Latest / The Robotics Podcast with Fexingo: Autonomous Systems, Industrial Robots, and Hardware
Why Robot Arms Still Can't Insert a USB Plug
Episode 26 of The Robotics Podcast dives into an everyday frustration that exposes a deep gap in robotics: inserting a USB plug correctly. Lucas and Luna explore why humans do it effortlessly while robots fail 30 percent of the time on the first try. They break down the geometry problem, the role of tactile sensing, and a 2025 paper from MIT CSAIL that used force-controlled search strategies to reach 95 percent success—but only in lab conditions. The hosts discuss why this skill matters for manufacturing, home assistants, and even space station maintenance. They also touch on why…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.