E96: Disrupting Massive Industries, From MongoDB to Viam

Integration Challenges

Eliot Horowitz, founder of Viam, highlights the challenges of integrating software and hardware in robotics. He emphasizes the need for a seamless collaboration between hardware and software engineers, allowing each to focus on their expertise without needing to master the other's domain. Viam aims to bridge this gap by offering a flexible platform that accommodates various programming languages and tools, unlike the research-focused ROS.

There will always be a need for people with highly specialized skills that sit on the hardware side and the software side. You can do both to do interesting science and do really hard problem.

--- Eliot Horowitz

This approach is designed to make robotics development more accessible and efficient, encouraging more software engineers to engage with hardware projects 1 2.

   

Innovation Barriers

Eliot discusses the barriers to innovation in robotics, noting the industry's complexity and the need for effective abstractions. He explains that while the science behind robotics is well-established, the engineering challenges remain significant. Viam addresses these by creating tools that simplify interactions between software and hardware, allowing developers to focus on innovation rather than technical minutiae.

No one cares about how their database talks to their hard drive. Some people do, and that's fine. People like me, but like, most people don't need to, and they shouldn't have to know.

--- Eliot Horowitz

This approach aims to attract more software engineers to the field by reducing the intimidation factor associated with robotics 3 4.

   

Modular Adaptations

Viam's modular approach to robotics allows for flexibility and customization, catering to both hobbyists and enterprises. Eliot explains that their platform is designed to be pluggable, enabling users to integrate their own algorithms and components easily. This modularity not only simplifies the development process but also ensures that users maintain control over their projects, from security to functionality.

Everything's modular, and we're making it easier and easier for people to just like write their own drivers, write their own algorithm, plug them in, building, you know, kind of like Lego for robotics, but in a non toy way.

--- Eliot Horowitz

This strategy is part of Viam's broader goal to democratize robotics, making it accessible to a wider range of developers 5 6.