascinating journey, from writing his first video game in the early ’80s on a hand-built Apple II clone, to helping lead Red Hat’s efforts in embedded Linux, to championing the future of open hardware with RISC-V.
Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
Talk to Peridio: https://www.peridio.com/contact
In this episode of Beyond the Bench, Bill Brock interviews Hunter Golden, Senior Product Manager at OnLogic. They discuss the importance of right sizing AI hardware for edge computing applications, deployment challenges, and the future of AI in manufacturing and robotics. The conversation highlights the need for effective hardware solutions that meet customer needs while avoiding overspecification and ensuring scalability.
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In this episode of Beyond the Bench, Bill Brock interviews Roby Lynn, CEO and co-founder of R2 Labs, a company focused on creating open autonomy control systems for industrial machinery and robotics. They discuss the challenges in the industrial automation landscape, the importance of bridging the gap between software-defined robotics and traditional industrial controls, and share success stories from their early customers.
Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
Talk to Peridio: https://www.peridio.com/contact
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Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction to R2 Labs and Roby Lynn(04:07) The Vision Behind R2 Labs(07:00) Navigating the Industrial Automation Landscape(09:48) Customer Success Stories and Applications(13:05) Challenges in the Industrial Automation Industry(15:56) The Future of Robotics and Automation(18:50) Transitioning from Mechanical Engineering to Software(21:48) The Role of AI in Industrial Automation(27:02) Life in Atlanta and the Tech Ecosystem(30:42) Closing Thoughts and Future Directions
Mike Costa from Volta Labs discusses transitioning from high-volume consumer electronics (Nike, SimpliSafe, WHOOP) to precision lab automation. Learn about building robots for genomics, the challenges of micro-liter fluidics, scaling from prototype to production, and why Boston's life sciences ecosystem is thriving. From embedded systems to DNA sequencing - a hardware engineer's journey into the future of laboratory automation.
Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
Talk to Peridio: https://www.peridio.com/contact
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On this episode of Beyond the Bench, we’re joined by Mattia Lucchini, Head of Wearable Sensors at Datwyler, to break down the tech behind biopotential sensing.
From soft pulse electrodes to edge signal processing, Mattia walks us through how modern hardware is making real-time EEG, ECG, and EMG monitoring possible in wearables. We dive into the challenges of analog front-end design, the materials science behind skin contact, and what it takes to bring brain-computer interfaces out of the lab and into the real world.
Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
Talk to Peridio: https://www.peridio.com/contact
On this episode, Keenan Johnson—founder of Ribbit Network and Breadboard Foundry—joins us to talk about climate tech, open hardware, and building tools that actually move the needle. We explore how Ribbit’s global network of 3D-printed frog sensors is tracking greenhouse gases, why Breadboard Foundry is rethinking hardware planning from the ground up, and what it really takes to engineer for impact in the real world.
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Taylor Cooper, CEO of MistyWest, explains how his team of engineering physicists is revolutionizing mining with cutting-edge hardware. From using cosmic rays to X-ray the Earth for minerals to building fatigue monitors that keep miners safe, Taylor shares why mining needs to scale 6x to support global electrification - and the wild technologies making it possible. Plus, insights on when startups should outsource critical engineering work versus hiring in-house teams.
Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
Talk to Peridio: https://www.peridio.com/contact
Join our show: https://www.peridio.com/podcast-beyond-the-bench
Embedded Linux expert Thomas Petazzoni (Bootlin CEO) shares insider knowledge on hardware drivers, Yocto Project development, and Linux kernel contributions.
Discover why major hardware vendors struggle with upstream collaboration, how AI impacts low-level programming, and whether RISC-V will disrupt ARM dominance in industrial embedded systems.
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Join Justin Schneck and Frank Vazquez as they dive into the fascinating world of embedded Linux, immutable distros, and the unexpected versatility of devices like the Steam Deck.
Discover how system extensions, A/B updates, and immutable file systems are reshaping embedded development, and get an inside look at their new project—Avocado Linux, a binary distribution designed for embedded developers.
Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
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Join Peridio founders as they continue their story, revealing how they're transforming embedded Linux development with Avocado OS. Discover their practical approach to solving real-world hardware challenges, eliminating development bottlenecks, and making connected product creation more accessible across industries.
Guests:
-Justin Schneck: CPO at Peridio
-Daniel Spofford: CTO at Peridio
Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbrock25/
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