How Humanoid Robots are Shaping the Future of Logistics with Parker Conroy
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
Release Date: 08/28/2025
Orchestrating Chaos: Lully's Take on the Top Warehousing Challenges with Mike Myers
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In "Orchestrating Chaos: Lully's Take on the Top Warehousing Challenges”, and , the Founder and CEO of Lully.ai discuss how to supercharge existing Warehouse Management Systems with bolt-on algorithms for labor and cost savings. About Mike Myers is the Founder and CEO of Lully.ai, a bolt on technology that allows warehouses to ship more orders on time, with fewer resources, using the equipment, capabilities, and systems you already have. Mike's career has included roles at a large apparel brand, multiple national 3PL leaders, and finally a automation firm focused on...
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Making a Living and a Life on the Road with Dave Nemo
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
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Scaling Logistics Innovation at Descartes Systems Group with Dan Cicerchi
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In "Scaling Logistics Innovation at Descartes Systems Group”, and , the General Manager of Transportation Management Solutions at Descartes Systems Group, discuss the strategic integration of trustworthy AI to enhance existing core logistics technology and solve practical pain points across the global supply chain. About Dan Cicerchi is the General Manager of Transportation Management Solutions at Descartes Systems Group, where he leads strategy and innovation for one of the industry’s most widely adopted logistics technology platforms. A seasoned entrepreneur and logistics tech pioneer,...
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The State of Logistics Hiring with Charlie Saffro
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In "The State of Logistics Hiring”, and , a recruiting and retention expert and CEO of CS Recruiting, discuss why employee-focused cultures and niche expertise are now critical to overcoming talent shortages in the supply chain industry. About Charlie Saffro is a recruiting and retention expert, a female entrepreneur, and a TEDx speaker with a passion for sharing ideas around human leadership, talent acquisition and retention, employee engagement, and company culture. Charlie founded a third party recruiting firm in 2010 with the goal of connecting employers and professionals within...
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Beyond TMS: McLeod's Open Ecosystem and Automation with Doug Schrier
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In "Beyond TMS: McLeod's Open Ecosystem and Automation”, and , Vice President of Growth and Special Projects at McLeod Software, discuss the strategic pivot toward an open, automated ecosystem that redefines modern supply chain management. About Doug Schrier , Vice President of Growth and Special Projects at McLeod Software, is a driving force behind the company's strategic expansion while upholding a customer-centric philosophy. With a comprehensive background encompassing over two decades of operations and strategic leadership, Doug has dedicated the past 15 years to the transportation...
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Leveraging Shipper Intent Data to Win More Freight with Rob Light
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
Leveraging Shipper Intent Data to Win More Freight”, and , CEO & Co-founder at CarrierSource, discuss how their platform provides the real-time intent signals and AI tools necessary to turn passive interest into high-value revenue. About Rob Light is the CEO and a Co-Founder of CarrierSource, the leading review website for brokers and carriers. Rob has been building CarrierSource for the past five years, and prior to that was an early employee at the software review website G2.com. At G2, Rob saw the power of customer reviews and how small businesses could leverage the voice of their...
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Who Stole Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar's Tequila with Jessica Mcfate
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Who Stole Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar's Tequila”, and , Sr. Director of Intelligence Solutions at Babel Street, discuss how national security intelligence methods are now vital for solving commercial theft and securing global supply chains. About Jessica McFate is Sr. Director of Intelligence Solutions at Babel Street and a career intelligence professional, specializing in OSINT for national security. At the Institute for the Study of War, her research won acclaim for forecasting the rise of ISIS. She has authored over 50 publications, briefed top U.S. government agencies, appeared in...
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Real-World Supply Chain AI Applications with Gather AI's Sankalp Arora
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Real-World Supply Chain AI Applications with Gather AI's Sankalp Arora”, and , CEO and Co-founder at Gather AI, discuss how Gather AI's combination of drone-collected visual data, AI analysis, and WMS integration is revolutionizing warehouse inventory management. About Sankalp Arora is the CEO & Co-Founder of Gather AI. With 14 years of experience, Sankalp developed safety and sensor planning for the world's first safe autonomous helicopter, funded by DARPA, a project that won the Howard Hughes award, AUVSI Xcellence award and was nominated for the Collier Trophy. He is a...
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Beyond the Rate: Why Accuracy, Transparency, and Context Matter with Dawn Favier
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Beyond the Rate: Why Accuracy, Transparency and Context Matter”, and , President, Intelligence, at Triumph, discuss how accuracy, transparency, and network connectivity are the new drivers for precision and confidence in the logistics industry. About Dawn Favier serves as President, Intelligence, at Triumph following the acquisition of Greenscreens.ai in May 2025. She brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in transportation management and logistics technology. Prior to joining Triumph, Ms. Salvucci-Favier served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Product Officer of...
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Beyond the Mega Shipper: Finding Untapped Demand with Shan Wu
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
In “Beyond the Mega Shipper: Finding Untapped Demand”, and , Co-founder of breadd.ai, discuss the massive, yet often overlooked, opportunity in the mid-market. This essential pivot from chaotic prospecting to laser-focused selling is what breadd.ai helps brokers achieve. About Shan Wu is the cofounder of . As a lifelong sales rep, Shan has sold anything from billion dollar payment contracts to "nothing": cold calling for donations as a telefundraiser – and he still argues freight is the hardest thing to sell. He believes there's enough for everyone to eat in freight today –...
info_outlineIn “How Humanoid Robots are Shaping the Future of Logistics”, Joe Lynch and Parker Conroy, Head of Product at Apptronik, discuss how Apollo, a human-centered, AI-powered humanoid robot, is set to transform the industry by working alongside humans to fill labor gaps and perform a wide range of tasks in a safe and efficient manner.
About Parker Conroy
Parker Conroy is the Head of Product at Apptronik, a leading developer of humanoid robots. Conroy has worked in robotics for more than a decade, guiding product management teams to design and deploy thousands of industrial robotic arms, autonomous mobile robots, drones, and now, humanoid robots. Prior to Apptronik, he was Director of Robotics Product Development at Verizon, where he led product management and robotics strategy in 5G and multi-access edge computing. Conroy previously spent five-plus years leading mobile robotics development at Omron Robotics and Safety. His graduate research focused on optimal control of UAV swarms, which led him directly into developing teams that designed the features of one of the first industrial autonomous fleet control systems. Parker’s experience guides development roadmaps that target cutting-edge research grounded in reliable architectures, balancing innovation with mature technologies.
About Apptronik
Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered humanoid robots. Our goal is to create human helpers to support humanity in every facet of life. Our robot, Apollo, is designed to collaborate thoughtfully with humans—initially in critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond. Apollo is the culmination of nearly a decade of development, drawing on Apptronik’s extensive work on 15 previous robots, including NASA’s Valkyrie robot. Apptronik started out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin and has over 150 employees.
Key Takeaways: How Humanoid Robots are Shaping the Future of Logistics
- Human-Centered Robotics: Apptronik's core philosophy is to create human-centric helpers, not replacements. The company aims for a future where robots and humans work together to enhance human capabilities and improve quality of life, starting in logistics and expanding to other industries.
- Addressing Labor Shortages: The Apollo humanoid robot is designed to fill critical labor gaps in the logistics and manufacturing sectors. By automating repetitive and physically demanding tasks, it allows human workers to be upskilled to higher-value, more rewarding roles.
- Humanoid Form Factor Advantage: The humanoid design of Apollo allows it to operate seamlessly within existing, human-centric environments. This eliminates the need for expensive facility redesigns, making integration into warehouses and factories much more efficient compared to other types of robots.
- Safety and Collaboration: Apollo is equipped with an advanced force control architecture, enabling it to work safely alongside humans in shared spaces. This makes it a "collaborative robot" or "cobot," removing the need for safety cages and allowing for closer interaction with human colleagues.
- Versatile Platform: Unlike single-purpose robots, Apollo is a general-purpose platform. Its versatile design and AI capabilities mean it can be programmed to handle a wide range of tasks, providing a highly adaptable solution for companies looking to automate various processes.
- Balanced Innovation: Parker Conroy's extensive experience in robotics ensures that Apptronik's development roadmaps balance cutting-edge research with practical, reliable architectures. This approach guarantees that the products are not only innovative but also robust and ready for real-world deployment.
- Strong Foundation: Apptronik's origins from the University of Texas's Human Centered Robotics Lab and its extensive history developing 15 previous robots, including NASA's Valkyrie, give it a solid foundation. This academic and research-driven background underpins the rigorous engineering behind the Apollo robot.