Episode 12 - From Hollywood to High-Rises: Making Robots with Asa Hammond

In this episode of Founder Mode, Jason and I talked with Asa Hammond. He is a robotics expert. He works on movie sets in Hollywood and at construction sites. Asa said that making robots for movies like Gravity can aid in tough construction jobs. Skills from film can be helpful in real life. He fuses creativity, good design, and tech to produce reliable machines.

Robots in Movies vs. Robots on Job Sites

Asa started learning robotics in Hollywood. He made special effects for movies. He built camera robots. They performed exact and repeatable moves. He now builds construction robots. They bring movie-like precision to real-world environments.

“Beautiful design without the ability to deliver doesn't work. Logistics really is key to keeping customers happy.”

— Kevin Henrikson

Precision and Safety are Everything

On the set of Gravity, Asa’s robots needed to repeat exact movements safely. This was true even when actors were nearby. Construction robots face similar demands. They do tasks like drilling and moving heavy materials. This requires accuracy and safety at all times.

As Asa explained clearly:

“It has to be safe, reliable, and easy to use. If you don't have those things, it's very hard to get traction with users.”

— Asa Hammond, Building for Rough Conditions

Construction sites deal with tough conditions. There’s dust, dirt, and bad weather. Asa builds robots to solve these challenges every day. These robots need to be easy to use, dependable, and tough for heavy jobs.

Inspecting Nuclear Reactors with Robots

Asa once created drones. They could examine the inside of nuclear reactors. Each drone part had to be weighed carefully before and after every flight. This was to make sure no material was left behind. Precision is key in dangerous environments.

AI Makes Robots Smarter

Asa uses AI to make robots better. AI helps robots learn tasks fast and adapt to new surroundings. With AI, robots become safer, smarter, and easier to control.

Five Key Takeaways:

Safety first: Robots have to be safe and reliable, whether they are on movie sets or job sites.
Keep it simple: Robots should be easy for workers to use safely.
Built tough: Construction robots are made for tough jobs every day.
AI makes performance better: It lets robots learn tasks faster and do them more effectively.
Practice makes perfect: Testing robots ensures they are safe and accurate.

Final Thoughts:

Asa Hammond shows how planning and creativity bring robots to life. This takes place on Hollywood movie sets and at real building sites. Robots are vital in any setting. They offer precision, safety, and ease of use.

As I concluded our conversation:

“Great engineering, like great filmmaking, is all about precision under pressure.”

— Kevin Henrikson

🎧 Listen to Episode 12 here: