Day at Work: Robotics Engineer

Summary

Tessa Lau, Chief Robot Whisperer at Savioke, combines her background in applied physics, computer science, and artificial intelligence to lead the development of autonomous robots for the hospitality industry. She emphasizes the importance of soft leadership skills, collaboration, and integration testing in creating robots that seamlessly operate in human environments. Passionate about STEM, Tessa encourages women to pursue careers in tech, sharing her own journey from experimenting with hobby computers to building transformative technologies. Her work in robotics is not just technical—it's about creating positive, tangible experiences for people, from hotel guests to her colleagues.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tessa Lau is the chief robot whisperer at Savioke, a robotics company that builds autonomous robot helpers for the service industry.
• 😀 Tessa's background includes a bachelor's in applied physics and computer science from Cornell University.
• 😀 She was drawn to physics for its hands-on approach to experiments and problem-solving, and to computer science for its ability to create solutions quickly.
• 😀 Tessa pursued graduate studies in artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction at the University of Washington.
• 😀 She defines 'robot whispering' as ensuring robots behave well in human environments, focusing on context and interaction rather than just programming and engineering.
• 😀 At Savioke, robots deliver items like sandwiches or toiletries to hotel rooms, automating mundane tasks without replacing human staff.
• 😀 Robotics has the potential to change lives more fundamentally than software because robots are physical and can move and interact within human spaces.
• 😀 Tessa believes robots can take on mundane tasks that humans don't want to do, like delivering items to hotel rooms, but can't replace human creativity and problem-solving.
• 😀 She emphasizes the importance of soft leadership skills in her role at Savioke, ensuring team collaboration and integration across different expertise areas.
• 😀 Tessa's broad knowledge in computers, networking, physics, and engineering helps her ensure the seamless integration of software and hardware in their robots.
• 😀 She encourages women entering STEM fields to ignore doubters and cultivate hobbies related to their fields, citing her own experience of learning about computers from her dad.

Q & A

What is Tessa Lau's role at Savioke?

Tessa Lau is the Chief Robot Whisperer at Savioke, a robotics company focused on developing autonomous robot helpers for the services industry.

What is the significance of Tessa Lau's background in applied physics and computer science?

Her background in applied physics and computer science gave her a solid foundation in problem-solving and understanding the technical aspects of robotics, which helped her pursue graduate studies in artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction.

What does Tessa mean by 'robot whispering'?

Tessa Lau describes 'robot whispering' as making robots behave well in human environments, focusing not just on programming or engineering, but also on how robots function in real-world contexts.

How do the robots developed by Savioke assist in the hospitality industry?

The robots developed by Savioke are designed to deliver items such as sandwiches or toothbrushes to hotel rooms. They autonomously navigate and complete these tasks, improving efficiency in the hotel service industry.

What is Tessa's perspective on the role of robots in human environments?

Tessa believes that robots should not replace humans but assist with mundane tasks that humans often don't want to do, like running deliveries to hotel rooms, allowing people to focus on more complex and meaningful activities.

Why does Tessa emphasize the importance of soft leadership skills?

Tessa values soft leadership skills because they help foster collaboration within teams, ensuring that everyone works together effectively to build successful products like robots.

What is the role of integration testing in Tessa's work at Savioke?

Integration testing is crucial in Tessa's work to ensure that the software used in the robots functions properly with the physical hardware, guaranteeing that the robot operates as intended.

How does Tessa leverage her diverse knowledge in various fields?

Tessa’s broad knowledge in computer science, networking, and physics allows her to understand various aspects of robotics, including mechanical performance and electrical engineering, which helps her solve problems from multiple angles.

What advice does Tessa Lau give to women entering STEM fields?

Tessa advises women to ignore anyone who says they can't succeed in STEM and to cultivate hobbies related to the field they want to pursue, as this can foster a deeper understanding and passion for the subject.

How does Tessa feel about the impact of her work with robots?

Tessa feels immense pride and fulfillment seeing her robots interacting with hotel guests and witnessing the positive reactions of people, knowing that her contributions are making a real difference in the world.