The future of logistics is automated — but few know how it really works.
We take you behind the scenes of mobile robotics, humanoids, fleet software, and strategy in action.
From factory floors to global rollouts, Dr. Oliver Zuchowski and Matthias Koblitz share real insights from 40+ real projects, expert talks, and the world’s top automation fairs.
New episodes every second Monday.
Stop Debating Legs vs. Wheels: What Humanoids Really Need
Everyone talks about humanoids. But do you actually need legs on the shop floor? And why do so few companies run fleets of mobile manipulators?In this episode of Automation Awakenings, recorded live at the Omron Automation Center in Stuttgart (with robots driving past us), Matthias Koblitz and Oliver Zuchowski take apart the difference between humanoids and mobile manipulators.You'll learn:→ What a mobile manipulator (MoMa) is, and why every humanoid is one but not every MoMa is a humanoid→ Why an arm on an AMR is harder than it sounds: 2D SLAM precision is not enough for precise picking→ The three ways to fix it: mechanical guidance, optical markers, or a camera on the arm→ The 99% reliability trap: 1,000 picks a day means 10 failures, roughly one every 2.5 hours→ When a humanoid beats a wheeled robot, and when it doesn't→ Why versatility is the real success factor, and why error handling matters more than legsIf you're evaluating mobile manipulators or humanoids, this episode helps you ask the right questions before you invest.🔗 More on Automation A: https://automation-a.com🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automation-awakenings/id1724719427💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-a00:00 Intro from the Omron Automation Center01:31 Humanoid vs. mobile manipulator: what's the difference?03:48 Why don't we see more mobile manipulators?11:25 The 99% reliability trap13:50 What can legs do better than wheels?18:28 Key takeaway: smart robots beat legs vs. wheels#mobilemanipulator #humanoidrobots #mobilerobotics #AMR #logisticsautomation #AutomationAwakenings
13 Oct 2026
From Warehouse to Yard: Bridging the Indoor-Outdoor Gap // Lars Hee Hansen (Capra Robotics)
"Outdoor robots only work in warm, dry countries." Wrong. The real problem is somewhere else, and most companies find out too late.In this episode of Automation Awakenings, host Matthias Koblitz sits down with Lasse Hansen, Chief Commercial Officer of Capra Robotics, to talk about what it really takes to move pallets and totes between buildings with mobile robots.You'll learn:→ How much snow is too much for an outdoor robot (and why falling snow matters more than snow on the ground)→ Why connectivity is the biggest challenge for outdoor robots, and why Wi-Fi alone often isn't enough→ How outdoor robots navigate: cameras near buildings, GPS far away from them→ What to sort out before your first outdoor project: yard traffic, gate control and fleet hosting→ Why a great demo is not a business case→ Where outdoor robotics is heading: urban maintenance, de-icing, weeding and parcel deliveryIf your automation stops at the warehouse door, this episode shows you what it takes to go further.🔗 More on Automation A: https://automation-a.com🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automation-awakenings/id1724719427💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-a#outdoorrobotics #mobilerobotics #AMR #intralogistics #logisticsautomation #AutomationAwakenings
28 Sept 2026
Humanoids Have No Safety Rules Yet: Here's What to Do // Jens Müller (M&P)
Ten years ago, cobots showed up without anyone asking "do we need a CE mark for this?" Today, the same thing is happening with humanoid robots — except the stakes are higher.In this episode of Automation Awakenings, host Oliver Zuchowski sits down with Jens Müller, founder of M&P and safety expert (Sachverständiger) for robotic systems, to unpack why humanoid safety is still uncharted territory — and what to do about it right now.You'll learn:→ Why the classic AGV standard (ISO 3691-4) is being merged with mobile robot standards under a new "IMR" working group→ What's actually being defined in the new humanoid working groups (WG12 → WG18) — and why it takes 4-5 years to publish a single standard→ The "cobot déjà vu": why humanoids risk repeating the same mistake — skipping safety because "it's just for internal use"→ Why a humanoid is only 15% hardware — and what the other 85% actually requires (data, training, ecosystem, AI Act, Cyber Resilience Act)→ Jens' "house-building" analogy for why you need a gap analysis before you deploy — not after→ What's coming: the new Machinery Regulation in January 2027If you're evaluating a humanoid pilot — or just trying to keep up with where the safety standards are heading — this episode gives you the practical roadmap.🔗 More on Automation A: https://automation-a.com🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/automation-awakenings/id1724719427💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-a#humanoidrobots #robotsafety #mobilerobotics #ISO3691 #logisticsautomation #intralogistics #AutomationAwakenings---00:00 Intro & guest welcome01:22 How Jens became a safety expert for robotics05:28 Does Germany need more safety oversight than others?09:17 Classic robots vs. mobile robots vs. humanoids: how safety challenges differ11:19 Inside the humanoid working groups: WG12 to WG1817:16 What rules apply to humanoids right now23:15 The cobot déjà vu: the safety mistake repeating itself30:21 Jens' golden rule: the house-building analogy
Who has been a guest on Automation Awakenings
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dr Julian Maas
Nick Schwarzenberg
Günter Ullrich
Tobias Herwig
Christoph Zeltner
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
88,904
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
4.9 / 5
38 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
44
Social presence
0
YouTube
85
Engagement
71
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