Amazon Robotics - Virtual Tech Talk

Explore the Groundbreaking Robotic Technologies Powering Amazon's Fulfillment Network - Go Behind the Scenes with the Engineering Experts Driving Advancements in Safety, Autonomy, and Automation

 

About This Event


Event Details

Join us for an exciting tech talk that will dive into the cutting-edge work happening at Amazon Robotics! During this one-hour session, you'll hear from experts across Hardware, Software, and Applied Science teams, who will share their insights and experiences.

 

The speakers will provide an inside look at the various aspects of Amazon Robotics, including:

 

  • Safety-critical software development for robotic systems

  • Technical program management and fostering collaboration

  • Cutting-edge research in perception, machine learning, and safety

  • Software deployment challenges and nuances

  • Hardware development and support for Amazon's fulfillment network

 

After the main presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to join more focused sessions with the respective Hardware, Software, and Applied Science teams. This will allow you to learn even more about the specific work and challenges within each discipline. Don't miss this chance to engage with the innovative minds behind Amazon Robotics!
 

Amazon Robotics (AR) Team - Presenters

Shaun Hayward - Sr. Engineering Manager – Tenure: 10 yrs LinkedIn

I'm the Sr Manager responsible for the safety-critical software at Amazon Robotics. I've been with the company for almost 11 years, during which I've held 3 different roles, from test automation to firmware development to managing a team, and now leading a group of 45 engineers. My team writes C and C++ software that directly controls and monitors the hardware, collaborating closely with the hardware engineering team to push the boundaries of safety systems. We develop innovative solutions like the "Tech Vest" that can safely stop nearby robotic systems when technicians approach, and the autonomous driving system in Proteus that ensures it will always stop for a person.

 

Doug Hohensee - Software Development Engineer - Tenure: 4 yrs  LinkedIn

Hi, I'm Doug Hohensee. I have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, and I'm currently working as an SDE-2 at Amazon Robotics. I'm something of a generalist. I started working in software about 15 years ago, and I have experience ranging from microprocessor programming to full-stack web development. And of course, most recently, robotic applications! A lot of my work over the past couple of years has to do with software deployments, which is an area with a fair amount of nuance. This will be the subject of my tech talk.

 

Tim Jordan - Hardware Development Manager - Tenure: 5 yrs LinkedIn

Tim Jordan is a Hardware Development Manager at Amazon Robotics, with a focus in mechanical engineering. Tim has over 10-years of industry experience across robotics, lighting, and defense. He currently leads teams in developing and supporting robotic drive units, stations, and sensors. His teams support the modeling, analysis, and validation of hardware used across Amazon's fulfilment network.

 

Andrea Tagliabue - Applied Scientist - Tenure: 2 mos LinkedIn 

Hi, I'm Andrea, an Applied Scientist at Amazon Robotics. In my two months at Amazon, I've dived into exciting challenges in perception, machine learning, and safety, designing ML solutions for complex robotics problems.Prior to Amazon, I earned a Ph.D. in Robotics and Machine Learning from MIT, focusing on adaptive, vision-based control. I also spent a year as a robotics engineer at NASA JPL and Caltech, working on LiDAR state estimation, and completed master's degrees at ETH Zurich and UC Berkeley.Through my experiences, I've gained deep expertise in robotics tools like Python, MATLAB, C++, ROS, PyTorch, and more. Beyond just technical work, I'm passionate about mentoring students and interns. Reach out if you're interested in those opportunities!
 
 

Tim Davis - Moderator - Tenure: 5 yrs LinkedIn 

Hi, I'm Tim Davis, a Technical Program Manager at Amazon Robotics. I've been with the company for almost 6 years, starting as an embedded TPM for Regulatory Compliance and now supporting robotic work cells in the Mobility organization. I'm an Army veteran, with two young kids, and I'll be celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary next year.My background is in Regulatory Compliance, involving testing, certification, and ensuring products meet global market access requirements. I've been in this field for nearly 20 years, with the last 5 focused on technical program management. Since becoming a TPM, I've gained Agile Scrum certification and manage hybrid waterfall and Agile programs daily.At Amazon, growth is essential, so I've continued training and education related to the TPM role. I also lead our internal TPM Community of Practice, breaking down information silos, sharing best practices, and organizing networking events, including planning our first local TPMCon in Boston. While the work is important and impactful, Amazon is also a place to have fun.

Discover the Cutting-Edge of Robotic Safety and Autonomy: Hear from Amazon Robotics' Engineering Leaders Pushing the Boundaries of Industrial Automation