What the FAA’s landmark approval means for commercial drones

Welcome to Episode 31 of The Robot Report Podcast, which brings conversations with robotics innovators straight to you. Join us each week for discussions with leading roboticists, innovative robotics companies, and other key members of the robotics community.

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This week I chat with American Robotics CEO and co-founder Reese Mozer. American Robotics became the first drone company approved by the FAA to operate automated drones without human operators on site.

Reese and I discuss how these flights are vastly different from previous flights approved for beyond visual line of sight operations (BVLOS), and the implications for the company and the commercial drone industry. He also takes us through the technical capabilities of the company’s drones, how humans will remain in the loop, what types of missions its drones will now carry out, and how the company landed in Boston.

I also comment on the week’s top robotics stories, including Marc Raibert weighing in on Atlas’ dance skills, President Trump pardoning Anthony Levandowski, and Cruise raising another $2 billion and sending its autonomous vehicles over to Japan.

If you would like to be a guest on an upcoming episode of the podcast, or if you have recommendations for future guests or segment ideas, contact me. For sponsorship opportunities of The Robot Report Podcast, contact Courtney Nagle for more information.

Podcast timestamps

  • 0-1:17 Show intro
  • 1:18-27:08: Conversation with Reese Mozer, Co-Founder & CEO, American Robotics
  • 27:09-39:10 Commentary: Marc Raibert on Atlas; Levandowski pardoned; Cruise heading to Japan
  • 39:11-40:00 Show Outro

Show notes

mike oitzman headshot.
Written by

Mike Oitzman

Mike Oitzman is Senior Editor of WTWH's Robotics Group, cohost of The Robot Report Podcast, and founder of the Mobile Robot Guide. Oitzman is a robotics industry veteran with 25-plus years of experience at various high-tech companies in the roles of marketing, sales and product management. He can be reached at moitzman@wtwhmedia.com.