Welcome to the MassDevice Fast Five medtech news podcast, the show that keeps you up-to-date on the latest breakthroughs in medical technology.

In each episode, we’ll bring you daily news and analysis from the world of medical devices, exploring the cutting-edge products and treatments that are revolutionizing healthcare. From innovative diagnostic tools to life-saving implants and beyond, we’ll take a deep dive into the business, science and engineering news that powers these remarkable innovations.

Subscribe to the MassDevice Fast Five and join us every weekday for your daily medtech roundup. Thank you for listening.

Trailer: Welcome to the MassDevice medtech news podcast

The Trump Administration has reversed Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives that have bolstered solar’s domestic manufacturing and installation footprints. While they technically are still active, these credits are operating with a shorter runway. On this episode of Solar Spotlight, Liz Reicherts, global head of government affairs, and Kleber Facchini, Director of CC&I Products & Applications at SolarEdge, discuss the state of domestic solar subsidies and how to use them while they’re still intact. Additionally, SolarEdge has partnered with solar mounting company Enstall and its subsidiaries, IronRidge and Panelclaw, to help PV contractors qualify for domestic content incentives. 

Solar Spotlight: Building a domestic content strategy

Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the 2025 RoboBusiness event which took place last week in Santa Clara CA. The show features interviews with ten startups who were present at the show and many of whom participated in the 2025 Pitchfire event.

Here’s the list of interviews on the show (in order of appearance:

Apporv Shaudri from Roworks AI
Chongdu Xu from Forge AI (4rfg.ai)
David Ruth from Motogo
Doug Langen From 4D1
Katy Bradford from Rotate8
Kevin Hayes from Morelle
Lakshay Sharma from Cerulion (2025 Pitchfire winner)
Raghavender Sahdev from NuPort
Roby Lynn from R2 Labs
Toshi Quides from Sensible Robotics

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RoboBusiness 2025 Recap

Summary
This week, Mike Oitzman recaps the FIRA 2025 Ag Robotics event in Woodland, CA, highlighting the latest innovations in new automation solutions for agriculture. Featured guest this week is Danny Bernstein, founder of The Reservoir, an agtech incubator located in Salinas, CA. Danny takes us through the creation of The Reservoir and the vision for the organization to support new Ag automation startups. 
Also on the show is a brief conversation with Dave Silver, Director of Orchard Autonomy at John Deere, who updates us on the latest orchard solutions from JD.
Companies mentioned in the recap:|
- Bonzai Robotics
- AgScout (vineyard yield management software)
- TensorField (hot oil weeding solution)
- Pittsburgh Robotics
- John Deere
- The Reservoir

###
– SPONSOR –
Are manual picking operations or idle robots slowing your growth? 

The cutting-edge Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution is engineered to reduce your costs per unit and give you an unbeatable competitive edge. 

Autonomous mobile robots guided by Team Intelligence empower your workers to achieve their maximum potential, enabling you to scale efficiently and boost profitability. 

Don’t settle for less—maximize your profits with Zebra. 

Discover the future of fulfillment at https://www.zebra.com/fulfillment

FIRA 2025 Ag robotics recap

This week on the show, we welcome Brian Chereson, an industrial engineer from ODW Logistics, and Cody Upp, head of commercial for Zebra Robotics Automation. Together, they dive into the transformative role of robotics and automation in logistics. The conversation explores the deployment of Zebra's Symmetry Fulfillment Person to Goods AMR system at ODW Logistics, highlighting the strategic benefits of flexible, cost-effective solutions. Key topics include reducing labor costs, improving order accuracy, and enhancing employee engagement through innovative technologies.
###
– SPONSOR –
Are manual picking operations or idle robots slowing your growth? 

The cutting-edge Zebra Symmetry Fulfillment solution is engineered to reduce your costs per unit and give you an unbeatable competitive edge. 

Autonomous mobile robots guided by Team Intelligence empower your workers to achieve their maximum potential, enabling you to scale efficiently and boost profitability. 

Don’t settle for less—maximize your profits with Zebra. 

Discover the future of fulfillment at https://www.zebra.com/fulfillment


How ODW Logistics is Innovating with Automation

Join us as we explore the critical role of STEM education in reshoring manufacturing and empowering the next generation of engineers. Featuring insights from Dhaval Jadav, CEO of Alliant Group, and Dr. Robert Ambrose, Professor at Texas A&M, and Director of Robotics at Alliant Group, this episode digs into the challenges and opportunities in fostering a diverse and skilled workforce, and how robotics competitions serve as a gateway to STEM fields.
Learn how STEM related programs from K-12 and then community colleges and universities are preparing the next generation of engineers, technicians and other professionals necessary to support the growing population of robots and autonomous systems.

The Power of STEM: Shaping the Next Generation

In this episode, Mike Oitzman, Gene Demaitre, and Chris Finger discuss the role of Harmonic Drive in space robotics, exploring the challenges and innovations in designing robots for space applications. They examine the history of Harmonic Drive's involvement in space missions, the trends in space commercialization, and the technical considerations for gearing in space environments.
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SPONSORED BY HARMONIC DRIVE
To learn more about Harmonic Drive products or contact a sales representative in your area, go to www.harmonicdrive.net or call 978-532-1800

Designing Space Robots

In this episode, we sit down with Fareed Aljawhari, the CEO and founder of Micropolis Robotics, to explore the evolution of robotics in Dubai and the Middle East. Aljawhari shares his unique journey from a creative director to a leader in robotics, discussing the pivotal shift from digital twins to autonomous robots. 
The conversation explores Micropolis' modular approach, strategic partnerships, and the critical role of Dubai government support in driving technological advancement. Aljawhari also highlights the company's focus on IoT and edge computing as integral components of their automation strategy.

To learn more about Micropolis Robotics goto: https://www.micropolis.ai/ 

Micropolis and the Future of Robotics in Dubai

The U.S. solar industry is constantly remaking itself to adapt to market demands, and so too are the manufacturers producing these renewable technologies. Following that notion, Jinko, a prominent PV module company, recently expanded its manufacturing operations to include battery energy storage systems. With the two complementary technologies under one umbrella, Jinko is supplying the utility and C&I segments with 24-hour energy from a single source. 

On this episode of Solar Spotlight by Solar Power World, Adam Detrick, director of product management and technical services at Jinko, discusses the company's strategic expansion into energy storage and how it's ensuring solar + storage projects deliver reliable, long-term performance. He also highlights Jinko's focus on providing safe, smooth and secure energy storage solutions through its comprehensive pre-integration services, robust long-term service agreements (LTSAs) and strong commitment to cybersecurity, giving customers confidence in the durability, reliability and security of their systems.


Solar Spotlight: Safe, smooth and secure energy storage

In this episode, Kristian Kassow, co-founder of Universal Robots and managing director of Kassow Robots, discusses the evolution of collaborative robots. He shares insights on the development of seven-axis cobots, the advantages of built-in torque sensors, and the integration of cobots with mobile robots. 
Kristian also highlights the role of partnerships in expanding Kassow Robots' global reach and the future of collaborative robotics in various industries.
Learn more about Kassow Robotics: https://www.kassowrobots.com/ 
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Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman also cover the news of the week. Including Sunday Robotics new Memo humanoid: https://www.sunday.ai/ 
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Keep up to date on the latest robotics news at The Robot Report and Automated Warehouse:
https://www.therobotreport.com/
https://www.automatedwarehouseonline.com

Kristian Kassow: A Pioneer in the Cobot Industry

In this episode, Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre interview Rebecca Hu-Thrams, CEO and co-founder of Glacier, about the challenges and innovations in recycling technology. Rebecca discusses the complexities of the recycling process, the role of automation in improving efficiency, and Glacier's mission to modernize recycling systems. 
She highlights the importance of partnerships with major companies like Amazon and Colgate Palmolive to enhance recycling outcomes and reduce carbon emissions. 
The conversation also covers Glacier's unique approach to building custom recycling robots and their impact on the circular economy.

To learn more about Glacier Robotics goto: https://endwaste.io/ 

Mike Oitzman catches up with Parallax Worlds  CEO Tanmay Agarwal to learn more about its recent funding round.

Learn more at: https://www.parallaxworlds.com/ 

Inside Glacier's Mission to Modernize Recycling

Welcome to the MassDevice Fast Five medtech news podcast, the show that keeps you up to date on the latest breakthroughs in medical technology with the top five news stories to get your day started. Subscribe and join us every weekday for your daily medtech news roundup.

Trailer: Welcome to the MassDevice medtech news podcast

Fast Five by MassDevice

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