Solving for Tomorrow: Tales from the Tech Frontier

Engineering Engagement: Human-Centered Design in Hospitality Robotics

Episode Summary

In this episode, Brian chats with Matt Casella, President of Richtech Robotics

Episode Notes

In this episode, Brian talks with Matt Casella, President of Richtech Robotics, about the engineering and systems thinking behind automation in hospitality. With a background in finance and restaurant operations, Matt now leads the development of robots like Adam, a dual-arm, AI-enabled humanoid built to work seamlessly alongside people as a barista and mixologist.

The conversation explores:

• The technical challenges of building robots for real-world service environments
• Designing for both efficiency and user engagement
• Why human-robot interaction (HRI) matters in commercial adoption
• The role of robotics in solving labor shortages and reducing operational waste
• How autonomy and accessibility intersect in robots designed for aging populations
• Matt shares what it takes to go from functional to user-friendly, and why successful hospitality robots must deliver not just output, but experience.

In the Post Fix, Brian and Harriet dig into the psychology behind HRI:

• Why people expect social cues from machines
• Whether adding eyes to a robot really improves usability
• And Brian's not-so-secret hope for a bed-making robot

This episode is a must-listen for robotics engineers, system designers, and AI professionals interested in practical, real-world applications of human-centered robotics.

Time Stamps:

• *(00:41) The Rapid Fire 
• *(16:20) Automating for Waste Efficiency
• *(26:10) Keeping the Human Touch in Hospitality
• *(36:25) Providing Life Value for the Elderly Through Robotics
• *(45:20) Safety, Security & AI Ethics
• *(53:14) The Post-Fix

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Solving for Tomorrow is sponsored by Geisel Software. We help you create products that seamlessly automate the physical and virtual worlds using robotics, machine learning, and so much more. Find out more at geisel.software.

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Links

Follow Matt on LinkedIn

Richtech Robotics

Follow Brian Geisel on LinkedIn

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