Summary of Ep. 31 | Pipedream's Autonomous Underground Delivery System with Canon Reeves

In this episode of "Machine Minds," host Greg Terusan speaks with Canon Reeves, CTO and co-founder of Pipedream, a company focused on developing an autonomous underground delivery system. The conversation covers Canon's journey into robotics, the founding of Pipedream, and the innovative technology behind their underground delivery robots.

Key Technological Concepts and Product Features:

Pipedream's Concept: The company aims to revolutionize delivery logistics through underground robots, creating a system that is fast, low-cost, and invisible to urban environments. This approach is likened to existing underground utilities like sewage and electricity.
Hyper Logistics: Pipedream envisions a future where delivery is seamless and efficient, allowing for both sending and receiving goods autonomously.
Modular Robotics: The robots and delivery system are designed to be modular, allowing for easy adaptation and scalability in various urban environments. The simplicity of the base components facilitates rapid development and iteration.
Instant Pickup Product: This feature allows customers to quickly pick up orders from kiosks without waiting in line, streamlining the delivery process for quick-service restaurants and grocery stores.

Challenges and Strategies:

Initial Challenges: Canon discusses the skepticism faced when introducing such an innovative concept, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with city partners and customers to refine the product.
Iterative Development: Pipedream employs a fast, iterative approach to product development, focusing on customer feedback to drive improvements.
Hiring Smart Talent: The importance of recruiting skilled engineers who are not only experts in their fields but also capable of taking ownership of their projects is highlighted.

Future Plans and Market Position:

Expansion Plans: Pipedream is looking to expand its network in urban areas, focusing on partnerships with cities to facilitate installation and operation.
Funding: The company recently announced a $13 million seed round, which will help them scale their engineering team and further develop their technology.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Engineers:

Canon encourages aspiring roboticists to dive into hands-on projects and learn through building, emphasizing that the field is becoming increasingly accessible. For entrepreneurs, he stresses the importance of working on problems they are passionate about, as the startup journey is demanding.

Speakers:

Greg Terusan: Host of the show and founder of Samson Rose, a recruiting and search business in the robotics and AI industries.
Canon Reeves: CTO and co-founder of Pipedream, sharing insights on robotics, entrepreneurship, and innovative delivery solutions.

Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into the future of logistics through robotics, the entrepreneurial journey, and the importance of collaboration and innovation in technology development.

Notable Quotes

— 06:40 — « We named it pip dream for a reason; we kind of wanted to take that joke before anybody else could give it. »

— 13:20 — « Prioritizing sales and letting sales lead product development is I think the best way to create something really hard like this. »

— 20:05 — « We have a policy of no smart assholes; we all love working together. »

— 22:41 — « The goal is to compress and have as many iteration cycles as possible because we think that just gets you a better product faster. »

— 38:51 — « If it's something that you just wake up on fire for... it should be something you personally care a lot about. »