Tech. Cars. Machines.: Recent Episodes
Ali Tabibian, GTK Partners
How sensors, connectivity, and analytics / artificial intelligence are influencing the work of cars and machines. We discuss the Industrial Internet of Things, autonomy and self-driving vehicles.
Episode 61: Lasers to the rescue! Xcimer’s Founder, CEO, and Chief Science Officer Conner Galloway and Co-founder, President, and Chief Technology Officer Alex Valise are building the world’s most powerful gas lasers to ignite fusion energy. With $170MM of capital raised, they are, step-by-step, commercializing scientifically validated concepts to deliver big, beautiful, clean energy.
00:00 Welcome
00:28 Meet Conner, Alex, and Xcimer
12:44 Fusion Basics Explained
18:41 Inside the Fuel Pellet
28:49 Excimer Lasers and Pulse Compression
35:08 Warehouse Scale Facility
41:55 Liquid Wall Target Chamber
49:27 Efficiency and Target Gain
52:04 Roadmap Phoenix to Athena
58:56 Directed Energy Spinoffs
01:00:44 Conclusion
Episode 60: Revolutionizing and Democratizing Autonomous Driving Alex Kendall, founder and CEO of Wayve, a UK-based company with $1.3 billion of funding from Microsoft, NVIDIA, Softbank and Uber, discusses Wayve’s head start in end-to-end AI for driving, its efficient training and run-time architecture, and its suitability to any car manufacturer.
00:00 Welcome to Tech Cars Machines
01:32 Introduction to Alex Kendall and Wayve
02:00 Wayve’s Autonomous Technology Explained
04:21 The End-to-End AI Approach
06:54 Wayve’s Data Efficiency and Learning
09:13 Alex Kendall’s Background and Journey
12:07 Wayve’s Path to Commercialization
23:22 Wayve’s Competitive Edge and Market Position
25:41 Adoption and Consumer Perception of Autonomous Vehicles
31:56 Customization and OEM Integration
35:51 Future of Autonomous Driving and Industry Impact
Episode 59: The Cherry on Top of Decades of Fusion Development Brandon Sorbom, Chief Science Officer and Co-founder of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, is helping spend $3+ billion to turn hydrogen into abundant, safe and readily available energy. In our fourth fusion episode, Brandon educates us on the most time-tested approach to fusion which uses powerful magnets. CFS hopes to deliver commercial energy by the early 2030s.
0:00 Introduction
02:33 The Journey from MIT to Commonwealth Fusion Systems
04:30 Securing Funding and Building Credibility
05:44 Understanding Fusion and Tokamaks
08:44 Brandon’s Personal Journey to Fusion
12:34 Explaining the Tokamak and Fusion Process
28:23 Neutrons and Energy Conversion
31:39 High Temperature Superconducting Material
39:26 Scaling Up Production and Cost Considerations
42:53 The SPARC Prototype and Its Challenges
48:23 Transitioning from Spark to ARC
01:04:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Episode 58: A Novel Path to Fusion Energy Will Regan, President and Co-founder of Pacific Fusion, is helping spend $1+ billion to mimic the sun’s method for producing energy. In our third fusion episode, Will educates us on inertial confinement. He discusses the advancements that help smooth Pacific Fusion’s path to delivering commercial energy by the mid-2030s.
00:00 Welcome to Tech Cars Episode 58
04:09 Introduction to Pacific Fusion
07:24 Will Regan’s Journey to Pacific Fusion
10:57 Explaining Fusion and Inertial Confinement
19:12 The Engineering and Science Behind Fusion
21:15 Physical Description of Pacific Fusion’s Facility
26:03 Understanding Marx Generators
29:16 Fusion Chamber and Magnetic Compression
32:34 Energy Output and Power Plant Efficiency
35:17 Handling Neutrons and Chamber Protection
38:55 Manufacturability and Supply Chain
“Twisty donuts” if you lean Republican, “French cruller” if you lean left. CEO and Co-founder Brian Berzin, describes how this shape and a focus on manufacturability will allow Thea Energy to deliver fusion energy in a cost-competitive manner.
Following up on last week’s episode with Dr. Scott Hsu of Lowercarbon Capital, Brian discusses the innovative approach Thea Energy is taking to commercialize fusion energy. The conversation covers the company’s origins in the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, and their groundbreaking ‘stellarator’ design. Brian explains how modularization, software and AI helps overcome the fiendishly difficult construction of stellerators. He shares insights into the company’s rapid iteration and development cycles, culminating in their goal to scale up to commercial levels.
00:00 Welcome to the Fusion Energy Series
01:06 Introducing Brian Berzin and Thea Energy
11:46 Technical and Financial Milestones
14:54 Understanding Fusion: A Simplified Explanation
23:58 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Stellerators
29:30 Innovations in Superconducting Magnets
34:52 The Role of Software in Magnet Control
41:07 Scaling Up to Commercial Relevance
48:45 First Walls and Blankets in Fusion Reactors
51:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Episode 57: $10 billion and the Universe’s Most Powerful Energy Source: Fusion Why have the biggest names (such as Bill Gates, Lowercarbon Capital, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Google and Sam Altman) put billions into dozens of fusion energy companies? An engaging, accessible discussion with Dr. Scott Hsu on the fascinating world and private company ecosystem of the fusion energy. Scott was with with the DOE where he helped allocate $100MM of fusion R&D investment. He is now Partner at Lowercarbon Capital. We explore the fundamentals of fusion, compare magnetic and inertial confinement methods, and discuss innovative companies like Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Pacific Fusion, Thea Energy, Xcimer and Avalanche Energy. Scott explains why there’s new hope for making fusion commercially viable in the coming years. He highlights the challenges and opportunities in building the necessary infrastructure.
00:00 Introduction
01:42 Scott’s Background and Career
02:39 Lowercarbon Capital and Fusion Investments
10:42 Fusion Basics and Scientific Principles
19:57 Magnetic and Inertial Fusion Approaches
22:52 Understanding the Magnetic Confinement (Commonwealth, Thea)
23:35 Challenges of Plasma Confinement
25:31 Innovations in Modern Tokamaks
29:17 Exploring Alternative Fusion Devices (Pacific Fusion, Avalanche)
32:40 Laser Inertial Confinement Fusion (Xcimer)
41:26 Future of Fusion Energy
Protecting $500 billion dollars of real estate value: Mike Zukerman, CEO of CSAA, an $8 billion carrier of insurance distributed through AAA Clubs, tells how technology helps protect that massive asset. He tells us how enterprise technology can “surprise and delight” CSAA’s 3 million policy holders, and how self-driving cars will change insurance strategy.
00:00 Introduction to Mike Zukerman & CSAA
01:40 Understanding CSAA and Its Business
04:24 Remote Work and Employee Satisfaction
08:30 Mike Zukerman’s Background and Career Journey
11:57 The Future of Auto Insurance and Autonomous Vehicles
18:51 Understanding Auto and Home Insurance Regulations
20:10 Challenges of Homeowners Insurance in California
21:55 Innovative Wildfire Mitigation Technologies
29:16 Leveraging AI for Customer Delight in Insurance
35:03 Why CSAA is a Great Place to Work
Jeff Huebner, Head of Mobilitas, discusses how he helps his commercial transportation networks manage their second-high expense: insurance. Ride sharing networks, last-mile delivery networks, and autonomous vehicle companies are his customers, and an enormous amount of customization and data ingestion and processing is involved.
00:00 Introduction
00:53 Jeff Hubner’s Background and Reconnection
01:48 Understanding AAA, CSAA, and Mobilitas
04:33 Mobils’ Mission and Services
06:25 Jeff Hubner’s Career Journey
08:35 Risk Management and Commercial Insurance
11:16 Market Trends and Innovations
24:21 Data Integration and Risk Management
32:37 Advances in Vehicle Technologies
34:47 Final Thoughts
Episode 53: Making fleet electrification easy, with Alan White of Siemens.
Alan details Siemens Depot 360’s comprehensive offerings to provide a turnkey, commercially attractive path for electrifying vehicle fleets.
00:00 Introduction to Siemens
02:08 Introduction to Depot 360
02:37 Benefits and Challenges of Electrification
03:30 Siemens Smart Infrastructure
05:26 Alan White’s Background and Career
07:36 Depot 360’s Operational Insights
16:25 Global Electrification Trends and Challenges
30:22 Predictions and Closing Remarks
Episode 52: Building the Future of Electric Trucking with Anja Van Niersen
Anja Van Niersen, CEO of Milence, discusses plans to establish a charging network for European long-haul trucking. Milence is a 500MM Euro joint venture amongst Daimler, Traton and Volvo trucks.
00:00 Introduction to Milence
03:04 Anja’s background and career
03:10 Milence’s mission and operations
12:41 The profile of a charging hub
16:47 Future of heavy-duty/long-haul trucking
23:15 Geographical footprint and infrastructure development
30:00 Future enablers
37:26 The role of consumers and market demand
40:03 Optimism for adoption
Live from Anaheim! I was at the world’s premier event for sustainable commercial transportation. Here’s a brief ~10-minute recap of key trends regarding China, electrification, sustainability’s future, and regulation. The highlight for me was driving a massive “day cab,” the driver part of a semi-truck. You can see the video at www.gtkpartners.com/act25
Can your AI make life-and-death decisions? Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot can. Does your AI vendor take legal responsibility for those life-and-death decisions? Mercedes does. Drive Pilot is the only certified Level 3 passenger car system globally. Georges Massing, global head of the company’s automated driving and cabin technologies, tells us how. We hear his thoughts on how the technology ecosystem can work with Mercedes.
You can read the related article here in 3 minutes.
Mercedes-Benz’s global website is here. Host: Ali Tabibian of GTK Partners.
On some podcast players you can click to jump to the timestamps below.
(0:00) Introduction to Mercedes
(4:05) Introduction to Georges Massing
(12:50) The Mercedes brand
(17:42) The user interface
(23:25) Autonomy
(44:38) Mercedes & the ecosystem
Reilly Brennan, author of the must-read Future of Transportation newsletter and partner at Trucks VC, returns to Tech Cars Machines for a discussion on recent trends in transportation investing. We discuss financing round sizes and valuations, AI in autonomy and robotics, the promise of hydrogen combustion engines, the EV market, and much more.
Host: Ali Tabibian of GTK Partners
Timestamps:
- (0:00) Introduction
- (2:35) Overview of Trucks VC and market trends
- (9:19) Discussion on capital investment dynamics
- (12:00) Private and public market investment trends
- (20:00) Insights on AI and robotics
- (27:00) The rise of hydrogen combustion engines
- (36:00) Predictions and industry insights
Links:
- Read the related article here in 3 minutes.
- Learn more about Trucks VC.
- Check out Reilly Brennan’s Future of Transportation newsletter.
China, EVs, vehicles that are too big and too heavy, autonomy, the future of transportation and lessons from history. We cover hot news and trends in all these sectors with Marc Amblard, Partner at Orsay Consulting, the well-known San Francisco-based advisor in automotive technology. He is the author of the widely read Mobility Revolution monthly newsletter.
Note the “skip to” audio time stamps below. You can read the related article here in 3 minutes.
Orsay Consulting/Mobility Revolution is here. Host: Ali Tabibian of GTK Partners.
On some podcast players you can click to jump to the timestamps below.
(0:00) Introduction to Marc
(4:31) Introduction to Orsay Consulting
(6:45) The Mobility Revolution newsletter
(11:39) Electric vehicles
(24:15) China auto makers
(34:00) Autonomy
How do you start a new business in a large corporation and quickly scale it to hundreds of millions of revenues? Savi Baveja, President of 3D Printing and Chief Incubation Officer at HP, Inc. told me how. Focused on production, with markets in auto parts (custom Porsche seats), personal medical devices and drones, Savi gave me insights as only a Bain & Company veteran could.
Note the “skip to” audio time stamps below. You can read the related article here in 3 minutes.
The HP 3D printing website is here. Host: Ali Tabibian of GTK Partners.
Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you can click the timestamp to jump to it.
(0:00) Introduction
(2:23) Intro to Savi and HP
(9:19) 3D printing synergies with HP
(11:13) HP 3D printing overview
(23:33) Customers and applications
(33:18) Sustainability
(37:48) Innovation in large companies
(46:09) Related Tech Cars Machines episodes
Interested in a piece of a $400 billion pie from which Tesla once took a $465MM bite? Chris Creed, Chief Investment Officer of the Department of Energy’s Loan Program’s Office spoke to me about how the pie is made available to innovators or scalers in renewable energy and energy infrastructure. He discussed suitable projects, financial metrics and loan terms. Recent LPO facilities include the subject of our Episode 33, the ACES Delta hydrogen storage program, $2.2BN for Nevada’s Thacker Lithium Mine, and GM’s Ultium and Ford’s BlueOval battery efforts. Chris works with Jigar Shah, Director of the LPO and co-founder of Sun Edison.
You can read the related article here in 3 minutes. The LPO monthly activity report is here.
Time stamps below. On some podcast players you can click the timestamp to jump to it.
(0:00) Introduction
(2:26) Chris Creed and intro to the LPO
(6:30) Chris’ background
(9:55) “Bridge to bankability”; innovation; infrastructure
(14:40) The kinds of risks LPO will take
(21:57) Terms, conditions & diligence
(27:01) Community benefits
(29:19) The role of large/small companies and private debt/equity
(36:37) Related Tech Cars Machines episodes
Host: Ali Tabibian of GTK Partners.
GE’s “fuels guy” and current Global Hydrogen Value Chain Leader at GE Vernova, Dr. Jeffrey Goldmeer, shares his 23 years of experience and insight on energy generation, energy transition, the electric grid, and the role of hydrogen.
We got technical in an accessible way about electric grid characteristics and how the transition to carbon-free sources influences them. One thousand six hundred miles of existing hydrogen pipeline, 50+ years of experience burning hydrogen as a fuel (100,000+ hours at one GE installation alone), and a vast ammonia transport network for fertilizers imply that technical breakthroughs aren’t the main gating items — infrastructure investments and subsidies are. Jeff is a natural teacher and host of the Cutting Carbon podcast.
You can read the related article here in 4 minutes.
The Cutting Carbon podcast is here.
GE Vernova’s hydrogen-fueled turbines website page is here and very informative.
Host: Ali Tabibian of GTK Partners.
You get a billion! And you get a billion! And YOU get a billion! (repeat 4 more times).
The Department of Energy recently announced seven recipients of a total $7 billion who will build hydrogen hubs around the U.S. The auto and steel sectors, concentrated around Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, are covered by the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2). Neil Banwart, MachH2’s CIO, talked with Ali Tabibian about how the hub will use scale to demonstrate the economics of hydrogen across diversified production methods and applications. We discussed green, blue, pink and white hydrogen, and applications in heavy-duty transportation, marine and air travel. We touched on the program’s commitment to social justice as the Inflation Reduction Act prescribes.
You can read the related article here in 3 minutes.
Host: Ali Tabibian of GTK Partners.
Cars that drive themselves not enough for you? How about trucks? 80,000 pound trucks. Flying down the highway.
Peter Vaughan Schmidt, CEO of Torc Robotics, an independent autonomy holding of Daimler Truck, describes his “no hobbies” focus on long-haul, Class 8 applications. From, “no hobbies”, to scalable commercial deployment in 2027, to “no limits” afterwards!
You can read the related article here (3 minute read). More information on your host Ali Tabibian and GTK Partners.
Cars that drive themselves not enough for you? How about when they do it at 192 MPH? And head-to-head on a racetrack. With no remote intervention. In total darkness.
Paul Mitchell, Chairman and President of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, and I talk at the Las Vegas International Speedway. He tells me how this is possible, what it means for all of us, and what’s next.
A raw transcript is here. More information on your host Ali Tabibian and GTK Partners.
A summary for executives, capital allocators, technologists, geeks and generally enthusiastic people. A behind-the-curtains view of trends in M&A, financing, AI, autos, autonomy, electric vehicles, and the Internet of Things.
A raw transcript is here. More information on your host Ali Tabibian and GTK Partners.
Links to mentioned companies: Torc and Daimler Trucks; Indy Autonomous Challenge; Mercedes Benz in-vehicle NFT (no joke); L’Oreal’s generative AI; Foretellix’s ADAS development platform; wireless charging: WiTricity and Ossia; accessibility tech: Gryogear hand stabilizer and Xander audio captioning glasses.
Can electric batteries provide power for heavy-duty and long-haul applications in trucking, mining, agriculture and shipping? Probably not. Most insiders think hydrogen power will be required. Will a simultaneous investment in hydrogen production, its distribution networks and hydrogen-capable vehicles pay off? Probably not.
Leveraging more economically justifiable uses for hydrogen outside of transportation may provide a path. We explore how projects like the massive ACES Delta hydrogen storage facility in Utah, recently majority-owned by Chevron, could jump-start viable hydrogen transportation.
A raw transcript is here. More information on your host Ali Tabibian and GTK Partners.
The ACES Delta website, the Department of Energy’s overview of the program, Mistubishi Power’s press releases are here, as is an excellent article on the project.
Joachim Rosenberg is with Volvo Group, one of the world’s largest producers of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. He is Executive Vice President, Volvo Group Strategic Initiatives and President Volvo Energy. Joachim describes Volvo’s deep and sincere commitment to sustainability throughout its value chain, including its suppliers, its own operations, and in the “second life” of its products after their initial use by customers. Joachim touches on the full suite of powertrain technologies including battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell and even combustion engines.
You can find a transcript and web player here.
Learn more about Volvo and Joachim, GTK and your host Ali Tabibian. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com/tcm.
This is one of a series of quick-take episodes on automobile technologies, specifically sensing and LiDAR-enabled sensing, recorded at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. LeddarTech has become a comprehensive end-to-end environmental sensing company by enabling customers to solve critical sensing, fusion and perception challenges across the entire value chain. The company offers cost-effective and scalable solutions that support Level 2+ to Level 5 full autonomy.
You can find a transcript and web player here.
Learn more about LeddarTech, and Charles, GTK and your host Ali Tabibian. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com/tcm.
This is one of a series of quick-take episodes on automobile technologies, specifically sensing and LiDAR-enabled sensing, recorded at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. AEye develops advanced perception systems that act as the eyes and visual cortex of autonomous vehicles. The company’s solution, based on LiDAR, is particularly suitable for high-performance applications.
You can find a transcript and web player here.
Learn more about AEye and Blair, GTK and your host Ali Tabibian. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com/tcm.
This is one of a series of quick-take episodes on automobile technologies, specifically sensing and LiDAR-enabled sensing, recorded at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. Lumotive delivers critical semiconductors to LiDAR systems providers for both automotive and other applications. The company’s optical semiconductors enable non-mechanical beam-steering technology to deliver differentiated performance, cost, reliability, and size for software-defined LiDAR with advanced perception capabilities.
You can find a transcript and web player here.
Learn more about Lumotive and Sam, Gleb, GTK and your host Ali Tabibian. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com/tcm.
Atif Askar is the head of Business Development, Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions for Traton, one of the world’s largest producers of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Traton is controlled by the Volkswagen Group. Why are battery-powered commercial vehicles almost always the most appropriate form of sustainable vehicles, and why is hydrogen fuel likely not … Continue reading Atif Askar, Traton →
Jan Krönig is the head of Strategy & Corporate Development for Daimler Truck, the world’s largest producer of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. When are battery-powered vehicles most appropriate, and when is the answer hydrogen fuels? What are the challenges and timelines associated with each? Jan explains Daimler’s approach to meeting the challenge of climate … Continue reading Jan Krönig, Strategy, Daimler Truck →
Listen to Maryam Rofougaran, co-founder of Movandi, discuss how the Company’s suite of silicon and software solutions will accelerate the promise of 5G mmWave networks. Maryam provides an overview of Movandi, as well as of her time at Broadcom, which came about from the acquisition by Broadcom of Maryam’s first startup, Innovent. Maryam’s career has … Continue reading Maryam Rofougaran, CEO, Movandi →
Listen to Jon Gordon, Co-founder of Universal Hydrogen, discuss how the Company intends to make a flexible and economical carbon-free future possible in the world of aviation. Jon provides an overview of Universal Hydrogen and very nicely creates a "visual" (in audio) of the Universal Hydrogen solution, which involves capsules and manageable retrofits of turbo-prop aircraft. Jon describes how, compared to typical venture investments, a longer horizon is necessary for UH2's endeavors.
Learn more about Universal Hydrogen and Jon. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Amy Davis, President of the New Power Segment of Cummins, Inc. a $20 billion engine manufacturer discuss the path this revered manufacturer is taking to remain at the forefront of providing the best powertrains and power sources for commercial transportation. Amy provides an overview of Cummins and her career within the company. She provides a broad and detailed survey of alternative powertrain technologies such as electric and hydrogen-based, discusses where applications are likely to emerge first, and the large, complex issues that need to be resolved.
Learn more about Cummins and Amy. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to a panel of experts on AI & robotics discuss the applications of these technologies to defense.
More about GTK, your moderator Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Prith Banerjee, Chief Technology Officer of $25 billion software simulation firm ANSYS, discuss the benefits of applying physics-based simulation with machine learning techniques. Prith describes how his career in IoT has convinced him that ANSYS is the right platform to influence asset performance management, predictive analytics, digital twins, and real-time product design feedback. These advances reduce product development cost, improve quality, improve service margins, and will significantly change workflows.
Learn more about ANSYS and Prith. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Reilly Brennan, co-founder and partner at early-stage venture fund Trucks VC, discuss his investments in the transportation and autonomy space. Reilly describes how his investment criteria and portfolio have changed over time and shares his thoughts on the Future of Transportation.
Learn more about Trucks and Reilly and his must-read weekly newsletter, The Future of Transportation. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to A. Charles Thomas, PhD., Chief Data & Analytics Officer of General Motors discuss how data analytics are influencing every part of GM. Charles describes his objectives, processes and success metrics for bringing a "data centric" approach to the ogranizations where he has led data analytics, including GM, Wells Fargo and USAA Insurance.
Learn more about GM and Charles. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com.
A raw transcript is here.
CES was kind enough to reach out to us, suggest we record an episode from the floor of the 2019 CES show, and offer us studio space.
Hear our reflections on CES as an event, as an auto show, and as a consumer electronics show. We chatted with the CEO/Founder of May Mobility (autonomous shuttles) and the VP of Strategy for NovuMind (AI chip).
More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Mamatha Chamarthi, Chief Digital Officer of ZF Group, a $40 billion revenue German Tier 1 auto supplier, discuss the future of transportation and the influence of autonomy, connectivity, electrification and sharing. Hear her insights on how a large organization like ZF fosters innovation and transitions electromechanical excellence into a "See. Think. Act." mantra through digital technologies. What are ZF's strategies for creating, finding and adopting new methods and technologies?
Learn more about ZF Group and Mamatha. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Swamy Kotagiri, Chief Technology Officer and also the President of the Power & Vision Division of $40 billion Tier 1 auto supplier Magna International, discuss the future of transportation and the influence of autonomy, connectivity, electrification and sharing. Hear his insights on a large organization like Magna stays at the cutting edge. What are Magna's different styles of partnership with innovators such as Lyft, and why?
Learn more about Magna and Swamy. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Electric vehicle adoption will threaten automotive profit distribution sooner than expected and much sooner than unit volumes would imply. Tesla has brought about this and many other large but less-noticed changes & threats. The Company has been afforded unprecedented (and sometimes counterproductive) latitude by customers, investors & the media.
This 2-part episode is a companion to our publication, Everybody Hates Tesla .
More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Electric vehicle adoption will threaten automotive profit distribution sooner than expected and much sooner than unit volumes would imply. Tesla has brought about this and many other large but less-noticed changes & threats. The Company has been afforded unprecedented (and sometimes counterproductive) latitude by customers, investors & the media.
This 2-part segment is a companion to our publication, Everybody Hates Tesla .
More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Alysia Green, Chief Information Officer of Chevron's upstream energy exploration business, describe the interaction of Information Technology and Operational Technology. She discusses what's shared and what's different, from an IT perspective, between "conventional" exploration and "unconventionals" (such as fracking in the Permian Basin). Learn about the practical solutions derived from today's Big Data and artificial intelligence, and machine learning technologies. Alysia describes the influence of human factors and safety on IT decisions.
Learn more about Chevron and Alysia. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Behrooz Abdi, Chief Executive Officer of TDK InvenSense, describe the genesis of the microelectromechanical or MEMS sensor. Behrooz explains why he thinks many years of growth and innovation is ahead for the industry, how sensor fusion can provide smart answers at the network edge without needing to access the cloud, and why smartphone sensors are encroaching on industrial applications. Behrooz describes why the acquisition of public company InvenSense by TDK was the right decision from a technology and manufacturing perspective.
Learn more about TDK InvesSense and Behrooz. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Bill Ruh, Chief Executive Officer of GE Digital, describe the genesis of GE Digital in 2011 when he joined GE from Cisco. Bill explains the lessons learned in establishing the leading industrial internet of things player and why GE Digital's offerings are what they are today. Listen to Bill describe how to innovate within a large company.
Learn more about GE Digital and Bill. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Eddie Amos, Chief Technical Officer of GE explain how, since joining GE Digital via its acquisition of Meridium, he has focused on digital products ranging from manufacturing solutions to Asset Performance Management (APM) applications and other technologies that allow customers to digitize their operations and unlock the productivity of industrial equipment.
Learn more about GE Digital and Eddie. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Mark Farrell, the Mayor of San Francisco, explain why he wrote an open letter to Autonomous Vehicle companies requesting enhanced cooperation with municipal authorities. Hear the Mayor describe the outcomes from the resulting Safety Briefing, with presentations from Zoox and GM Cruise. Whay sensitized the Mayor to autonomous vehicles, well before the recently publicized and highly unfortunate fatal accidents.
See the Mayor's official release on the subject and learn more about Mark Farrell's background. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Y Combinator 2018 Winter Event graduates Mike and Jack Ross, co-founders of Beanstalk, describe their objectives, challenges, and solutions for indoor farming.
Understand how Beanstalk uses spin-offs of technologies outside of agriculture to make its approach successful.
Visit Mike Ross and Jack Ross. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications, and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Y Combinator 2018 Winter Event graduates Igino Cafiero and Aubrey Donnellan, co-founders of Bear Flag Robotics, describe their objectives, challenges, and solutions automating tractors that services orchards.
Understand how Bear Flag focuses on the near-term-possible in autonomy to target near-term commercial deployments.
Visit Igino Cafiero and Aubrey Donnellan. More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications, and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to William Santana Li, Founder and CEO of Knightscope, and a Ford Motor Company veteran, describe how he's raised $40MM without venture capital to build the leading security robot company.
Understand how Knightscope focuses on the near-term-possible in autonomy to achieve commercial deployments today.
Visit William Santana Li and Knightscope. More about GTK, your host, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Chuhee Lee, Vice President of Technology and Strategy, a veteran of Volkswagen of America's Electronic Research Lab, describe how his group's activities improve the user experience for the 11 million vehicles a year that the VW Group manufactures.
We'll explore vehicle infotainment, autonomy, customization, and the evolving concept of "luxury".
Visit Chuhee and VW ERL. More about GTK, your host, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren't active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com.
A raw transcript is here.
Listen to Josh Switkes, CEO and co-founder of Peloton Technology, describe how his company enables safe tailgating between trucks, helping the industry save fuel and improve safety. Understand why the company has raised $80MM from the likes of Intel, UPS and Volvo.
What's unique about trucking? Why is Peloton's implementation of limited autonomy, a proprietary truck communication technology, and a network operating center proving to be the right approach? How does regulation influence Peloton?
Visit Josh at www.peloton-tech.com. More about GTK, your host, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto.
A raw transcript is here.
In Part 3, we discuss recent progress and prospects for widely available, substantially autonomous vehicles. We'll look at advances and leaders.
In this 3-part segment, we ask and answer: What's real and what's not in "self-driving?" Which advances have near-term applications, and which vehicles are driving themselves already? In Part 1, we quantified the enormous size of the transportation industry, and how that size means there's no reason to exaggerate autonomy claims: partial autonomy and unrelated technology advances are making a big difference in everything from energy sources, to safety, to infotainment, and to utilization rates. In Part 2, we reviewed the history, challenges, and over promises in the field of vehicle autonomy.
This 3-part segment is a companion to our publication, Driverless Cars are Mostly Fake News, but the real parts are Big News to which you can subscribe here.
In Part 2, we review the history, challenges, and over promises in the field of vehicle autonomy.
In this 3-part segment, we ask and answer: What's real and what's not in "self-driving?" Which advances have near-term applications, and which vehicles are driving themselves already? In Part 1, we quantified the enormous size of the transportation industry, and how that size means there's no reason to exaggerate autonomy claims: partial autonomy and unrelated technology advances are making a big difference in everything from energy sources, to safety, to infotainment, and to utilization rates. In Part 3, we will discuss recent progress and prospects for widely available, substantially autonomous vehicles. We'll look at advances and leaders.
This 3-part segment is a companion to our publication, Driverless Cars are Mostly Fake News, but the real parts are Big News to which you can subscribe here.
What's real and what's not in "self-driving?" Which advances have near-term applications, and which vehicles are driving themselves already? In Part 1, we quantify the enormous size of the transportation industry, and how that size means there's no reason to exaggerate autonomy claims: partial autonomy and unrelated technology advances are making a big difference in everything from energy sources, to safety, to infotainment, and to utilization rates.
In Part 2, we'll review the history, challenges, and over promises in vehicle autonomy. In Part 3, we'll discuss recent progress and prospects for widely available, substantially autonomous vehicles. We'll look at advances and leaders.
This 3-part segment is a companion to our publication, Driverless Cars are Mostly Fake News, but the real parts are Big News to which you can subscribe here.
Ali Tabibian of GTK Partners will roadmap this series, describing how we'll help Dear Listeners understand the world of artificial intelligence, data science, connectivity and sensors through their applications in cars and machines. He'll answer your burning questions:
What is this series about anyway? Why is tech in cars and machines so closely related? Who are these GTK guys anyway, and why should I listen to them?
We'll make it fun to digest our nutrient-packed, thoughtful content for those of you who like to learn.
More about GTK, your host, our conferences, our publications and how to subscribe.