Robotics {hardware} has superior quickly in recent times. Autonomous cellular robots, quadrupeds, robotic arms, and even humanoid robots have gotten more and more succesful and commercially obtainable. But for a lot of organizations, one of many greatest obstacles to adoption stays software program.
Constructing robotic functions sometimes requires specialist experience in platforms similar to ROS 2 (Robotic Working System 2), the open-source framework that has change into the de facto commonplace for contemporary robotics improvement.
Whereas ROS 2 has helped speed up robotics innovation throughout industries, it’s nonetheless broadly thought to be advanced and troublesome for newcomers to grasp.
Olo Robotics, a UK startup based mostly in Sheffield, believes that problem is limiting the broader adoption of robotics. The corporate has developed a browser-based platform designed to simplify robotic programming, simulation, and deployment, enabling software program builders and companies to construct robotic functions with out requiring deep robotics experience.
The platform sits on high of ROS 2 and combines cloud simulation, AI-assisted coding, visualization instruments, and sim-to-real deployment capabilities.
Based by Nick Thompson and Eleanor Tang-Smith, Olo lately accomplished its industrial launch and introduced partnerships with corporations together with Deep Robotics, Fiction Lab, and InMotion Robotics.
The corporate has additionally attracted investor backing, elevating £4 million to help its aim of creating robotics extra accessible to a broader vary of builders and organizations.
On this interview, Eleanor Tang-Smith, COO and co-founder of Olo Robotics, discusses the corporate’s mission to decrease the obstacles to robotics adoption, the position of simulation in accelerating improvement, and why she believes the business wants to maneuver past a reliance on specialist roboticists.
She additionally shares her views on humanoid robots, the UK’s strengths in robotics innovation, and the alternatives rising as robotics turns into more and more accessible to software program builders, researchers, and companies.
Interview with Eleanor Tang-Smith
Robotics & Automation Information: Might you introduce your self and clarify what Olo Robotics does?
ET-S: I’m COO and co-founder of Olo Robotics. We’re constructing a platform designed to make robotics extra accessible by eradicating a lot of the complexity related to ROS 2 and robotic programming.
Olo sits between robotics {hardware} and customers, offering instruments for simulation, automation, and utility improvement. We work with robotic producers together with Deep Robotics, InMotion Robotics, and FictionLab to assist customers construct functions for inspection, safety, analysis, and different use instances.
A key a part of the platform is simulation. Customers can load digital robots into environments similar to libraries, orchards, or photo voltaic farms, develop functions, after which switch these workflows to bodily robots.
R&AN: There are a rising variety of robotics simulation platforms. What hole is Olo making an attempt to fill?
ET-S: The {hardware} exists, however programming robots stays troublesome.
There aren’t sufficient robotics specialists to fulfill demand, so we’re making an attempt to make robotics extra accessible to builders, researchers, college students, and companies that won’t have deep robotics experience.
The platform consists of simulation instruments, instance scripts, automation workflows, and an AI coding assistant. Customers can construct functions utilizing Python or JavaScript and experiment with out investing in costly {hardware} or specialist groups.
The aim is to decrease the obstacles to adoption and permit extra individuals to discover robotics.
R&AN: Who’s utilizing the platform at this time?
ET-S: We solely launched commercially a number of weeks in the past, however we’ve already had round 80 beta testers.
The person base ranges from universities and researchers to software program builders and companies exploring robotics for the primary time.
One of many extra fascinating outcomes was seeing non-technical customers efficiently construct robotics tasks utilizing the platform’s AI assistant. It confirmed us that robotics can change into accessible to a a lot wider viewers than historically anticipated.
For teachers, the platform reduces the period of time spent configuring robots. For companies, it offers a low-risk strategy to consider concepts earlier than committing to {hardware} investments.
R&AN: You talked about humanoid robots. How do they match into your plans?
ET-S: We’re actively speaking with humanoid robotic producers and positively plan to help humanoids sooner or later.
Nonetheless, humanoids are extraordinarily advanced programs. Programming dexterous fingers, coordinating a number of joints, and working safely in real-world environments stay main challenges.
Considered one of our objectives is to make these programs simpler to work with by offering instruments that summary away a few of that complexity.
R&AN: How do you view the present state of humanoid robotics?
ET-S: There may be nonetheless a big hole between the demonstrations individuals see on-line and dependable deployment in real-world environments.
Many demonstrations happen in extremely managed situations or contain some degree of teleoperation.
The truth is that robots nonetheless battle with environmental variation. A small change {that a} human would barely discover can create important challenges for a robotic.
That’s why simulation is so vital. It permits builders to check, refine, and validate programs earlier than deploying them in the true world.
I believe really autonomous humanoids working reliably in houses and on a regular basis environments are nonetheless a number of years away.
R&AN: Does the UK have the expertise wanted to compete globally in robotics?
ET-S: Completely.
The UK has robust universities, glorious robotics applications, gifted builders, and services such because the Nationwide Robotarium and the Superior Manufacturing Analysis Centre.
The problem is much less about expertise and extra about creating alternatives, encouraging adoption, and showcasing innovation internationally.
R&AN: Inform us about Olo Robotics as a enterprise.
ET-S: I based the corporate with my co-founder Nick, who comes from a software program improvement background.
We raised a £4 million funding spherical earlier this 12 months and are centered on commercializing the platform by means of partnerships and sensible robotics functions.
We’re notably curious about areas the place there’s a clear return on funding, similar to inspection, safety, schooling, and industrial automation.
Quadruped robots stay particularly engaging as a result of they’ll already carry out helpful duties in real-world environments.
We additionally see alternatives in artistic industries, the place robotics may change into a instrument for manufacturing corporations, leisure companies, and content material creators.
R&AN: Are there dangers related to making robotics extra accessible?
ET-S: Undoubtedly.
Robots more and more mix mobility, cameras, microphones, and AI capabilities, which implies safety and privateness should be taken significantly.
We place a powerful emphasis on safe deployment, entry controls, testing, and accountable use.
As robotics adoption grows, schooling shall be simply as vital as expertise. Folks want to know each what robots can do and the place the dangers lie.
The business has a accountability to make sure robotics is deployed safely, securely, and responsibly.
Olo Robotics shall be exhibiting at FOS Future Lab at the Goodwood Festival of Speed between July 9 and 12, 2026.
