R2 Labs CEO Talks Software-Defined Manufacturing on Robot Report Podcast
Dr. Roby Lynn discusses how the R2 Autonomy Controller helps factories modernize existing equipment.
The Robot Report Podcast's latest installment, Episode 258, turns its focus to software-defined manufacturing — an approach in which automation software, rather than hardware alone, drives more flexible production lines. The guest for the episode is Dr. Roby Lynn, founder and CEO of R2 Labs, a smart manufacturing technology company based in Peachtree Corners, Ga.
According to The Robot Report, R2 Labs' flagship product is the R2 Autonomy Controller, or RAC, which is designed to extend the capabilities of legacy factory equipment. The company positions RAC as a bridge that lets manufacturers add modern industrial technology — including AI-powered vision systems and advanced robotics — to machines that predate those tools, rather than requiring a full equipment overhaul.
Lynn brings an engineering background to the role: he previously worked at 3D printing company Formlabs and holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
The episode follows The Robot Report Podcast's usual format, opening with a news-of-the-week segment before the main interview. That segment, running from the 11:10 mark, touches on several other developments in the robotics space: an autonomous delivery system called NoTip, questions about what Unitree Robotics' initial public offering could mean for the broader humanoid robot industry, FORT Robotics' plan to go public through a SPAC merger to bring its safety technology stack to public markets, and Logic's new system for automating rail-to-road transloading, built around its Logic Pallet and a Digital Twin OS.
The interview with Lynn begins at the 25:50 mark of the episode.
The podcast is hosted by Mike Oitzman, senior editor of WTWH Media's Robotics Group, and is sponsored content supporting The Robot Report's ongoing coverage of the automation industry. The outlet also used the episode to promote registration for RoboBusiness 2026, an upcoming industry event.
While the episode's news segment references several notable stories — Unitree's IPO, FORT Robotics' SPAC plans, and Logic's transloading system — the podcast description does not provide further specifics on those items beyond their headline topics, so readers looking for detailed figures or timelines on those developments should consult the source materials for each story directly.
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